When I was a sophomore in high school circa 1968, my friend and fellow band member, Cathi Wait, mentioned one day in band practice that she was working at McKnight’s Drug Store in the pharmacy department. “I love working there,” Cathy said, “and they have an opening at the soda fountain now.” We agreed by…
Come Help Me Celebrate!
Hi everyone, I’m excited to share that I’ll be doing a reading and book signing at Book Soup on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood on Wednesday, August 20th at 7 pm. I’d be so happy if you could join me in celebrating this long-awaited book. Please watch the short video below for more details….
The Magic of the 20-Minute-a-Day Writing Practice
One of the biggest challenges for aspiring writers is simply writing regularly. We blame lack of time—or, when we do have the time, we get stuck with writer’s block. The solution? Write for just 20 minutes a day. No excuses, no overthinking—just write. Almost anyone can find 20 minutes. If you can’t do it all…
A Poem For My Grandkids As They Start School Tomorrow: Dedicate Yourself
Dedicate yourself to something bigger Stretch and growPush past your limitations Move into the unknownTrust your instincts Dedicate yourself to a passion, a cause, a beliefOpen up your worldMeet like-minded peoplePursue what is healthy and good for youEncourage others to do what is good for them Dedicate yourself to pushing back fearStand strong and braveWalk…
Barb and Ted’s Wedding: 15 Years Coming and Then Covid Hita
Our friends, Barb and Ted, got married this past weekend. First wedding for both at ages 71 and 72. They’ve been together 15 years. As luck would have it, Ted came down with Covid on their wedding day. Still, they were determined for the show to go on, and it did! A beauty wedding for…
Friends, Strangers, and the Secret to Long Life
I just watched a TED Talk by psychologist Susan Pinker called “The Secret to Living Longer May Be Your Social Life.” She says the number one predictor for longevity is social integration—not just close relationships with family and friends, but also all those day-to-day connections with people in your community. That means everyone from your…
Letting Go of the White Horse
Over the past few days, I’ve spoken with several people who are carrying heavy emotional loads. One is a parent, deeply worried about an adult child in serious trouble. Another is a friend, watching helplessly as someone close to them faces a terminal illness. In both cases, the operative word is worry. Worry, by definition,…
My Little Fan
Here is my little grandson, Ethan, 2 1/2 years old, seeing a photo of Memaw in the window of the Ojai Public Library. This flyer is the announcement of my reading for my book, Hope in a Time of Dying, on August 23rd. Liz said there are flyers all over the library and when Ethan…
In Praise of the Imagined World
Why I Write Fiction
Procrastinators, Unite (Eventually)
Am I the only person who turns away from a difficult task just before it’s finished—only to let it sit for weeks, sometimes months, before finally coming back to complete that last hour’s worth of work? In the meantime, I spend an absurd number of hours feeling guilty, annoyed, and frustrated with myself for not…
20 Minutes a Day 