Yesterday I wrote about the earlier part of my life—including my husband and family. Today the focus is on my writing life. Again, this topic is inspired by a college essay prompt that one of my students received: interview yourself. Here’s the second part: Tell me about your writing. I began to write when my…
Tag: Writing
We’re More Than Labels
Today, I did something a little unusual. I was tired and while resting I started mentally listing all the people I knew growing up. I’m from a little Texas town of 7,000, and there were 125 people in my graduating class. Most of those people started with me in first grade and went all the…
Flash Fiction: Lesson from the Scrub Jay
“You could make a living doing that kind of thing,” Mary Jo said as she watched her sister refinish an oak coffee table in the shade of the backyard pecan tree. “I suppose I could, but I’ve never thought about it,” Louise said, running the tack rag gently over the sanded finish. “Maybe I’ll consider…
The View From Here: On Family, Writing, Faith, and the Peace of Enough
When I was younger, I imagined that by the time I reached this stage of life, I’d have quite the list of accomplishments. Surely, I’d be well-traveled, widely read, impressively fit, financially successful, and the proud author of at least three books—all while raising a wonderful family and enjoying a happy marriage. The reality looks…
From Texas to Tinseltown: My Surprising Encounter with Jamie Lee Curtis
Tonight, while I was gathering up my computer and trying to decide what I was going to write about, I glanced at one of our bookshelves. There was a book titled “Tony Curtis: The Autobiography,” featuring a picture of Tony Curtis as an older man. This made me think about one of my brushes with…
Flash Fiction: When Silence Breaks
It wasn’t that she didn’t love Jacob; he just drove her crazy. He was one of those men who never said what he was thinking, but instead turned silent and stared off into space whenever he was upset. That silence could stretch on for hours, leaving Mary to stew. Mary said to him, “Give me…
What Happens When Family Shows Up in Fiction?
One of the biggest reasons I hesitated to publish my novel Hope in a Time of Dying was because it was inspired by real life, and several of my family members play recognizable roles in the story. I worried that readers would assume the characters were exact portraits of my loved ones, and that every…
Flash Memoir: A Wrecked Model T
The car looked like a Model T, or what was left of it. It was more rightly, the carcass of a Model T with no wheels or tires, no engine, no seats. Only the body of the old car, rusted, bent, and disheveled, like an old woman with too many miles and too much booze. …
A Small Crowd, Big Connection: A Different Kind of Book Reading in Ojai
Today, I arrived at 1:30 for my 2 pm book reading and signing at the Ojai Public Library. I met Ellie, the librarian, who escorted Ray and me to the meeting room, and we worked out all the logistics: thermostat, seating, bathroom location, etc., then put out my in-law Cindy’s excellent cookies along with mineral…
First Job, Lasting Lessons
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…
20 Minutes a Day 