My First Visit The Book Den in Santa Barbara, California has been a local institution since 1933. I first visited in January 2023, escaping wintery Colorado to travel throughout the southwest with my husband in our van. After finding a grocery store and coffee shop, a bookstore or library are ... Read More about The Book Den
The Raven BookStore
My First Visit The Raven BookStore was founded in 1987 in Lawrence, Kansas, where I attended college at The University of Kansas. While my first visit was too long ago to remember the specifics, I'm sure I was drawn to a mystery and the smell of so many books in one place. Bookstore Window ... Read More about The Raven BookStore
When the Past Becomes the Present
People who know I’ve written a historical novel set during the 1918 pandemic always comment that my timing is brilliant. I (very coincidently) finished revisions to my manuscript and began querying agents in 2020, when our own pandemic struck and our world shut down. Whether my timing is ... Read More about When the Past Becomes the Present
On Writing Well
One of the great quotes in Stephen King’s On Writing says, “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” The one benefit of COVID isolation for me has been the time to read and write, a lot! I recently finished the novel Atomic Love by author ... Read More about On Writing Well
Finding Gratitude & Small Comforts
I’ve been reminded several times this month about the power of gratitude and small comforts. Sometimes, it truly can be something as simple as a sunset or planting a flower or reading a book that brings much needed reassurance and cheer. It even felt comforting to spend the time today reflecting on ... Read More about Finding Gratitude & Small Comforts