Keep Dreaming

Sleep and I have always been friends. When I was a toddler, I sat at the bottom of the stairs in the early evening, just waiting for someone to take me up and put me in bed. As a kid, I enjoyed sleeping in, which in our house was 7 am or later. When I…

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Who’s Publishing What?

Many, many thanks to Teri Rizvi and Erma Bombeck Writers Workshop for the support and encouragement over the years. The writing life is arduous at times, but knowing that you have people on your side makes all the difference. The Weight We Carry is featured in today’s Who’s Publishing What series over on the University…

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Story Time

Once upon a time not so long ago, there was a woman who wanted to be a writer. Actually, she was a writer, but she didn’t know what to do with her writing, and since she placed her family’s needs and wants above her own, those writings collected dust in a box in a closet…

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How to Handle Self-Doubt

Disclaimer: Profanity ahead. All four of my children are good writers, but only the youngest enjoys it. Which is great for me, as she and I swap plot lines and brainstorm ideas and figure out how to up the stakes. She’s an excellent writing partner, though she can’t read all my work (she is only…

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Literary Mama: A Life Transformed

In January 2014, the online literary journal Literary Mama took a chance on a mama writer and editor living in Ohio who had very little professional editing or writing experience. While I no longer have the cover letter I sent to the then editors, it included something along the lines of “what I lack in…

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Celebrating Women’s Fiction Day!

UPDATE! Sally S. and Jennifer S. are winners! I’ll contact them via email. Thanks for participating! Welcome to Women’s Fiction Day! In 2019, the Women’s Fiction Writers Association (WFWA) established the day “to celebrate the authors, stories, readers, bookstores, and fans of the women’s fiction genre.” I’m a grateful member of WFWA, and I am…

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Shameless Promotion II

If I don’t promote myself, who will? That’s the introductory line of my last post on promotion, and a lesson I’m still learning. Eventually I’ll have learned enough about promotion, marketing, branding, and everything else that I’ll be able to teach a course. Maybe someday . . . But today, I have a fun surprise…

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That’s a Wrap!

Never in a million years did I imagine that when I finally published a book, my launch would be virtual. But in the end, I’m glad it was. People from different parts of my life gathered to help me celebrate my accomplishment, and many of these folks would not have been able to attend a…

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Book Birthday

I’ve spent the better part of this year promoting others. Which is hard, people. It takes time and energy I barely have, and most of the time, people say thank you but don’t reciprocate. Now that’s not why I promote other people—to get them to promote my own things. I help them out because that’s…

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Virtual Launch Party!

When the author copies of Rewrite the Stars arrived, I was excited. But somehow, this whole journey to book publication hasn’t quite sunk in. My book will be out there! For people to purchase and read! How nerve wracking is that? Very. Let me tell you. Anyway, I’d love for you to join me as…

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