Ahh, my friend. Another difficult blog post to write. I debated. I really did. I’ve always said my little niche here is your safe place. Peaceful. Hopeful. Loving. The place where we can chat, share a smile, and part happy as we go on about our day. I still stand by that. The thing is, though, when tragedies like the …
September Update from My Niche in the Ozarks
As September draws to a close, there’s a hint of fall in the Ozarks. Though the metamorphosis is subtle, change is on the horizon as leaves grow restless and weary with the shifting season. It’s the time of year when earth yawns and new colors emerge replacing summer greens and once-vibrant blossoms. Usually, there’s a nip to the air by …
What Stories Matter?
Over the years, I’ve blogged often about story. As you would expect, stories are near and dear to my heart. I love to read them, write them, and listen to others tell them. It’s my firm belief that everyone has a story. Not everyone is a writer, but all of us have life experiences to draw from. We may journal, …
5 Great Things About Today
When we’re besieged with bad news, it weakens our resolve and wrecks our emotions. It challenges us on a whole new level. This is one of those weeks. From fires, floods, and hurricanes to big and small heartaches in relentless doses, this week sucked us dry. And to make sure we didn’t miss a thing, media outlets provided ’round-the-clock coverage. …
Revisiting Hope
Have you ever experienced those moments you knew you’d remember with vivid clarity? Maybe it’s your wedding day. Your children’s births. A family celebration or a special holiday. Maybe, though, it’s more specific than that. Maybe it’s that sixty-second encounter, a fleeting impression, or a few fractured seconds in your twenty-four hour day. Perhaps, it’s that one thing—the thing that …
August Update
Greetings from the Ozarks! It’s great to be back with you today. As you may have noticed, this summer I’ve stepped back from blogging. Other than holiday breaks and a few short vacations, I’ve blogged steadily since 2011. I decided I was long overdue for a sabbatical. Our college gal’s been home for the summer and we’ve enjoyed reconnecting. Now, …
When Our Story Worlds Come Alive
For writers, there’s nothing quite as thrilling as breathing life and love into our characters and stories. Our hearts beat for those creative moments when fact meets fiction in bold, new worlds. We’re eager to get words on the page and begin our journey. From the first moment I envisioned the sleepy, little town of Ruby, Missouri, ideas flowed. The …
Success… Is It Too Late?
There comes a point in life, maybe during a career crisis or a season of self-reflection, our confidence dips. Our belief wilts. Is it too late? Has my chance already come and gone? Has the moment of opportunity slipped past, despite my desire to move forward? For the baby boomer generation, advancing years are a reality. There’s no denying the …
Summer Update
Ahh, how quickly summer goes. It wasn’t always this way. When I was a little girl, the long, hot days of summer stretched before me like a ribbon of taffy waiting to be savored. Sleeping in, lingering over lunch, and reading filled my days. I had some chores, but after I finished those, my time was my own. Often, …
How Do We Keep the Dream Alive?
Often, new writers plunge full steam ahead into their fledgling careers, barely giving thought to everything writing entails. Pursuit of “the dream” and all the glorious fantasies that go with it play out in delightful, creative scenarios because, after all, that’s what writers do best—we live in bold, imaginative worlds where anything is possible. It’s only when—oh, say, maybe five, …