Christmas is in full swing now. Almost every house on our street has Christmas lights up. Though I love the atmosphere those lights produce at night, I worry about the “gray-hair” guys putting up those lights on ladders. I understand it. They are fulfilling traditions, which can be a burden Read more
The wonderful group of authors connected with my publisher, Black Rose Writing, have created a list of authors willing to share their expertise. I consulted the author, Dr. Gary Gerlacher, who has a medical thriller series, on an ER scene in my book. He corrected a few misconceptions and got Read more
Life Transitions: Sometimes when I sit down to write my newsletter, I let the Universe lead me to the topic I am to write about. Recent circumstances have stirred up the topic of building resilience through life experiences. This month the resilience theme has continued to pop up. A few Read more
I missed book club this month but read Divine Vintage by Sandra L. Young anyway. This paranormal story began when protagonist Tess Burton, owner of a vintage clothing boutique, slipped into an Edwardian gown for a fashion show. Visions coming from the eyes of the dress owner overcame her. Aided Read more
Life Transitions: Today I am sitting at my second makeshift desk trying to find the determination to send out this newsletter. We had the unexpected happen. When we returned home from Texas, after my book publisher’s conference and an extended stay for our 50th wedding anniversary, we found warped floors Read more
The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty is a story full of interesting characters whose lives eventually weave together in an unusual, intriguing way. Each of Moriarty’s characters is unique while feeling authentic within their situation. I don’t want to give much of the plot away, but while her husband is Read more
Life Transitions: Butterflies rest when it rains because it damages their wings. It’s okay to rest during the storms of life. You’ll fly again when it’s over. You might agree that physical fatigue from emotional stress is more difficult to recover from. For those with chronic health issues or going Read more
Book Review: Barbara Boehm Miller’s When You See Her is one of those character-driven stories you are not likely to forget. The protagonist, Sarah, is a 500 lb. young woman hidden away and trapped in her home with an abusive brother in a small town. When in need of a quick escape, Sarah Read more
Life Transitions: My husband is a retired Assistant Chief/Fire Marshal from the Olympia Fire Department, so we have had the privilege of returning to our roots to attend functions at what is now called Fire House Station #5. This station is not the traditional “fighting fire” type of fire station. It Read more
I meet the author of Happiness Falls, Angie Kim, on a Zoom book club discussion. What an honor, because her writing is top-notch. While reading her book, I kept thinking this story was like a domesticated Da Vinci Code because of the intelligent plot twists and the slow clue reveals. Read more