The Mirror Between UsThis morning she peered out at me from the mirror, my sister, dead:but as she had looked in top health, many years before,wearing a silver locket that matched her silver hair(I wonder if she lives in the silver lining of clouds),and I noted again that she was lovely,the same nose I have,…
Month: March 2025
Congratulations to Spencer Stone!
Spencer Stone, one of my high school writing students, has been named a Gabelli Presidential Scholar at Boston College, where he’ll attend the Carroll School of Management, majoring in finance with a minor in music. This highly competitive, merit-based award is offered to only eighteen students from the top 2% of early action applicants. It…
Granddaughter Lyla’s Birth Story (and a Few Details About Her Siblings’ Births, Too)
I wrote this piece a month after Lyla was born six years ago. I think it’s fitting to share it again on the day after her birthday this year to celebrate her life among us. Almost a month ago, I had the privilege of being present for the labor and delivery of Sarah and Gregorio’s…
Happy Birthday, Lyla Pacheco Beaty!
Today is our youngest granddaughter Lyla’s 6th birthday. She is having fun after-school activities and eating tacos made by her daddy this evening. Tomorrow she’s headed to the zoo for more fun. She is smart, adorable, and full of love. She is a kindergartener in a Spanish-English dual immersion program in South Pasadena. Happy birthday,…
Poem: Life Stages
I am a tree-loving girlgreen shorts and tee-shirtclimbing and perchingon pecan tree limbs searching for peaceI am a flamenco dancerred dress with rufflesclapping and stompingon a wooden stagepursuing connectionI am a wild-haired writerblue jeans and sweaterscribling and drawingon yellow legal padsfinding myself
Share the Titles of Your Favorite Novels, Please
Having finally finished Hope in a Time of Dying, I’ll be turning my attention back to my Work in Progress from a few years back, which has a working title of Hannah Price. I have written approximately 1/3 of the story, but I want to explore a different kind of structure rather than a straight…
Teasing Out the Tangled
I have discovered that over the years, I have developed patience. I can sit for the required time to unknot a chain on a necklace or go line-by-line through a story, essay, or novel chapter to provide the needed commas, semicolons, dashes, or periods. I can also sort through a drawer and separate the safety…
Thanks to the SCN Retreat Writers for Your Hard Work This Weekend
We learned a lot, wrote a lot, and laughed a lot this weekend as we came together from all of the United States for the SCN writing retreat. I’m sure I’m not the only one who is tired. Thanks for coming, my friends. I appreciate the energy, enthusiasm, and openness you brought to our time…
There’s Nothing Like Hanging Out with Other Women Writers
I am leading a writing workshop for Story Circle Network, and after a productive evening session last night, today started at 9 and ended at 7, with a 1 1/2-hour lunch break and a couple of coffee breaks in between. Today, we did a deeper dive into what constitutes voice in writing and also learned…
In Dallas, Leading SCN’s Annual Writing Retreat
I am in Dallas leading the annual Story Circle Network Lifelines writing retreat this weekend. The “From Good to Great: Sharpening Your Writing Craft” retreat runs from Friday evening through Sunday at noon. The women participating represent a wide range of writers, from just starting out to seasoned authors with multiple book publications. They also…
20 Minutes a Day 