Brainstorming (The House Guests)
June brings the debut of The House Guests on the 29th, so for all my blogs this month I’m giving you glimpses into the book, even before you have the opportunity to read it. The first week I talked about the setting, Tarpon Springs, Florida, and my personal reasons for setting the book there. I…
Read MoreSunday Inspiration: From Failure to Happy Novelist
“When I was 15, I spent a month working on an archeological dig. I was talking to one of the archeologists one day during our lunch break and he asked those kinds of ‘getting to know you’ questions you ask young people: Do you play sports? What’s your favorite subject? And I told him, no…
Read MorePulling Weeds (The House Guests)
A month ago I recounted my attempts to find Big Lake, which we knew from maps was somewhere in the state park near our Florida home. Despite a hiking map and determination, the first time my husband and I tried to find it, we were unsuccessful. The second time we still weren’t sure we were…
Read MoreSunday Inspiration: Feed the hungry
“What Jesus never said: ‘Feed the hungry only if they have papers.’ ‘Clothe the naked only if they’re from your country.’ ‘Welcome the stranger only if there’s zero risk.’ ‘Help the poor only if it’s convenient.’ ‘Love your neighbor only if they look like you.’” -James Martin, S.J. Thank you, Father Martin. I appreciate your…
Read MoreYiayia’s Kouzina (The House Guests)
The House Guests makes its debut at your favorite bookstore in just four weeks. I’ll be giving you hints about it for the rest of this month. And today’s hints are, of course, about food! The House Guests is set in Tarpon Springs, Florida, which is home to a higher percentage of Greek Americans than…
Read MoreSunday Inspiration: In Memory
“A hero is someone who has given his or her life for something bigger than oneself.” -Joseph Campbell May we remember and honor today and every day all the heroes in our lives, those who have fought bravely for our country and those who have protected and nurtured it with their devotion and sacrifice.
Read MoreNorthern Exposure?
Northern Exposure instead of Southern? Yep, this is packing week for our trip north. I’ll blog again once I’ve settled in. But I’m really looking forward to seeing family and friends, including the Brainstormers, who will visit for a few days in June. Here’s a friendly reminder from a sign that I enjoy around the…
Read MoreSunday Inspiration: What am I looking for?
“If you are looking for verses in the Bible with which to support slavery, you will find them. If you are looking for verses with which to abolish slavery, you will find them. If you are looking for verses with which to oppress women, you will find them. If you are looking for for verses…
Read MoreFinding Big Lake
Proman and I developed a number of ways to cope with the pandemic. I know many of you did, too, and I’ve been delighted to hear your tales. Here’s one of ours. In addition to jigsaw puzzles and growing vegetables on our lanai, walks together became a favorite event this year. These were not the…
Read MoreSunday Inspiration: Happy Mother’s Day
“A mother’s love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity. It dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path.” – Agatha Christie
Read More