April 13, 1936 The coffin rested on the kitchen table in the center of the room. She turned and stared at the walls, up at the ceiling, down at the floor, anything to avoid looking at the smooth pine box that seemed to swallow the air in this room, seemed to draw the very breath … Continue reading Waverly: A Novel (Excerpt)
Tag: books
Maximize Your Reading: The Art of Book Pairing
I don’t have as much time to read as I would like. Then again, who does? I will never be one of those people who posts a perfectly filtered photo with my smiling face next to the stack of 150+ books I managed to finish in one year, but that’s okay! I’ve come to accept … Continue reading Maximize Your Reading: The Art of Book Pairing
The Intruder
Note: This is an excerpt from my book, Kentucky Family. When I hear a strange noise in the night, I usually chalk it up to some critter moving around outside, the pipes, or the heater or air conditioner, depending on the season. I briefly contemplate it, and then just go back to sleep, content that … Continue reading The Intruder
The Trouble with Historical Fiction
I love reading historical fiction. Getting lost in the world of a great story inspired by true events is the ultimate escape for me. I’ve always admired authors who are able to describe a world from long ago so clearly that I can put myself right there in the midst of the action. Through the … Continue reading The Trouble with Historical Fiction
Learning to Walk Again
Today I did something I wasn’t sure I’d ever do again. I crossed the finish line of a 5K race. Admittedly, I walked the whole thing, but I was still overwhelmed with gratitude to God for walking beside me on this journey of recovery for the past 5 years. Less than 24 hours before my … Continue reading Learning to Walk Again
The Mystery of The Blue Chair
It all started with a book called The Blue Chair. It was an ordinary looking book, just a simple hardback with a light blue cover and a white diamond pattern in the background. I didn’t even notice it at first among tables of dishes, dusty floral arrangements, and an old brown recliner leaning haphazardly to … Continue reading The Mystery of The Blue Chair
My Morning Routine
I’m a stickler for routine. I’m the first to admit, spontaneity is not my forte. In fact, I can be downright stubborn about making sure my morning goes according to plan. It helps set the tone for my whole day, and it’s a system I’ve used for years. Step 1: Coffee I prefer caramel flavored … Continue reading My Morning Routine
Book Review: Writing Your Legacy
"Writing is healing. You don't need to set out to heal yourself; it happens naturally as you allow yourself to write your truth." ( from Writing Your Legacy: The Step-by-Step Guide to Crafting Your Life Story) I have often said that writing is my therapy. I have experienced the healing power of writing firsthand, both … Continue reading Book Review: Writing Your Legacy
Book Club 101
Please note, this post contains affiliate links to recommended books. My First Experience with a Book Club Back in 2012, I was invited to attend a local book club meeting to talk about my book, Kentucky Family. I was terrified. The book, a collection of family stories and memories, represented my first tentative steps into … Continue reading Book Club 101
Getting Reacquainted with Alice
I recently decided to dust off the old manuscript (or open the old google doc, as the case may be), and revisit the novel I began researching and writing back in 2019. If you've followed my story for very long, you know that I had just began my serious writing journey and had three self-published … Continue reading Getting Reacquainted with Alice
