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.

"Just in Time" research for writing

By Carol / 08 February 2013 /

As a reader, historical fiction entices me because I learn about a different place and time. I admire the author’s ability to choose just the right details to transport me to another era without bogging…

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5 Yoga Exercises For Your Writing Routine

By Carol / 04 February 2013 /

Not long ago, I wrote about how walking stimulates my writing. Writer and yoga instructor Stephanie Renée dos Santos commented that she’s found yoga to be a great help to her writing. I asked her…

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TAN – A story of exile, betrayal and revenge – Book Review

By Carol / 25 January 2013 /

TAN by David Lawlor is a gripping novel that tells the story of Irishman Liam Mannion, beginning before World War I and continuing into the Irish War of Independence. Framed for a crime he didn’t…

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Nurturing Creativity – Six Steps to a Successful Retreat

By Carol / 17 January 2013 /

Each morning I turn on my computer, open up the files, and write. By myself. For hours. Writing is a solo activity, at least much of the time. My story. My time at the keyboard.…

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What legacy will we leave?

By Carol / 14 January 2013 /

When I was a little kid growing up in Iowa, we seldom saw Bald Eagles, even though we lived near the Mississippi River. When we did chance to spot one, everyone, children and adults, looked…

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The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap – Historical fiction relevant to today

By Carol / 07 January 2013 /

As a reader and now writer of historical fiction, I’m always interested when an author tells a story that not only realistically captures an interesting place and time but also carries a story with themes…

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Passing on the scone tradition

By Carol / 24 December 2012 /

Holiday traditions usually pass down to the next generation. But this holiday, our family passed a tradition both down the line and back up. My sisters and I were in 4-H where we spent many…

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What colors do you see in history?

By Carol / 11 December 2012 /

I’ve begun hand quilting a quilt my grandmother began over 100 years ago. This quilt is a riot of colors and designs in floral shapes and it has me thinking about how I think about…

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How do you write words that sing?

By Carol / 27 November 2012 /

Really good authors make me see the places, feel the emotions, understand and relate to the challenges the characters face. Good authors make me care, whether the time is 300 years ago or 3,000 years…

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Channeling my mother

By Carol / 24 November 2012 /

The week before Thanksgiving, I received an email from a friend. She was hosting Thanksgiving dinner and needed a recipe for stuffing. She’d been on line looking, but those recipes were all fancy ingredients. She…

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