The writing life is mostly comprised of behind-the-scenes, butt-in-the-chair, angst-ridden periods of time in which you are completely certain you’ve made a horrible mistake. You aren’t truly a writer. No one will ever read your work. It will never be published, and if it is, it will only be read …
Phil and I this evening were talking about how much fun we have together. It’s true. We do. We laugh and talk …
2016, with its mirthless misery taught me with no uncertainty that nothing about this life is reliable. Entire chunks of a family …
Every journey begins with putting on your shoes. Or filling out an application for a scholarship to one of the best writing …
Phil is writing a book. He’s doing this one book festival at a time during the slow periods when people are tucked …
The minute you open yourself to a book’s possibility, synchronicity begins. It’s like buying a red Ford. Pretty soon, everywhere you go …
My father used to tell me about a warning in the Bible, a prophecy, about how, near the coming of the end …
Not too many of us get up first thing in the morning wondering what the latest book reviews have to say, but …
The Wizard of Oz was a favorite film of mine when I was a kid. It scared me to death—the tornado, those dead …
Personal reveal: Arnott’s cookies from Australia (made with wheat flour) don’t make me sick. We bought six different types of Arnott’s at …
I love astrology. I’ve been paying attention to what my Libra (Taurus ascending, Leo moon) life course is according to the stars …
If you’ve read Blue Moon Vegetarian, you know why this photo depicts a milestone. If you’ve ever renovated a kitchen, you also know …
Absolutely, if almost unbelievably true, NASA posted an incredible image of Western Australia on the day Jagged Edge of the Sky was released. Karma, …
Launch day arrives. Since Friday, I’ve been making myself available to chat virtually with my group of early readers. So far …
I stopped wearing a watch when I was a nurse. You heard me. A nurse who counts pulses and respirations without a …
Writing about Australia has not been easy. I live in the Western U.S., not Western Australia. Twice I’ve tried to plan trips …
Snowbells on early. Christmas cactus bloomed late. We’re arriving at spring before we got to winter, but considering the winters …
People who don’t write books may not completely understand the significance of cover reveal day. To put it into perspective, think about …
People having sex with the wrong people. That’s what my new book is about. I’m almost thankful my father isn’t here to …
I love keeping track of oddities that pique my attention when I’m travelling, especially if there is wisdom or a note of …
On my mind tonight is my dear friend Ed McClanahan, much-beloved Kentucky author of such well-regarded books as The Natural Man and O The …
True to my promise to myself, in September, when I dove into the autumn’s writing work full on, I also started …
CLEARWATER WRITERS THIRD SEMI-ANNUAL WOMEN’S RETREAT Nov. 20-25, 2015 Reflections Inn Kooskia, Idaho Picture this: a designated wild and scenic river; stands of evergreens; maybe …
Monday, Aug. 31 was National Trail Mix Day. I don’t know why. It just was. I feel I should have something poetic …