Ahh. Spring. I sense it. Can all but touch it. Last week we hit the upper seventies in my little corner of the Ozarks. Yesterday? We struggled to make it past the freezing mark. Last night? A hard freeze. My poor crabapple trees, laden with fresh, new buds and ready to bloom, may not—at least, this spring. Alas. There’s a …
Spring is Coming (Part Two)
Spring is a marvelous season ripe with promise and new opportunities. After long, cold months of sun-starved days and muted browns and grays, we’re more than ready to discard Old Man Winter and move on. We’re excited about what’s up ahead. The past is behind us and the world is our oyster. And yet—sometimes, new seasons don’t come without growing pains. …
Exhausted? Buckle Up. Spring is Coming.
By the time March arrives, I’m a little battle-worn. I’m tired of cold, dreary days, limited sunshine, and colorless landscapes. I’m ready for that glorious new season brimming with beauty and blossoms—spring. A friend voiced the same sentiment. “You know, I’m exhausted. I think the winter must be a writer’s bane. We hibernate in our caves so much that we …
Start With Baby Steps… Leap With Faith
There’s nothing more exhilarating than watching our children take their first steps. As any parent will tell you, that milestone also comes with a mixed bag of emotion. While those baby steps excite us, we realize we’re on the verge of something new—something thrilling, yet scary, too. We no longer have an infant on our hands. We now have a …
Upcoming Fun on the Blog
While some parts of the country are knee-deep in snow and bone-chilling cold, here in the Ozarks we can’t complain. Today in my little niche the sun’s shining with a projected high of fifty degrees. Fifty degrees. In fact, forecasts predict a nice round of upper sixties for the next ten days or so. Ahh. Spring fever, here I come! Of course, …
Should Writers Write the Stories of Their Hearts?
Oh, my goodness. I wondered if I should even broach this on the blog today. So much has been said about writers writing to trends versus writers writing the stories of their hearts, it seems a little redundant to add to the chatter. But you know me. I thought another perspective might be fun. So here we go. Let’s dive …
How Newsletters Impact Our Readers
It’s great to be back with you! If you’re a member of my newsletter family, please check your inboxes. Newsletters went to subscribers yesterday, and you don’t want to miss all the great content. Hint: Be sure you’ve added my newsletter e-mail address to your contacts so I don’t mistakenly go to your spam folder. Not a subscriber yet? No …
Blog Break ~ See You Again February 3, 2017
As I do occasionally, I’ve scheduled some time off from blogging. After 700 + posts over the past six years, I’ve come to realize how important blog breaks are. Breaks allow me to work on manuscripts, consider new blog content, and rest for a bit. I’ll also put the finishing touches on next month’s newsletter so if you’ve subscribed to my …
Four Reasons to Take the High Road
Words, harsh and scathing, rained down my Twitter feed. Facebook fared no better. Name-calling, belief-bashing, and general unkindness seemed to be the order of the day. I scratched my head and slugged back another cup of joe. Oh, goodness, gracious me. All the hot, strong, black java in the world couldn’t make me un-see the rant-filled commentary that clogged my …
My Top 10 Relaxing Blog Posts
Today as we gear down for the weekend, I thought it might be fun to share my Top 10 Relaxing Blog posts. I’ve included some nuggets of encouragement, as well as thoughts to coax a smile and a pleasant memory or two. If you like something you read, I hope you’ll pass along to others. Enjoy and have a great …