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.

How important is the frame?

By Carol / 29 March 2016 /

A few years ago, as I walked the Crystal Bridges Art Museum grounds, I spotted a single picture frame set on posts in the middle of a soccer-sized field. Intrigued, I walked out to look…

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Readers make novel launch possible

By Carol / 07 July 2015 /

It’s launch day for the new edition of my novel GO AWAY HOME. If you haven’t read it yet, this is an excellent time to snag a copy. GO AWAY HOME is available on Amazon…

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Seven questions about publishing with Amazon

By Carol / 11 June 2015 /

Ever since Lake Union Publishing acquired my novel Go Away Home (re-launch on July 7), I get questions. Lots of them. About how it works, the advantages, the disadvantages. Jane Friedman invited me to answer the…

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Dressed up in a new cover – Go Away Home

By Carol / 02 June 2015 /

A drum roll, please … When my novel Go Away Home re-launches on July 7, it will sport this brand new cover. As an indie author responsible for all aspects of publishing, I have to…

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Are you aging like the prairie?

By Carol / 02 September 2014 /

As I walk my prairie this year, I’m struck by how it’s maturing. I was aware that flowers predominate in a newly established prairie while grasses take over in later years. This year, I’m seeing…

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What connects the short stories in a collection?

By Carol / 10 June 2014 /

As I delve into the art of short story writing, I’m also looking at how authors make the stories in a collection cohesive. S.R. Mallery wove together the stories in her book Sewing Can Be…

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How can writing short stories work for you? Six ways

By Carol / 30 May 2014 /

What’s next for my writing? With my novel Go Away Home set to publish in July, I’ve been thinking more and more about where to turn my writing energy next. Short stories have come up…

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What to do with 30,000 "excess" kids?

By Carol / 28 January 2014 /

Dealing with homeless children 100 years ago In the 1800s, boatloads of immigrants arrived in U.S. port cities. They came seeking the American dream; the reality they faced was often more a nightmare.  Large families,…

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Why do we smile?

By Carol / 05 August 2013 /

Line up for a photo. Someone says, “Say cheese!” Everyone grins. It’s automatic, isn’t it?  But it wasn’t always so. Until 1900,  smiles in photographs were as rare as hen’s teeth. Research into early 20th…

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Getting the historical details right

By Carol / 18 July 2013 /

Did farm women wear corsets in 1913? Is there a particular name for the everyday dresses they wore? How many acres could a farmer plant in a day and what was the equipment like? How…

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