blog
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Some Like It Hot and a Happy Ending
On our recent mother/daughter get away to San Diego, we visited the island of Coronado and, of course, the Hotel Del Coronado. The night before, in preparation, we re-watched Some Like It Hot, that classic (1959) Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon movie that was filmed at this hotel. The movie is a long-time…
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What Month is Your Family Month?
July is for Family, Freedom, and a very little writing.
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What About a Whale Sighting?
For my birthday, my daughter thought we should go to San Diego. She is an adventurous one, and a planner. (This makes it sooo easy for me). So the two of us flew to the coast and spent a few days adventuring as she had planned. We walked through Balboa Park. We ate and shopped…
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I or She? Who is telling the story?
First or third person? Which is your preference when you’re reading? Historically, I have preferred books written in third person (example: she watched the lapwing take flight). But in my first series, the Illusions series, every book is written in first person (example: I took a deep breath and lifted the pistol). It was a…
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Who’s the best lyricist?
More than a year ago, two of our sons started a discussion about singer-songwriters. Nathan believes Stevie Wonder is the best. Jordan doesn’t agree. He cited Bob Dylan and James Taylor, and all folk/country artists as contenders. In defense, Nate quoted Elton John and Bob Dylan, talking about Stevie Wonder, crediting him with changing music…
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Would you like a rating system for your romance fiction?
Movies have a voluntary rating system. Books, not so much. We may argue about the way the movie rating scale has changed over time or the usefulness of the MPA’s system, but the ratings provide at least a starting point when choosing what we’ll watch. Parents are urged to be cautious. Some material may be…
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Publishing my first book?-Can we call it a “soft opening?”
For more than a year I’ve been writing and editing this first book in my Illusions Series. During the beta reading and editing of this first book, I wrote the second. And then I read somewhere that it is a good idea to have a “book magnet”–a smaller work that you give for free. So,…
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What Happens At Your Table?
In my mind, there is an ideal family meal. The details aren’t detailed and clear, but I always hope a nice family meal will build or strengthen or heal–that during our time together, our conversation will bring us closer. Is it the same for you? Do you plan, shop, and cook with the hopes that…
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What Moments Have Changed You?
This week in our book group, I led the discussion on The Power of Moments, by Chip and Dan Heath. Now, as a student, and lover, and writer of fiction, I usually limit how many non-fiction and self-help books I will read in any given year. Some people are the opposite. They feel that unless…