The Work Has Many Parts

What do you think of when I say I’m “writing?” I suspect most people envision the creation of the first draft of a book, the putting of words on paper, er, or into a word processor, This week I’ve been putting down words, creating new prose, at a steady pace. So. Writing. In some ways […]

You Win Some…

Sports and games have been part of our lives since the ancient Greeks, and probably much longer! Winning…losing… Once my son ran off the soccer field, anxious, looked up at me, and gasped, “What if we lose?” My answer was, “You get up tomorrow, get dressed, and go to school.” Life’s like that. Winning (however […]

Pie For Breakfast!

Why not cherry pie for breakfast? The holiday season is one long balancing act between hard work, extra effort, meditation, and celebration. I chose to start today with some leftover celebration. I couldn’t just leave it sitting all by its lonesome in that pie pan, could I? I’m running around on a gimpy foot so […]

Monday Blues

  It’s a rainy Monday here in the urban wilds of eastern Pennsylvania, and I’m having a bit of a let down after a delightful weekend. How was it delightful? Over one hundred and sixty folks came to help the Bluestocking Belles celebrate the launch of Follow Your Star Home, our newest holiday anthology: eight […]

Winds of Inspiration

First Coffee

The wind blows where it wills… It was super windy on Saturday, a gift from Hurricane Willa as it swept back out to sea and turned into a nor’easter blowing across the Jersey shore.  Tradition shows the Holy Spirit as a might wind, blowing wherever He chooses.  Inspiration is like that. I’m looking out at […]

One Little Candle

This morning dawned bright and crisp here in the urban wilds of eastern Pennsylvania. Yesterday’s sharp wind and clouds are gone, leaving sunshine. If there was frost, it dissipated before I got up, but it is cold out there. The bright sun gives me energy. I never mind the cold in winter, but I begin […]

Family ~ the Fourth One

Goodness! It is Monday afternoon and, yes, I’ve had a few cups of coffee already. Lately i’m running as fast as I can to keep up with myself.  In the past month I went to the Historical Romance Retreat, did a lightning trip to Ohio, and hosted family here. In and around that I’ve keep […]

Here Again, Gone Again

While I managed to get all the “must do” items from last week in on time, while catching up on being back, I failed completely to make progress on The Next Book, deepen my understanding of world events 1838-40 (I did say Next Book), or finish the draft for the Valentine anthology. SIGH. I did […]

Pollen and the Fog of Spring

How can something invisible make me so miserable?  I spent much of the weekend languishing in the recliner. I watched four lengthy documentaries and two feature films and also read three books. Why? Pollen people. When my breathing shuts down I get lethargic and wander around in a brain fog. It’s hard to write when […]

Weather, Atmosphere, and Storytelling

Lately, I’m obsessing on the weather. Winter has been unrelenting and the swings have been dramatic—rather like a well-plotted novel, but much less satisfying. Saturday night we ate out on our patio, enjoying a dead perfect evening—not too hot, not too cold, no bugs, bright sun—knowing full well such evenings are rare. It was 80 […]