Blog

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As a curious observer of life, I blog on writing, marketing, my prairie - anything that interests me in the moment. I like to have conversations with readers, so don’t hesitate to leave a comment. I'll respond.

Giving away 1 million books

By Carol / 19 December 2011 /

Want to help give help away a million books? The organizers of World Book Nightare looking for 50,000 passionate readers to do just that on April 23, 2012. Anna Quindlen, novelist and honorary chairwoman of…

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Who has the rights?

By Carol / 22 November 2011 /

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot My rating: 5 of 5 stars Do you own the cells of your own body? Do you get to have a say in who uses your…

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Alzheimer's – What if it were me?

By Carol / 25 August 2011 /

Reporters say the sports world was rocked by the news that nationally known Tennessee coach Pat Summitt announced that she has early onset dementia – Alzheimer’s.  I say any of us in our 50s and…

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The resiliency of children

By Carol / 08 August 2011 /

Francie Nolan grew up in an exceedingly poor Irish family in Brooklyn in the early 1900s.  Her story is chronicled in the classic A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith.  Facing hours on the…

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The work of wolves

By Carol / 27 July 2011 /

Our book club just discussed The Work of Wolves by Kent Meyers. Described as ‘an expansive novel of great emotional depth,’ this book delivers a powerful read. Set in South Dakota, the author establishes the…

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Attracting bluebirds

By Carol / 19 April 2011 /

If you’d like to know more about the habits of bluebirds, build a bluebird nesting box or just look at pretty bluebird pictures, this book could be for you. I was attracted to “The Bluebird…

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What separates us?

By Carol / 13 January 2011 /

What lines divide us? Who put them there? What happens if you step across? Kathryn Stockett’s novel The Helpchallenges readers to think about that. Stockett takes us back to Jackson, Mississippi, in the 1960s, a…

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It's up to you

By Carol / 21 May 2010 /

Is happiness within your grasp? According to the Dalai Lama, it is the goal of life to achieve happiness and whether we do or not is up to each of us. The perspective we take…

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Writing a place in time

By Carol / 02 March 2010 /

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres.  To experience life in a different place and a different time fascinates me. As a writer aspiring to write historical fiction, I read these books with one…

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Picking up the pieces

By Carol / 20 January 2010 /

Yesterday’s hoar frost was followed by freezing rain over night. This morning I’m watching an ice storm wreak havoc outside my window. Limbs are coated with ice. The double whammy of wind and ice is…

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