The Life We Choose

There are people in this world that light up a room when they enter it. They live so boldly, love so deeply, and have an ocean of compassion, so much so that it’s a joy just being around them. Ann was such a person. Fierce as a lion with a heart the size of Texas, she was a force all … Read More

Sanity in the Storm

March 2020 officially goes under the “never would I ever” category of life. Never would I ever have thought I’d see a pandemic, nor the ravaging effects on what quarantining an entire nation does to the American psyche. When all this started I thought I’d found a silver lining in a storm cloud. Being forced to stay home meant having … Read More

The Heart of the Holidays

I love this time of year.  Writing, social media, and all things internet are put on the back burner. Great food is served with a heaping side of memories and camaraderie. We are a diverse bunch from various social classes and political views, but there’s a tacit agreement among everyone to leave polarization and politics at the door. We simply … Read More

A Different Way

In the South, whenever we get together you can bet food’s involved. Whether it’s meeting colleagues after work, social functions, or a night out on the town, any time a handful of friends meet, food is at the center of the affair. For someone who swore off sugar and processed carbs three years ago, it can be daunting. Not because … Read More

Just Write the D*mn Story!

Writing is a process, one that is multi-faceted and complex. Some writers love the beginning stages of creating a story. They have a million ideas that never make it to the page. Others love getting that first draft down, writing like they’ll be shot at dawn if they don’t get the thing on paper. Others love to revise, layer, create … Read More

Risk Being Seen

If you read the newsletter or are in The Society, you know that I’m trying to limit the time spent on the net so that I can focus more on writing. Basically, I’ve decided to do away with inconsequential posts and focus on defining who I am and what readers can expect when they pick up one of my books. … Read More

Ode to an Agent

My heart pangs in  insecurity A feeling of dread and woe. The sensation familiar and detested, Like some unforgotten foe. The plight of the bard, the writer, Whether fueled by genius or insanity, Is a flame blazing deep within the soul Our need to explore humanity. O, for a moment’s peace! Some respite from contemplation. The frantic pressure to produce, at … Read More

2018–The Year of Control

It’s once again the first of January. As you know, instead of creating a New Year’s Resolution, I take one word, one concept, and focus on that. I’ve been blogging about this since I started this writing journey eight years ago. (Holy smokes–where has the time gone?) If you’re new, here’s a rundown of years past: 2010 The Year of Courage. I … Read More

When Words Fail

My great grandmother always said the more we love, the more we grieve. Damned if she wasn’t right. It’s the emotional equivalent of Newton’s third law (for every action there’s an equal and opposite reaction). Now, I feel things deeply. Love. Loss. Betrayal. It goes to the center of me, straight through, wrapping around my heart. I used to hate … Read More