Summer has finally arrived and the clumps of berries on my blueberry bushes are just now starting to ripen. Every year at this time, I am reminded of a hard lesson that I learned a few years ago. I shared this story last year, but for those of you who are new to my blog, … Read More
What made THE BLIND SIDE so powerful?
My husband and I finally got around to watching The Blind Side yesterday. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard people say, “Oh, you’ve GOT to see this movie!” But, because I had labeled it a sports movie, I was dragging my feet. What a mistake. The movie was everything everyone had … Read More
The Library is My Happy Place
Last night I went to our public library without my kids. (Gasp!) The public library (in any town) has always been my “happy place.” I love the smell, the quiet, the possibilities. I love to run my hand down the spines of all the books, knowing that I could never possibly read them all. It is simply … Read More
What’s in a Name?
I have read about cultures in which the parents wait until a baby is old enough to have a bit of personality before choosing a name for it. I’ve discovered that choosing a title for a book happens in much the same way. I’ve been working on the second book in a series, and although I knew it was … Read More
Would Austen own an iPad?
Happy Friday to you! This should be a “Book Pick Friday,” but my sweet hubbie recently bought me a dvd collection of Jane Austen movies. So instead of reading, I’ve been spending my evenings watching fine ladies struggling to find love within the unjust restraints of social class. (Insert contented sigh here.) I can now … Read More
The Summer Sneakies
Summer is here, and I have to admit — I’ve been a bit nervous about its arrival. Last year, I pretty much gave up writing for the summer. What with kids underfoot and their perpetual, “Iwantasnack! Let’sgosomewhere! Hehitme! Canwegotothepark…” I assumed I would never be able to organize my thoughts. (Reminds me of an earlier post … Read More
History or His-Story?
Last night I was deeply touched by the PBS documentary, Perilous Fight: America’s World War II in Color. Normally, I do not watch war documentaries. But the color images drew me — and the stories swept me away. Historical documentaries have recently become less about teaching facts and more about telling stories. I was entranced by narrators reading letters from soldiers and … Read More
Smells sort of funky, too…
Last night I lay awake — tossing and turning — my mind and heart tortured by anxiety. And what got me in such a state? Well, it’s a little embarassing to admit. It’s so stupid. I was anxious about “stuff.” More precisely — too much stuff. A family in our church has been selling off their … Read More
Friday Book Pick: CODE BLUE by Richard Mabry
Memorial Day Weekend has arrived (just in case you hadn’t noticed all the store ads) and with this unofficial beginning to the summer season, I’m hoping you find a few lazy hours for reading. If you’re looking for some great reading material, I’d encourage you to try the new release, Code Blue: Prescription for Trouble written by Richard … Read More
I once was LOST…
Once again, television has brought us to a cultural standstill with the long-awaited final episode of LOST. Over the past six years, I must admit to a love/hate relationship with this show. I was fascinated by the writing and the characters, but I hated the in-your-face violence and the story that seemed to twist so … Read More