My winter home

I know. I know. I’m posting this blog a day late, but I hope you’ll give me some latitude. We spent the last ten days packing and then driving to our place in rural Florida. It’s exhausting both emotionally and physically. Our cats are fine once they’re on the road, but the days before we…

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They call this retirement?

We’re preparing to leave for our home in Florida and are packing up the items needed down south as well as organizing the house here and winterizing it. I wish I could say that was all occupying me right now, but I’m also working on a manuscript for my publisher. It is due March 1,…

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Writing Groups: What can you get from them?

This Friday, the last Friday of the month, is the day the Morris Writers’ Group meets, and, as they usually do, the members invited my husband and me to join them. While Glenn and I don’t belong to a writers’ group anymore, we have been members of many. I met my one time critique partner…

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Snippets from Childhood Revisited

Sometimes memories from my childhood come back not as whole stories, but as single events, scenes or lines of dialogue. These snippets are important because I find I can use them in my writing to create aspects of my characters, places for events in the story to unfold or happy and sad feelings for character…

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Author John Lindermuth

I have a treat for all my readers today. Author John Lindermuth is here to talk about bringing one of the main characters in his mystery series into the role of protagonist.     Welcome, John. Tell us about the newest book in your series and its protagonist. Probably a majority of mystery/suspense novels today…

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Tales from the Hayloft: A Smile and A Laugh

  Growing up on a farm was lots of fun, and I was never bored although I had few other children as companions. As I indicated last week, being alone sharpened my imagination, and I credit being an only child with my becoming a writer. I was reminiscing about my childhood and thinking of stories…

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Tales from the Hayloft: The Lonely World of an Only Child

I’m pretty certain there are more drawbacks to being an only child than there are advantages. People misunderstand growing up alone. They often assume the only child to be spoiled, the center of attention, the recipient of numerous gifts from parents and other relatives, all of this resulting in an individual who is self-centered and…

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Transitions: Summer Behind Me and Work Ahead

Last night we had our first frost, so I know Fall is here, and I must say it is beautiful. The days are just warm enough, the nights cool. Autumn has never been my favorite time of year, although I prefer it to the long winter months. I enjoy the first snowfall, but that’s about…

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Tractors and Eve’s Sense of Moral Purpose

The virtual book blog tour for Mud Bog Murder is over as is the tour for Happy Homicides 4: Fall into Crime. I had fun with both the tours, and I especially loved getting to know the other authors from Happy Homicides 4.       In one of the interviews from my tour, I was asked…

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B. K. Stevens Talks about Writing YA Mysteries

Today I have something different on my blog: a YA author. I admire those who write for teens and young adults because I think it is not easily accomplished, and B.  K. Stevens tells us about the issues of writing for this audience.. B.K. (Bonnie) Stevens has published over fifty short stories, most of them…

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