Life Transitions: We recently had a stressful situation. Compared to some of the devastation in our country from fires and flooding, I shouldn’t complain. To lessen my distress, I often say, “This could have been worse.” To summarize, we came home from my publisher’s conference and found our hardwood floors in Read more
Small acts of kindness can transform your life and the lives of others. We need that more than ever right now. I don’t know about you, but what’s happening in the world can make me anxious about the future. So many disasters are occurring, there is an abundance of finger-pointing, Read more
As 2025 slides into focus, I felt the pressure to make a plan for how I wanted this new year to unfold. We might all be conditioned to set goals or make mission statements as one year ends and a new one begins. You also might have watched the New Read more
Book Review: The Wedding People by Alison Espach caused quite a lively discussion for the Camas book club I attended. The story is about Phoebe Stone, who books the only room left in a gorgeous boutique hotel. The rest of the hotel is rented for the week to the wedding Read more
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