Beginning today through January 3rd, 2014 I’m on a blogging break. I’ll miss you! The winner of my December giveaway is: Andrew B. Congratulations, Andrew! Please contact me ASAP with a mailing address so I can get your fabulous goodies in the mail to you. To My Readers… 2013 has been a busy year. I started new writing projects and …
And Fall Marches On…
Greetings, everyone! I hope your week’s been productive and blessed! Are you enjoying the seasonal colors? I love the pumpkins, cornstalks, and mums! Every few days, I notice something new in my neck of the woods. I think the fire bush in our front yard will be especially pretty this year. Fall marches on… I’ve started some new writing projects while awaiting feedback …
Today’s Story… Why Blend the Past with the Present?
I’ve thought a lot about how much the past affects our present. It influences everything: cultural differences, lifestyles, the way we speak, the way we dress, what drives us to succeed, others’ perceptions of us, and a host of other things. Believe me, because of where I live I’ve heard just about every hillbilly joke there is. I try to …
End of the Week Wrap-Up
Happy Friday, everyone! Hope this finds you well and looking forward to the weekend! (Help yourself to a slice of that decadent chocolate cake above–yummm!) I thought it might be fun today to do an end of the week wrap-up. In other words–let’s chit chat about what’s going on in each other’s lives. Pull up a chair, grab your plate, and …
Writing 101: Write, Revise, Repeat
When I first started writing, I used anything I could get my hands on–tablets, stationery, legal pads, almost anything would do. It was a big day when I graduated to a typewriter. Then a word processor. Then a computer. I had arrived! I was finally going to be a real writer! Squeee! Ahhh If only… If only there’d been Writing 101 waaayyy …
Why Old Trucks Are Like Writers
Where I live there are a lot of hills, hollows, and hayfields. And cows, barns, farms, and old trucks. The land is ripe with color and rich in stories. And, of course, for this writer those stories are my lifeblood. Some of those stories will get passed down to my children. Others, perhaps, will find their way to future books. Like the …
Your Brand: Bland or Glam?
If you write, no doubt you’ve given some thought to your “brand.” (And if you haven’t thought about it, now’s the time!) “Brand” to an author is what water is to wildflowers. It quenches, sustains, and breathes life into an otherwise drab existence. Like our taglines, our brands are uniquely us. They’re the picture that comes to mind when folks hear our …
Always Room for Just One More…Lest We Forget
Having grown up in the Ozarks when the world was not yet so complicated, I’m often reminded of the gentler times–those magnificent days where there was always “room for just one more.” Besides our ready availability to others, there are other things that I remember and miss: Sundays were indeed a time of worship and rest. Weekends weren’t ruled by …
Geographic Region: Adding Flavor to Our Stories
As a small child, I loved combing the hills and hollows of the Ozarks. It seemed like everywhere I turned there was a grand adventure waiting to happen. Often, we’d pile in the family car and strike out on the endless drive to nowhere. “Sunday drives” are less common now, but when I was a little girl, they were the order …
What Fuels Our Creativity
Last week I talked about research trips adding dimension to our writing. As writers, side trips away from our desks and computers aren’t just a fun way to “get away from it all.” These trips recharge our brains and fuel our creativity. When we see something besides the four walls of our offices or work spaces, we’re reminded that there is life …