The journey to write Hope in a Time of Dying began a few years after my brothers, John and Jim, died of AIDS in the 1990s. I started it as a memoir to chronicle my experience when Jim offered me a job in Los Angeles, and my husband and three daughters moved from North Central Texas…
Tag: books
A Writing Student’s Sweet Note, and A Challenge for Me from Mentor Joan Johnson
This was Christmas Day 2024 with Joseph Bille and Joan Johnson at St. Thomas the Apostle, Hollywood. Joseph is a writing student of Joan’s and mine. When he sent this picture, he wrote, “This photo means a lot to me because you and Joan have been foundational in my return to creative writing. Your support…
Real Women Write Anthology: The Power of Friendship
I have two stories in the newly-released Story Circle Network’s Real Women Write Anthology, The Power of Friendship, Volume 23, and I also had the honor of writing the Foreward for the book. The anthology is an incredible compilation of friendship stories that I highly recommend. As I wrote, ““The essays, memoir pieces, poems, and…
The Other Side of Mothers’ Day
Mothers’ Day isn’t always easy Many suffer from Loss DistanceDisconnectionGood mothering means Unconditional loveEmpathyForgivenessA kind and generous heartWe all mother in our lives We mother other people,Our pets, Our plants and gardensOur communitiesIf we are able,We mother ourselves
Taking the Plunge: Finally Publishing My Novel
By the end of March, I plan to publish my novel, Hope in a Time of Dying. This book is very long in coming and below is the process I have gone through for more years than I want to admit. I will keep you tuned in as we determine the publication date, and where…
Some Sage Advice from Some Very Successful Writers
I’ve posted this before, but it is hard to beat the advice presented here. Just had to reshare from an article a few years back from The Guardian. Even if you don’t write, you might find yourself having a good laugh or two. Happy first day of Daylight Saving Time! Sage Advice from Those Who…
Some Excellent Writing Advise
Below is a short article that contains wonderful writing advice the author received from Knopf’s Charles Elliott. A variation on this advice came from a teacher I’ve worked with but I cannot recall which teacher. His/her advice was, “Pretend you have a camera on your shoulder and let the reader see exactly what the camera…
20 Things I’d Like to Get Better At in 2024
I would like to tackle this list in 2024. These are in no particular order and this is certainly not a conclusive list. Just the first 20 things I could think of with grandkids at the top. 1) Spend quality time with my grandkids. 2) Get down to Mexico to enjoy time in Ensenada. 3) Develop a…
The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles By Steven Pressfield
I have recently been reading The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. This book is considered a classic by many but I’ve only recently heard of it. The general message is that any creative effort (or anything you really, really want that is good for you) is part of a call from your higher self….
#50 – Something That Makes Me Happy – “The Artful Dodger” Series on Hulu
This eight-part series takes the young pickpocket Jack Dawkins, aka “Artful Dodger,” and his unscrupulous mentor Fagin from Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens and puts them in Australia, “the colony,” in the mid-1850s. However, at this point “Dodger” (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) has given up thievery (almost) for surgery, having been trained by a ship’s surgeon during…
20 Minutes a Day 