Stories from River's Edge
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Sunday Snoppet, er, Snippet: The Writing Is Hard Work Edition
Someone once asked me to share something I learned since becoming a writer. The list is endless, but there a couple of things I can name right off the top of my head. The first is writing is hard work. Anyone who tells you different is either lying or not a writer. It doesn’t matter whether you’re writing a novel or a back cover blurb, a short story or a 500-word magazine article. Writing is hard. It requires discipline and creativity, time and research, and most of all a love of the game. If you don’t love to write, if the process itself isn’t an intrinsic part of who you…
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Author Spotlight: Me Again with News and a Giveaway
Cathy Shouse and Latesha, you are my winners! I’ll get an e-book copy of Falling for the Doctor to both of you! I don’t have my usual guest today. I think everyone is recovering from the holidays and trying to get started on 2023, just as I am. But I got some good news from my amazing publisher, Tule Publishing. Some pre-order links for Home to River’s Edge are up! I’m so very excited about this new series–The Weaver Sisters. They’ve have been rambling around in my head since I wrote Max Lange’s story, and they keep whispering, “Tell our stories, please!” So I did and I am (Books 1 and…
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Sunday Snippet: The I Shall NOT be THAT Old Lady Edition
I fear 2023 may turn out to be the year of Nan questioning everything that happens–not complaining, mind you, just wondering why and trying not to chalk all manner of body issues up to, let’s say it together now–Nan’s fat ass. This week has been truly awful, my friends, because I’ve had an abscessed molar that caused me incredible pain–worst pain ever, and I’ve had arthritis for years, a broken foot, and a baby without any anesthetic. People say mouth pain is the worst and they are not lying about that. I finally saw an endodontist on Thursday who said the tooth was too angry to work on that day,…
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Author Spotlight: It’s Me!
Happy New Year again, mes amies. I’m using my first Author Spotlight day of 2023 to bring you some fun news and to tell you about the new series I have coming this year from Tule Publishing. Right off, news! Guru Son put a Subscribe link here on my website, so now you can subscribe to the website and stay up-to-date with all the news from me, like new releases, book signings, speaking engagements, Author Spotlights, and Sunday Snippets. We’re still working out the kinks, but please do click and subscribe if you’re inclined, and I promise not to bombard you with emails. My new River’s Edge series, The Weaver…
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Sunday Snippet: The How Is It Possibly 2023? Edition
Good morning! I actually know the answer to this one–days pass, time goes on, life continues whether we are prepared for it to do that or not. I’m not going to set intentions or goals or resolutions or even find a word for the year. Neither am I going to reflect back on 2022. Y’all were there. No need to rehash what turned out to be a difficult year for me. I am, however going to name the things for which I am thankful from 2022 because gratitude is key to everything else in life. If we aren’t grateful for what we have– the ups and the downs–how can we…
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Sunday Snippet
Well, it’s Sunday again… how did that happen? It’s been a very quiet Thanksgiving weekend with a lovely dinner at sister Pam’s house and otherwise just hanging out here at home, working and writing. Yesterday, we got our holiday decorations down from the attic–is it me or do the boxes seem to multiply up there in the heat over the summer? Husband and I broke into them and got all our outside lights and decorations put up since it was quite a nice day. They turned out pretty nice, don’t you think? There’s a lot going on promotion wise for The Fireman’s Christmas Wish. Right off, we’ve got a terrific…
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Sunday Snippet: The Heartfelt Edition
Okay, as you know from my post a couple of weeks ago, I’m dealing with heart issues again–seems like when I very first started this blog way back when, I was having stupid heart issues. Yup, I’ve been dealing with this since December 2011. So, I’m back on a 7-day heart monitor (those puppies have changed a lot in 11 years) and on Tuesday, I have an echocardiogram, which will tell the cardiologist why I’m breathless and tired just walking around the block or going up a flight of stairs. I’m really, really hoping he doesn’t tell me it’s because I’m fat and post-menopausal because if that’s his diagnosis, I’m…
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Sunday Snippet: The Snowy, Yup, It’s a Snippet Edition
Hiya, happy Sunday. Well, okay, it’s actually Saturday morning and it’s snowing here in the city (probably up at the lake cottage, too, from the look of the radar), and we are snug in our little brick house enjoying this view. I love snow, particularly the first snow of the season. It makes me want hot chocolate and a fire in the fireplace, a soft snuggly sweater and a good book. And speaking of good books… See what I did there? It’s called a transition or a segue. It’s an author trick to lead readers to the next part of the story. That one wasn’t very subtle, but it’s fun…
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Sunday Snippet: The Chasing Summer Edition
It’s October 30 and it’s chilly and a little breezy here at the lake—crisp autumn chilly. The sun has been shining all weekend, until today. Clouds are rolling in and I think we’re due some rain. We raked leaves yesterday and hauled 10 golf-cart loads to the detritus pile up on the hill. It’s truly fall… and now I’m wondering what the hell happened to summer? I know summer was here—after all the cottage is still open (although we’re closing up soon). I vaguely remember a boat ride or two, several swims in the lake, although not nearly as many as previous years, and a lot of editing work, and…
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Sunday Snippet: The I’m Used Up Edition
I’m not whining, I promise. But it’s been a pretty busy week and the weeks ahead look mighty full as well. I’m already longing for a writing retreat and we just got back from one a couple of weeks ago. Book release is wonderful and humbling and somehow the imposter syndrome kicks in, which I’m trying very hard to damp down. I am a good writer and I should own that and enjoy the flurry of book release praise and move on. The Fireman’s Christmas Wish is a good book–a well-told story and I love these two characters as much I’ve loved any I’ve written before or since. But I…