Just Do What You Want To Do
There are two kinds of people in the world. Actually there are almost seven billion kinds of people in the world, but for our purposes today, I’ll simplify. There are two kinds of people. The kind who fall neatly into slots other people choose for them, and the kind who make their own slots. I…
Read MoreHobbits and Elves and Wizards, Oh My
Years ago when my husband read Lord of the Rings to our children, I figured that was “their” time together. After all, hobbits and elves and wizards? Not my thing. Then, the movies arrived. Although I wasn’t dragged to the first one, neither did I go with much enthusiasm. And then, the magic. At one…
Read MoreWonders Down Under–Filmmaking in New Zealand
A movie set is a village, complete with solutions to all life’s pressing problems. Places to eat, rest, clothe yourself, and, of course, a place where that most primal of needs, the telling of stories, comes to life in a very special way. We arrived in New Zealand in the morning, rested and showered then…
Read MoreJust In From New Zealand
Yes, I made it! This is me, after 24 hours in an airplane, watching the fourth book I ever wrote being made into a film for German television. Stay tuned for updates from down under this week.
Read MoreThe Wild Blue Yonder–New Zealand, Blizzards, Movies, and My Novels
We take so many things for granted. You know that already, I’m sure, but recently I’ve had the lesson significantly reinforced. For instance, hopping a plane and arriving on time. Or at least on the right day. Or at worst, the right week. Those of you who visit my Facebook page know that after two…
Read MoreBrainstorming in Sunny Climes–Five Authors and a Blizzard of Ideas
As I’ve told you before, I’m a confirmed Brainstormer, or BSer, as my group fondly calls itself. I just finished a week in Sarasota, Florida with my brainstorming friends working on ideas for our upcoming novels. Please remember, the plans for this event were laid months ago. We didn’t check weather maps or consult a…
Read MoreEveryone Smiled at This Crocodile–In Memoriam
For two months I’ve enjoyed staying on Sanibel Island, one of Florida’s most beautiful barrier islands. There are so many things to love about this special place, not the least of which is the attention to wildlife and it’s preservation. In December my husband came home from an Audubon Society bird walk and told me…
Read MoreHow Did We Live Without Them?
I love words. No surprise there, right? I spend hours each day glueing them together, selecting the perfect choices, moving and deleting and replacing. New words fascinate me. I love being the first kid on the block to use one, but much more often a word sneaks up and surprises me. In fact a word can be…
Read MoreWhat Were They Thinking?
Even if you’re a smoker, you have to love this one.
Read MoreAs Nice As She Is Talented–The Novels Of Mary Alice Monroe
This month in addition to being a novelist, I’ve had the pleasure of twice being a novelist’s fan. And it has been a pleasure indeed. I reported encountering the delightful Randy Wayne White earlier in January at the Sanibel Doc Ford’s, the upscale sports bar named after the sleuth in his mystery novels. Today I had the pleasure of attending…
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