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…
Happy Birthday, Ray!
Today is my husband Ray’s birthday, and one of my gifts is to publish my book, Hope in a Time of Dying, on his special day. Why? Because Ray has been a steadfast supporter of my writing for years and a literary consultant, guidance counselor, and psychologist from time to time as I have struggled…
Tomorrow is Publication Day!
Hi all, I’m happy to say that my book is already on Amazon for pre-order and on Barnes and Noble for sale. It’s $2.99, so please support me in being brave enough to put it out after having it in my desk drawer for fifteen years. (Of course, I did rewrite it another ten times!)…
Our Visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art Today in LA
Here are a few pieces at MOCA today that intrigued me. These were from a photo realism exhibit, meaning these are not photographs but rather paintings that look like photos. Plus, there are some realistic sculptural pieces too. I apologize that I didn’t include the artists. Usually I snap a photo of the card with…
An Artist’s Date, and Pushing Past My Publication Fear
Today, I listened to several YouTube videos with famous writers on subjects such as voice, character building, scene, plot, and more as I prepare for the weekend writing workshop I’m leading in Dallas beginning next Friday for Story Circle Network. One interview featured Julia Cameron (The Artist’s Way) and Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love; Big…
20 Minutes a Day 