Writing
The character of a woman
March is Women’s History Month. It’s a time when we look at the accomplishment of women throughout history. As a writer, I create women characters, so today I’m reflecting on the difference between men and women. Many years ago, when I was an undergraduate, I had a close friend who devastated me with one comment. … Read more
Magic Pill: An almost true tale of my childhood
I died the summer of 1976. Thank God it didn’t stick. I blamed The Brothers. That’s what I called them. They were a collective rather than singular beings. I often tattled on them for using me for live target practice with their Daisy Red Ryder. I could have lost an eye. My stuffed polar bear … Read more
Nostalgia
I’m deep in the winter doldrums as we brace for another round of storms here in Virginia. My husband and I spent yesterday afternoon getting firewood for the woodstove in the event we lost power again. I made a mental note that any farmhouse we purchase when he retires must have a large, working fireplace … Read more
Summer of ’72
This is a flash fiction piece I wrote this weekend for a contest. The contest assigned historical fiction, wagon, and daybook. Each of these had to appear in a story of 1,000 words or less. I used elements from my childhood in Colorado. Our first home had an old wagon and a rock fence. I … Read more
All Things Writing
Today, I was interviewed by podcaster and horror writer, Bryan Nowak, on why I write cozy mysteries and why they appeal to readers. I believe that they provide a hint of comfort and restore order to the world every time an amateur sleuth solves a crime. Many of us our armchair detectives who enjoy a … Read more
“Grab the net! She’s talking to herself again!”
Yes, I do talk to myself, and no, I don’t answer. Well, let me clarify. This Friday’s writing tip is to read your writing aloud. When I finished my historic mystery novel this year and started the editing process, I read every word. Out loud. I read it aloud to myself (and the two JRTs … Read more
Wednesday’s Fun Fact
This image appeared on the front page of the Abilene Daily Record on November 11,1918. World War I ended and the nation worked to recover. The generation who came of age during World War I and into the Roaring Twenties was often called the Lost Generation because they tended to act recklessly. Hedonism and accumulation … Read more
