I have always done my best, and most creative, thinking (and writing) when I spend time outside. It doesn’t matter if I’m hiking, walking, shoveling snow, or just hanging out. There’s something about the out-of-doors that feeds my soul. Many people, including my kids and close friends, have been offering not-so-gentle hints for years about moving. “But it won’t be safe to live there as you get older.” “What if you need medical attention? There’s not much there.” “How can you manage with so little shopping in what passes for a town?” The list is long. I could fill a …
Research: The Fiction Writer’s Best Friend (and Worst Time Thief)
Writing fiction is basically enrolling yourself in the University of Life, majoring in researching every topic under the sun. One moment, you’re looking at architecture to describe a house in your story, the next, you’re deep-diving into fast-acting poisons, maritime law, and what happens when someone mysteriously dies on a cruise ship. Maybe you’re learning how to read tarot cards for the fortune teller character you added to the mix or your figuring out which bull god the ancient Gauls worshipped while Caesar came knocking (hint: it’s the not-so-friendly Cernunnos — part god, part nightmare fuel). Whether you’re writing a …
Are you a procrastinator? Sometimes? All the time? Never?
If the answer is never, we probably could not be friends. LOL Things I like to procrastinate on… Dishes. I hate washing dishes. I do it, but I can always find soooo many things to do to avoid it. Bills. Nuff said. Drying my hair. I have been known to wear a towel on my head until I go to bed. My hair looks like Medusa, but whatever. LOL My job. Writing. Sometimes it’s easy and sometimes it’s like pulling teeth. Suffice it to say, I’m an excellent procrastinator. Although, I’ve realized sometimes it’s not a bad thing. For …
Procrastibaking: Vegan Blueberry Crumble Bars Edition
So, I should be writing, diving deep into my manuscript, crafting brilliant dialogue, untangling plot knots…but instead, I’m here, dreaming of summer, sunshine, and fresh berries. Naturally, that led me to what I like to call…procrastibaking (i.e., the art of putting off today what can be done tomorrow and baking instead!). This time, I whipped up some Vegan Blueberry Crumble Bars, and let me tell you, they were absolutely smashingly delicious. And by “smashingly,” I mean I smashed them into my mouth, one after another, like I was training for a competitive eating contest. I have no regrets. The best …
The Gentle Art of Mindfulness
I developed a meditation practice years and years ago. I’d love to say I’ve been consistent in my practice, but life often got in the way. And then, I made an interesting discovery. I didn’t have to be sitting cross-legged on a yoga mat to be present. Ultimately, mindfulness simply means experiencing the current moment to its fullest. We make choices several times each day. We can choose to be fully in the moment, or we can choose to perseverate about something that happened yesterday–or last week. There’s quite a tendency to rehash past events. Or worry endlessly about stuff …
OMG. Exercising In Your 50s… LOL
Welp, I used to be in shape. Great shape. In my life before I was an author, I was an actress. I’ve done Broadway, TV and film. I danced my bahooky off in Chorus Line, Forty Second Street, Damn Yankees and many other shows. HOWEVER, as a writer I sit on that very same bahooky way too much. So, I’m doing what any sensible gal would do. I’m exercising again. It’s been alarming, hilarious and painful. Shall we discuss? Let’s. Walking is great. It’s not great when it’s colder than a witch’s tit outside. Right now, that’s the case. Walking …
It’s that time of year. Time to start anew.
I don’t think of New Year’s Day as a time of new beginnings. For me, it’s spring when the trees are budding and the weather begins to warm up. There’s a scent in the air that makes me feel like anything is possible. It’s fabulous. It’s magical. It’s the time of year to get rid of the cobwebs of winter and dreary days and make plans to kick some ass. I’m a list maker. It makes me feel safe. LOL Never have I ever completed all of the items on my list, but that’s just a reason to make a …
Twenty Years (or 140 Dog-Years) of Writing: An Author’s Evolution
February 2005, I submitted a paranormal novella to several online publishers. At that point, I was a seasoned collector of rejections, fully expecting to add a few more to my growing stash of “thanks, but no thanks” letters. But two weeks later, to my utter shock, I was offered my first book contract. That was twenty years ago. That’s 140 in dog years! Back then, I was thirty-six, juggling a full-time nursing career while pursuing a second degree in English. My son had just turned ten, my father-in-law was terminally ill, and my world felt like a whirlwind of responsibilities. …
Tasty treats for the dogs in the tundra….
I love my dogs. My dogs love me. They also apparently hate me. How do I know this? Well, let me explain—last night I was writing as usual and what to my wondering eyes should appear? Wanda. Wanda at the back door with something large, dark and frozen in her mouth. Her excitement was undeniable. Her tail was wagging so fast it almost disappeared. My stomach dropped. Was it an animal? No. Was it one of Steve’s boots? No. Was it a strangely shaped branch? No. It was a large frozen horse poop patty that my idiot dog thought she …
Simon’s Road to Recovery: A Tale of Love, Fear, and Healing
Let me start by saying that Simon is doing great now–thank heavens. Last year, I had a medical scare with my sweet boy Simon, who inspired the creation of Bob in my Grimoires of a Middle-aged Witch. It was a health issue that I had never known could or would be a problem, and because of my ignorance here nearly died. This is how it started… On February 11th, 2024: Simon started throwing up. Initially, I thought he was having a hairball or an upset tummy. He gets that occasionally, and it usually sorts itself out. Unfortunately, his symptoms worsened …