The Grand Theater, in downtown New Albany, Indiana, where I spent many babysitting quarters. If you scrunched down low enough in the seat, so you wouldn’t be spotted by the ushers, you could stay for the second showing. New Albany is more or less a character itself in my upcoming …
As a rule I am not overly sentimental. I am not one who saves stacks of photo albums or souvenirs or old …
In January, 2016 after doing a book discussion and signing for Blue Moon Vegan at Auntie’s Bookstore in Spokane, Washington, Phil and I were …
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 …
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 …