Coping with the Pain of Loss

Looking Back I’ve attended two funerals this week, one day after another. I was not close to the women who died, but knew and loved their descendants well. At both funerals I was struck by […]

Secrets of Successful Authors: Featuring Gregg Luke

I met Gregg Luke at the Johnson County Library Writers Conference in Kansas City this fall when he taught a fabulous class titled Writing White-Knuckled Suspense.  The class lived up to its name. In fact, Gregg […]

Top Reasons to Take Your Kids to the Sea (and no, it’s not to drown them)

Who doesn’t love the sea? With its crashing waves, salt spray in the air, gulls crying overhead, the sea is a smorgasborg for the senses, and that’s even before you dip a toe inside. Family trips […]

Secrets of Successful Authors: Featuring Jennifer McMurrain

I’ve met a lot of great writers over the past few years, warm, wonderful people who are willing to encourage others. They have so much to offer, both in terms of technique and inspiration. I’ve interviewed quite […]

Special Feature: Middle Grade Minded, a Brilliant Blog for MG Writers

I am thrilled to announce that I am now blogging for Middle Grade Minded. This is a blogging community dedicated to promoting writing craft for authors of middle grade fiction (fiction targeting the 8-12 year […]

Who Loves Crazy Cats…and Why?

I have two cats in my household with vastly different personalities. Oreo McFlurry lives up to his name. He’s sweet and everybody loves him. Unfortunately, Medusa lives up to her name, too. She’s a total […]

Monsters and Why We Love Them

Do you love monsters too much? You’re not alone. Humanity’s fascination with creepy crawlies that murder and maim extends back to Biblical times – the Behemoth and Leviathan. Remember Grendel from Beowulf? He showed up about […]

#LIGHTtheWORLD this Christmas

Here’s a wonderful resource if you’re looking for simple, practical ways to bring joy to others and to experience some yourself this Christmas season. My family watched this video last night. Afterward, my teens peppered me […]

Top Five Writing Tasks for Fall 2016

So here’s a quick update on my writerly life. Summer with seven kids at home massively derailed my schedule. No surprises there, although somehow it surprises me every year. Now I’m back scribbling away while […]

Bioluminescence: Gorgeous Glowing Sea Creatures

One of my favorite aspects of writing is imagining incredible experiences, like watching a glittering swarm of bioluminescent krill or glowing jellyfish pulsing through the sea. These amazing creatures featured in The Spark Mage: A Sea Sprite Adventure are […]