Last Thursday, Ray and I took the Amtrak train into LA from Ventura to work at the church, clearing out and cleaning the kitchen. The caterer, Scott, who had been renting the kitchen, fell on hard times due to a literal fall, a trip to the hospital, and the contraction of a life-threatening infection while…
Tag: Writing
Life on the Quirky Side
When my husband is bored or ready to leave or fed up with what someone is saying, he whistles. It is the same tune every time – a series of notes that go up and then go down – and he is not particularly aware that he is sending off this signal. When I comment…
Alan W. Watts: The Secret of Life
This is the real secret of life—to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play.” -Alan W. Watts. I believe this quote from Alan W. Watts is the absolute truth. The operative words are “engaged,” “here and now,” and “play.”…
The Road to Normal: Worth Repeating
I wrote this piece a while back, but it still rings true. I decided to share it with you tonight. Here’s to normal, however you may define that word in your particular, unique, and wonderful life. Len My husband said to me today, “Thank you for being so normal.” I replied, “Thank you back.” Not…
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…
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…
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!)…
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…
To My Late Brother John on His Birthday Tomorrow
Tomorrow is my late brother John’s birthday—the Ides of March. The flash memoir piece below is something I wrote a while back, but it feels fitting to repost it now. My oldest brother was a very good friend of mine. He had a wicked sense of humor and a way of saying precisely what I…
20 Minutes a Day 