I just completed an interview about my books and writing. Lots of questions. I came up with lots of answers. Somehow, I always do. I can do some talking with my fingers. 🙂 The last question asked me to tell them something quirky about myself. Now, how would you answer that? Quirky? I’m a fairly plain old country girl who …
Dog and Cat Characters
You’ve still got time to enter my giveaway chance to win one of my books. I said the way to enter in my last post was to name one of my books that had a dog or cat character or the name of the dog or cat. Thanks to those of you who have entered. I’ve been a little surprised …
Meet a Frontier Nurse Midwife
Two of my books, These Healing Hills and An Appalachian Summer have Frontier Nursing Service history. Mary Breckinridge established this service in Leslie County, Kentucky in the 1920’s with a vision of bringing better healthcare to mothers and children. Mrs. Breckinridge had a heart for children and she put feet to her dreams and made a difference in the lives of many of the …
The Value of Perseverance
Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other. –Walter Elliot (1888-1958), Scottish politician Sometimes when I give a talk about writing, I’m asked what characteristic is most valuable to a writer. I can’t really answer that for everybody, but for me it has to be perseverance, that stubborness in my will center that …
Christmas with Perdita Sweet from Along a Storied Trail
Merry Christmas. What a great time of the year when cheer and goodwill fill the air! If you’re like me, memories of Christmases past bring smiles. I like thinking about the times I’ve celebrated Christmas with my characters too. In Love Comes Home, Kate and Jay celebrate a first Christmas together after World War II by buying a scraggly tree …
Every Story Needs a Dog or Cat
When you are a dog lover like me and you write stories to share with readers, you might come up with some four-legged furry characters from time to time. So far I haven’t put Frankie in a story yet, but here in this picture he looks like he’s telling me that might be a fun idea. Well, actually he’s insisting …
What’s Not to Love about a Book Club?
Books are something social – a writer speaking to a reader – so I think making the reading of a book the center of a social event, the meeting of a book club, is a brilliant idea. ~Yann Martel Are you in a book club? Have ever been in a book club? I have to admit that I’ve never been a …
A Name for Everything
“A name can’t begin to encompass the sum of all her parts. But that’s the magic of names, isn’t it? That the complex, contradictory individuals we are can be called up complete and whole in another mind through the simple sorcery of a name.” ― Charles de Lint, Dreams Underfoot I’m working on a new book. That means I’m having …
Weather Matters in Stories Too
Winter is on the way. The weathermen have said that four letter word – snow. They warn that we might see some snowflakes tomorrow. On Halloween. But whether the snowflakes come or not, the frost and freeze is on the way. So far we’ve escaped a killing frost. My flowers are still blooming. I should go out in the rain …