Blog

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.
The senators who met with President Trump when he used “tough” language by his own account, racist language according to others, faced a character challenge. Speak up or not? Speaking truth to power is no…
Read MoreI turned on the car radio last week and was surprised to hear the announcer introduce me. The Iowa Public Radio interview, which focused on growing up in Iowa, had aired in October. The now-taped…
Read MoreI’m pleased to share the cover of my upcoming novel, Simple Truth. The design is the work of Jenny Toney Quinlan, the talented designer who created the first edition cover of Go Away Home. A…
Read MoreDo you have a dream reading space? someone asked me. A place with just the right furniture, light, atmosphere, to allow you to enjoy a good read? I had no immediate response because I’d never…
Read MoreI don’t remember how I learned to read. What I do know is that I could read from earliest memory. Books were part of my life, from comics in the daily paper to Saturday-morning trips…
Read MoreNinety-nine years ago, on November 11, 1918, the Allies and Germany signed the Armistice to end fighting in the First World War. On that same day, my grandfather Carl died. My grandfather did not, however,…
Read MoreDrum roll, please. Today I’m excited to unveil a fresh new, mobile-friendly look for my website – www.carolbodensteiner.com As I move closer to the launch of my next novel, it’s time to revisit all my…
Read MorePainted ladies dance In joyful kaleidoscopes Through warm autumn days This morning as I walked, I found myself surrounded by butterflies. There were so many, I stopped in wonder. And in joy. They flickered in…
Read More“Dress for success.” “Clothes make the man/woman.” “Dress for the job you want.” I had cause to re-think these oft-heard phrases in the context of poverty and privilege when I read a memoir about a…
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