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Finding Italy…and Paris
It’s been a long time since I’ve been to Italy. I’ve never been to Paris. The closest I came to speaking French in another country was a visit to Quebec when I was in 7th grade. I began taking French classes that year—in 7th grade. Later, in high school, Mademoiselle Hammerstrom had our class read Les Misérables in French. In college, I took French classes as well. Last week, my husband and I started watching Stanley Tucci’s program Searching for Italy. My passport is updated and I’m ready to go. When it’s safe to travel again, I need to go to both of these countries. I make my father-in-law laugh…
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Well, it’s been a while…
Hello, there! I’ve been absent here for quite some time, and you may notice some changes. After 10 years of blogging, I have changed the name of the blog to reflect my author name. I thought it was about time. Nevertheless, taking a step away from blogging these past few months has been very good for me. I’ve revamped and recalibrated and have been able to focus on writing my books, as I’ve just finished writing and am now editing my fifth novel, tentatively called The Letters in the Books. Probably my most challenging story to tell thus far, it focuses on four main characters who are down on their…
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Show recommendations to binge-watch
Let me first start this blog post by saying this: It doesn’t matter if you know all the characters depicted in the writings of Charles Dickens; it doesn’t matter if you like or have ever played chess; and it doesn’t matter if you’ve ever worked in a senior facility. The shows I’m about to recommend to you are all wonderful distractions during our ongoing lockdowns. First up, DICKENSIAN. Available on Amazon Prime, Dickensian is a wonderfully done “who done it” romp through Dickens’ London as the characters from all of his books come alive as they cross paths and interconnect in this 10-part series. The biggest complaint I have about…
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Here’s Hoping for a Brighter 2021
Happy end of 2020 friends. Earlier, I went for a walk, cleared all the cobwebs of 2020 out of my brain as best as I could, and I’ve made room for more positivity in 2021. I’m not exactly sure there’s going to be a switch flipped and all will be normal starting tomorrow, but adjusting the mindset can be helpful. With what I’ve dealt with over the last three months, I’m hopeful that 2021 will bring some brightness. I don’t know about you, but when I finish writing a novel, it’s tough to jump right in and begin the daunting task of editing and reworking the darn thing. I need…
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Ending 2020 with a Manuscript and Some Thoughts
Monday 12.28.2020 At 10:15 p.m., I finally finished the first draft of the manuscript of my new novel. I typed the words “THE END,” but as we all know, it’s the beginning. Of edits. Of rewrites. Of additions and subtractions. Maybe even a tantrum or two. 😜 Gosh, I love this process. All of it. *** Tuesday 12.29.2020 Two doctors appointments today forced me to step on two scales at two different offices. I liked the numbers on the second scale better, to be honest. It was less indicative of all the Christmas cookies I’ve eaten over the last couple of weeks.🤪 2020 has been filled with tremendous highs and…
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A Writer’s Muse: Annapolis
Hello, Readers! Happy Holidays! I hope you are all doing well, despite our circumstances. I’m writing to you today, on Friday, at the end of the semester. Yesterday, all my grades were entered, and the semester has officially ended. While it wasn’t a perfect semester, I believe the students and I got through most of the important material we needed to cover, and I’m excited for the spring semester. Which leaves us with the space between now and when the semester begins in January for me to work on my novel. I love that space when I get to write—to really write. It’s exciting to dive in and begin to…
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Give the Gift of Books
If this year’s taught us anything, it’s that sometimes life throws us curve balls that are unforeseen. As we’ve all navigated this crazy 2020, sometimes the best remedy is to sink your teeth into a book that offers hope and positivity. I thought I’d share the novels I’ve been writing and publishing since 2012. If you need a gift for a reader, my books are available on BN.com and amazon.com. Here’s the list:Beneath the Mimosa Tree (2012): Can two friends who turn into lovers find forgiveness 10 years after one of them makes a mistake?.Baseball Girl (2015): After losing her father, a woman secures a job working in professional baseball…
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One of My Favorite Scenes
*** I’ve been decorating a little bit today for the holidays. I’m feeling terrible, still trying to deal with a chronic health issue, but I’m trying to remain positive and optimistic. Evert time I break out my Christmas decorations, I always think about a particular scene in my first novel, Beneath the Mimosa Tree. The scene unfolds at the holidays after ten years, when two former lovers and next door neighbors are reunited. After years of not speaking and feeling anger and guilt over a mistake that was made, the two come face-to-face in the driveway as Annabelle and her family return from getting a Christmas tree. Michael, home from…
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My 5th Novel Has a Name (at least for now)
Today, it’s official. I have a book title. I have a copyrighted ISBN number. I have a “mood” for the cover. And while I am going to seek traditional publishing this time around and solicit an agent to represent me, I still need to go through this process to help move in the right direction and keep me motivated should I venture down the self-publishing road again. The characters in this novel are not only in my head, but in my soul. Each one is a part of me, and a part of you, and a part of everyone we have met along the way. With five main characters, a…
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Capturing Moments
*** Capturing Moments Capturing moments, instead of things—A cloudless sky, a heron’s wingsThe things we loveHave come to passDimming sunshineDarkness, alas—Winter’s moodsBefall us hereWhen days are shortAnd nights are clearThe blackest nightWe’ll soon have metBut days like theseWe’ll not forget.We’ll not forgetThe way it feltWhen bleakness leftAnd hearts did melt. *** In August, my husband totally surprised me on my birthday and bought me a boat. Our friends were selling their boat and upgrading to a new one, so he bought the one they were selling. In the COVID-19 world, I can’t even begin to tell you how much that gift has meant to me. Since August, we have used…
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The 6 a.m Pledge for My Health
To the year 2020—you’ve been a disaster in so many ways. So many of us are tired and feeling the angst that has befallen us during these last many months. We’ve lost sleep, contact with people we love, the ability to move around in society in a normal way, and for many people, pay reductions and loss of jobs and livelihoods. Just this morning, I heard the story of someone who lost their store and is now homeless thanks to the pandemic. Additionally, as a consummate consumer of news, I’ve realized the very nature of this much negative news consumption that I inhale on a daily basis is affecting my…
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Reading, Writing, and an Empath for November
Dear Readers, I hope you are well! It’s hard to believe it’s November 1st, especially after all we’ve collectively been through this year, but alas, here it is, and that means the next couple of months will be filled with family, friends, and love as the holidays approach. While taking care of one another is paramount, it’s also important to care for yourself, as well. That can mean exercising, eating right, meditating, reading, relaxing, and giving way to things that make your heart happy. For me, besides the wonderful gift of a boat that my husband gave me for my birthday in August—one of the greatest surprises of my lifetime—I’ve…
