Next Tuesday, I will release my novel—one that sat in a desk drawer for far too long. When I pulled it out, I stripped it down to its core, cutting nearly half of the original manuscript. Now, at a lean 70,000 words, it’s finally where it needs to be. It’s time to let it go….
Tag: books
Lessons A Texas Girl Learned by Living in Beverly Hills
I lived in Beverly Hills (or BH to the locals) for 30 years. I came to LA with my family when my brother Jim was sick and needed support during the last year and a half of his life. We moved to Beverly Hills because we needed a good school district for our kids. Who…
It’s a Vonnegut Kind of Night
“Go into the arts. I’m not kidding. The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the…
What I’ve Always Wanted: An Inconclusive List in No Particular Order
I’ve always wanted to be fluent in Spanish and Italian. I’ve always wanted to go on trips to many countries worldwide. I’ve always wanted a simple and nicely tailored wardrobe with at least two cashmere sweaters. I’ve always wanted to learn how to drive a motorcycle. I’ve always wanted a happy and fulfilling marriage that…
Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God
A few years back, I had a student who needed to write an essay on Zora Neale Hurston’s book, Their Eyes Were Watching God, so I had the pleasure of reading it for the first time. This highly-acclaimed novel was published in 1937 and from the very first lines, I was already in love. Here they…
Meet the Main Characters of Hope in a Time of Dying
Set in 1994, during the height of the AIDS epidemic, Hope in a Time of Dying begins with Hope and Ben making the life-changing decision to leave their small Texas town for Los Angeles. The rerouting of the highway has financially damaged their antique business, leaving them with little choice but to seek a new…
Why I Wrote Hope in a Time of Dying
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…
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
20 Minutes a Day 