-
Sunday Snippet: The Weeping Time Edition
It’s almost December 19, and the 10-year anniversary (what a strange word to use in this context) of losing my sister Kate. Wicked cancer stole her from us too soon. PJ and I both still maintain that a third of us is missing, and that is so very true. But this part of December–the first couple of weeks have become a gray time for me since Kate’s passing. I’m not sure if it’s the anticipation of the anniversary or the starting the holidays without her…again, but I am weepy and sad and wishing desperately that she was here. So many times since December 19, 2014, I’ve thought, okay, now it’s…
-
Sunday Snippet: The It’s a Mom Thing Edition
This Thanksgiving weekend, when we were all together as family, I realized something significant. It wasn’t startling, but I saw it in all the parents/grandparents who sat around my sister’s huge, but cozy table. It’s this. We never ever stop being parents—once you have a child, you’re signed up for life and beyond. We moms suffer just as much when our child struggles at age 45 as we did when they fell and broke their arm at age 5. I once heard that a mother is only as happy as their unhappiest child. I don’t know if that’s true or not because I only have one, but I do know…
-
Sunday Snippet: The River’s Edge Is Happening Edition
I’m old enough to remember when people would say something was “happening.” You know, like “it’s a happening place”? I’m not sure when that phrase started or when it stopped being part of the vernacular, but this past week, my little town of River’s Edge, Indiana, was a happening place–for real. Let me explain… River’s Edge, my fictional town on the Ohio River, is inspired by a real town on the Ohio River called Madison, Indiana. Madison is a lovely place, filled with history and culture and art and wonderful kind folks. It’s one of my very favorite places to visit, and when I wanted a setting for my sweet,…
-
Sunday Snippet: The Deep Sigh Edition
Every morning, I meditate. I sit in the wing chair in the dark living room, and I use an app called Insight Timer to begin each day. I find that the meditations offered there help me get through the day. One of the things the teachers there talk about is our breath. How we breathe affects so much of how we feel. When Husband and I took a yoga class several years, we learned to focus on “the breath.” That was where I learned the in for four, hold for four, out for four, which I depend on when the world goes mad and I feel like screaming. The instructors…
-
Sunday Snippet: The Snap Judgments Edition
I was thinking about snap judgments–how we all make them and how we all have them made about us. Here’s what got me started–social media trolls. Bear with me, I promise I’m going to make this connect. At least ten or twelve times a week (sometimes that many in a day!) I get friend requests on Facebook and even more on Instagram from trolls–either random bots or really bored and kinda sleazy guys looking for attention. No, I’m not going to be your friend because you “like my smile” or you think I’m “gorgeous” and you “can’t stop thinking about me.” Seriously? You don’t even know me, dude. Being blonde…
-
Sunday Snippet: The We’re on Hiatus Edition
Yup, we’re taking a break this Sunday–I have to be at poll worker training early this morning, and besides, you’ve seen way too much of me this week! I’m giving you a break from Nan and all things book-release related today! (You’re welcome!) But I will be back next week to share whatever’s on my mind … see you here next Sunday! However … (there’s always a however, isn’t there?) However … I still want to share the something that delighted me this week, and it wasn’t my book release, although that was grand! It was being with our kids on Friday night for the Headless Horseman Hayride at Conner…
-
Sunday Snippet: The It’s Been a Week Edition
And so it has…been a week, I mean. Husband and I both got flattened by a dreadful flu virus–the week we were planning to go get our flu shots. Sigh. Obviously, that’s been put off for another week. We are both doing better by now, although I’m a couple of days ahead of dear Husband because I started showing symptoms on Sunday and he didn’t feel crummy until about Wednesday. I even moved into the guest room so I wouldn’t breathe on him while we slept, but unfortunately that tactic didn’t serve us. The doc verified it was a flu virus and not Covid when I took Husband in on…
-
Sunday Snippet: The It’s Officially Autumn Edition
I read an article a few years ago that talked about Autumn resolutions–how they’re much easier than New Year’s resolutions because they’re inner resolutions. A fall renewing of your spirit and determination. I like that idea—just a quiet resolve to do better. The worrying thing will need work this fall–the knot in my stomach is back, I think mostly because of politics. That whole situation terrifies the tar outta me, but outside of voting, what can I do? I need to do something, so I’ve volunteered to work the polls for the first time in at least 20 years. Otherwise, I’ll just live my life, love my family and friends,…
-
Sunday Snippet: The Post-Retreat Musings Edition
I’m in a post-retreat haze. It happens every year after Liz and I get back from our semiannual (it means twice a year, I looked it up!) writing retreat. We do one in January in a little town in the hills of Southern Indiana and we do one in October, usually somewhere in Michigan. At every retreat, we write and talk and eat and drink wine and write and process and talk endlessly and write… Oh, and did I mention that there’s always great wine and chocolate and lots of good food? (I think I might have, but it bears repeating.) We don’t do restaurants quite as much as we…
-
Sunday Snippet: The It’s Not Christmas Yet, But…Edition
It is only September, but for me, for River’s Edge, it’s almost Christmas! When I write a holiday-themed romance, it’s usually during the gray days of February or the cool rainy days in early April. That’s because for a book to be released during the holidays, it has be done and ready for production by May. So am I feeling the holidays at those times? Not so much. I’m just over the holidays at that point. But I sit down at my desk, close my eyes, and take myself back to River’s Edge in December. The shops are all decorated with twinkle lights and green and red garland. Carly has…