Throughout our city, wherever we traveled, we heard it. In grocery stores, libraries, Target and Wal-Mart — even during church services where it occurred in stereo sound — one person in the aisle echoed by someone across the room. The Great Cough of 2016. In spite of our vitamins, clean eating and daily spraying through […]
When Christmas Changes Read More »
What does it take to run down a dream? The answer to that question becomes post number four of my gratitude series. The dream of a young girl, perched inside the barky womb of her favorite elm tree. Adolescent limbs swinging from an upper branch. Book opened. Devouring words and dreaming of becoming an author.
Hope in the Gratitudes – Post 4 Read More »
During this Thanksgiving season, I am grateful for sensory perceptions. Writers are encouraged to include the five senses in our manuscripts, and most of us do a good job with sight and hearing. But it’s a little harder to add touch, taste and smell without sounding contrived. Even so, this year I am most grateful
Hope in the Gratitudes – Post 2 Read More »
During the month of November, I want to focus on special gratitudes. Makes sense, right? During Thanksgiving month we should be grateful. But this year, I want to dig a bit deeper than the usual, “Thank you for health, for food, for the roof over my head.” This year, the focus is a series of
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As I started my research for No Visible Scars, I had plenty of material to draw from. One out of four women live in destructive relationships. This includes women whose husbands are corporate executives, church leaders and elected officials. Abused women live within every possible demographic. Yet we don’t always connect abuse with violence. Everyone
Hope Encounters the Truth Read More »
In a previous post, I wrote about the racial diversity of Santa Fe. But a different type of diversity encouraged me, humbled me and taught me to be more open to those around me. During my week in Santa Fe, I met writers who were Jews, Buddhists, atheists, Shamans, Christians and a mixture of faiths
When Acceptance and Hope Meet Read More »
For one glorious week, I lived the unplugged life in Santa Fe, NM. No social media. Even turned off my phone. Wrote long hand on a legal pad. My purpose for going to Santa Fe was to attend the Creative Reboot Conference – an amazing weekend of workshops for the sole purpose of tapping into
Hope Unplugs in Santa Fe Read More »
Someone recently asked me, “What do you do to find rest?” My oxymoron reply, “I have to intentionally work to find rest.” Except for the times when life throws me in bed with an illness or unresolved grief, I have to plan for rest. My strong work ethic was forged on the family farm where
Hope Searches for Rest Read More »
Although we are several weeks past the beginning of the new school year, fresh school supplies still tempt me. I remember shopping at TG&Y with Mom, imagining what the new school year might bring. Would this be the year she would buy the box of 64 crayons with the sharpener on the back? Alas –
Hope Shines in School Supplies Read More »
Most of the time, I love nature. Flowers – certainly. The vibrant colors of autumn, the birds who gather on my deck, begging for another helping of seed. But this summer, my son and I encountered the villains of nature – vicious beasts who brought stress and despair as we battled against them. Wasps. The
Hope Fights Against Nature Read More »