Welcome
{ to my blog }.
Welcome to my blog.
Thanks for visiting my blog. My hope is to post every 1-2 weeks with a combination of adventure stories, craft/writing posts, book reviews, and other non-boring, exciting content to keep you coming back for more!
All I Want for Christmas
Christmas is my favorite time of year. I MUST watch the Albert Finney musical version of the Christmas Carol, Scrooge, while I wrap presents, and I turn on the twinkling lights and plug in my Christmas trees before I pour my first cup of coffee. Anticipation of Santa...
A Night of Adventure – For Parents
Last night the tooth fairy came to our house. I've heard that the tooth fairy usually got up at 4:30 am and usually went to bed quite early around the same time as the toothless child. So this meant dragging herself out of bed in the wee hours of the morning to...
Let’s Write a Novel: It’s Time for Nanowrimo
Anyone can write a book. I firmly believe this. That doesn't mean that it will be a grand novel or best-seller right out of the gate, but a novel crafted by your own hard work is a huge accomplishment. November 1st launches National Novel Writing Month - or...
Writing First Pages and the Insight of Jill Santopolo – Editor at Philomel Books
It was another fantastic SCBWI-Iowa conference in Cedar Rapids this past weekend and my fingers can't keep up with the ideas that are spewing from my brain! So many great talks and helpful advice, and I will share the topics of FIRST PAGES and the valuable insight...
Anxiety: Overcoming the Monster
Heart thumping into my ears. A fullness in my throat – is someone choking me? The sweat pools and my deodorant surely can’t keep up with this river of emotion. Do I swear, cry, scream, or run away to the countryside? I just want to put on my flannel pants and curl up...
Lies, Secrets, and Mystery. Author E. Lockhart delivers.
I am typically not a fan of contemporary, realistic fiction because I prefer to read about fantastic worlds for an escape from my own, but author E. Lockhart always delivers. Two YA novels I recommend because they sucked me in with the suspense, the unknown, and...
American Gothic: A Short Story
Writing assignment: “Choose a painting, and then make up a story about the scene taking place in it.” It was your average morning. Chester complained that his eggs were too runny, the bacon was not crispy enough, and that the lack of rain causing the corn crop...
Picture Books: Oh, That’s Easy! (NOT)
Writing a picture book is NOT easy. It's complicated, challenging, and requires the precise combination of words to tell a story with a story arc containing conflict with a resolution in exactly 32 pages. Sounds easy, right? Everyone seems to think so. Children's...
The Power of Music
Stuck on the couch. No motivation. UNTIL – I pop in my earbuds and the music starts playing. My step lightens and I walk my dog for miles to the tunes. The music lifts my spirits and provides motivation. Imagine Dragons, Lady Gaga, Coldplay, Sia, and classic Queen...
Allowing Failure
Parenting needs to come with a rule book. I may have a few college degrees, but a secondary education doesn't prepare you for teenage girls and raising responsible adults. I have a good handle on keeping them well-fed and healthy, and I routinely enforce a good nights...
Picture Books Can Help Conversations With Children Amidst an Atmosphere of Hate
News headlines of hate and people run down in the streets. How do we talk to our children about this? I live in Midwest Iowa in a predominantly white, rural community. I know white privilege, but my goal is to learn, understand, listen and respect everyone equally. In...
Back to School Blues
Ten days and counting until the bus pulls up and whisks the girls away to another year of school. I should be doing cartwheels across the lawn because their bickering and whining will cease, the constant need to entertain will end, and silence can wrap me up like a...