Gratitude
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Sunday Snippet: The I Got Nothin’, So Fast Facts Instead Edition
Liz and I often talk about how hard it can be to write a weekly column. It isn’t that we don’t enjoy the writing, we certainly do because, you know, writing. It’s just that sometimes topics can be elusive. We are both fascinating women, but even as interesting as we are, we don’t always have something brilliant to say. With that in mind, today, I’m giving you five fast facts about me–things you might not already know (although that will surprise me, I’ve been around for quite a while) and then I’m going to ask you to give me five fast facts about yourself in the comments? Sound fun? Good……
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Sunday Snippet: The Dog Days of Summer Edition
I think we are currently in the dog days—the hot, sultry days of late summer. I looked up why we called them the dog days, and the reason is kinda interesting. Per Google: “The dog days of summer refer to the hottest, most sultry weeks of the summer, usually running from early July to mid-August. People call them this because the ancient Romans blamed this hot weather on the star Sirius, known as the “Dog Star,” which rises and sets with the sun during this time.” Whatever you call these mid-to-late days of August, it has certainly been sultry and hot here in the Midwest. The windows on our house…
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Sunday Snippet: The Nan and Min’s Big Day Edition
Yup, yesterday was a big day. I participated in the Indy Author Event for the first time. It was quite a day of meeting new authors and new readers, and catching up with long-time friends who are authors and readers. As a participating author, I had two tickets to give away, so way back last fall, I’d gifted them to a couple of readers at a book club. I was delighted when Marcia and Sue appeared at my table to say hello, grab a quick hug, and buy books. I had my booth babe, Min, with me and she kept me organized and on track, restocking book stacks, taking…
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Sunday Snippet: Those Lazy, Hazy, Not-so-Crazy Days Edition
We’ve been up here at the lake for a few days and I’ve been unnaturally lazy. Not inspired, not motivated, not anything really. I’ve been swimming and working as I always do up here, because as I’ve said repeatedly, I just pack up my act and take it on the road when we come up to the lake. (Thank heaven for laptops!). But no stirring of ambition that’s making me want to jump up and down. And maybe that’s okay. Do we always have to be fired up? At my age, constantly being “on” feels exhausting, and I have to psych myself up for “on” times. (I have one coming…
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Sunday Snippet: The Reasons to Be Glad this Fourth Edition
This one will be short because honestly, if I don’t keep it short and sweet this weekend, I could easily get off on a rant that would serve no one but me. However, I will say that it’s been hard to feel celebratory this Fourth of July. Some things helped, though … PBS’s annual “A Capitol Fourth.” Watch it even if it is July 5. It will make you feel good about the United States again and give you hope. Click and watch. You’ll be glad you did. Brandi Carlile’s version of “America the Beautiful” sung in front of the Statue of Liberty will touch your patriotic soul and again,…
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Sunday Snippet: The Father’s Day Musing Redux Edition
Y’all, it’s Father’s Day, so I’m posting a Father’s Day message I’ve posted before because honestly, it’s the one that tells it all for me. So… here you go… updated slightly, and with random pics of my two favorite dads stuck in here and there… ~*~*~*~ For many years, Father’s day was an…uncomfortable holiday for me. My dad left our family when I was 6 years old, and was never really in my childhood, except for the occasional times of us going to where he worked to pick up the few dollars he was willing to give us. He rarely paid support and my mom worked her tail off going to…
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Sunday Snippet: The Yup, Nan’s Got Nothin’ Again Edition
Yeah, again, I’ve got nothin’ this morning. Life has been a little bit overwhelming this week as I’ve tried to decompress from RAGT26. We headed to the lake, which always helps because life seems less burdensome here, but I still have to write and work on editing gigs no matter where I open my laptop. So, I’m writing like a fiend trying to finish this book by deadline, as well as editing like crazy on two projects. Writer bestie Liz says when you have nothing, make a list. I thought about a list, but then I remembered that I have a list–“A Year of Journal Prompts.” Why wouldn’t that work…
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Sunday Snippet: The RAGT26 Edition (A Quick Post!)
Hi, Peeps! I’m very late today, but I wanted to do a quick post for you. I just got home from RAGT26 (Reader Author Get Together 2026) in Cincinnati. Met so many great authors and so many wonderful readers! What a trip! Carol Light and I were roomies for this 4-day event and we had such a good time together. We got to meet and talk to readers in our Boardroom on Wednesday. Our luncheon on Thursday was a low-key, but lovely event, and our Dinner with an Author crew was simply delightful! Lots of laughter and fun and so so many new friends! Big love to Jane Porter and…
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Sunday Snippet: The I’m Not Really Here Edition
Okay, so that’s not exactly true. I’m here, but I’m crazy busy getting ready to not be here. On Tuesday, I’m headed to RAGT26–the annual Reader Author Get Together in Cincinnati. Pal, fellow Tule author, and fab travel buddy, Carol Light and I are both participating in this event, which is a huge author/reader … well, get-together. About 50 authors and around 350 readers connect for a three-day book lovefest. There are events scheduled for darn near every moment, including a luncheon that Carol and I are hosting (pal and fellow Tule author J.C. Kenney is also sponsoring, but is unable to attend). We are also going to be hosting…
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Sunday Snippet: The Memorial Day Memories Edition
The older I get, the more I crave community—like-minded people who enjoy the same things I do, who believe in the same things I believe in, who want the same things I want. Not just in the social sense, but in all areas of my life. It’s why I joined the newest chapter of Romance Writers of America last year, and why I belong to the Editorial Freelancers Association, why I meet up with my Lovelies for lunch, why I go on retreats with Lizzie twice a year, and why I read the blogs I read and participate with comments. It’s why I stay on Facebook and Instagram and Bluesky,…