January 1 is a time for resolutions and I just made one I know I'll have no trouble sticking with throughout the year. This afternoon, I learned about the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge, and since impulse serves me best in situations like … [Continue reading]
The humble gift of long-lasting love. As Christmas Eve rolls around, I check to make sure I have all the fixings for our waffle supper. Waffles mark Christmas Eve in our house as surely as Santa and the Christmas tree. It's a tradition that goes … [Continue reading]
Trigger a trip down memory lane with Growing Up Country - On Sale! We've all been told that "good things come to those who wait." But this week, the best deals come to those who act fast. If you have a Kindle, a wealth of happy memories can be … [Continue reading]
Inspiration to take big steps often comes from others.When I was 51 years old, I screwed up my courage and left behind the title, the pay check, and the prestige of the corporate world to become a writer. Many things contributed to my ability to make … [Continue reading]
Finding perspective and gratitude after suicide. When I thought about my senior years, I imagined spending a good deal of time with my older sister, Jane. Though she lived in Pennsylvania and I in Iowa, we found increasing time together as we grew … [Continue reading]
A night in jail offers a change of venue to explore issues of control. I've slept on floors that were softer than the mattress in my cell. The pillow was hard enough to knock someone out in a pillow fight. Standing on tiptoe, I could look out the … [Continue reading]
What makes a family? What makes a nation? What holds them together? What tears them apart? My guest today, author Christoph Fischer, explores those ideas in his books, The Three Nations Trilogy. I recently read "The Black Eagle Inn," the third book … [Continue reading]
Before women were on the battlefield, they played an important role Whether on the battlefield or on the home front, women have been involved in supporting war efforts since the beginning of time. In honor of Veterans Day, I'm re-blogging Ben … [Continue reading]
Many indie authors choose not to shell out for an editor. But the right relationship can make writing soar. Not the tiniest piece of crap eluded her. She invariably landed squarely on what was wrong and left me to face it down, if I could." - … [Continue reading]
Today I'm over at Shirley Showalter's blog talking about how good memoirs include themes that connect with readers. Meanwhile, Shirley is here sharing a story from her new memoir BLUSH: A Mennonite Girl Meets the Glittering World, As part of our … [Continue reading]
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