Why Authors Do Book Signings
For the first time in a long time I did book signings this summer and fall. Delightful Summer Signings My publisher assigned an enthusiastic new publicist to A Family of Strangers, and she arranged three signings as the book debuted. Two were out of town, lots of fun and productive. One was in Maryland pictured…
Read MoreSunday Inspiration: Constant Kindness
“Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes the ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust and hostility to evaporate.” -Albert Schweitzer We live in a world in serious need of kindness. While most of us probably can’t manage “constant kindness,” I bet the more we think about kindness, the more we can manage. So…
Read MoreLife Hacks: Make Reading More Fun
Do you ever find yourself on an organizing spree? My confession: I rarely organize. I straighten and I clean when necessary. When piles in my study are taller than I am, or when I can no longer navigate the route to the love seat only three feet away, I know it’s time to clean and…
Read MoreSunday Inspiration: “Today I choose life…”
“Today I choose life. Every morning when I wake up I can choose joy, happiness, negativity, pain… To feel the freedom that comes from being able to continue to make mistakes and choices – today I choose to feel life, not to deny my humanity but embrace it.” -Kevyn Aucoin
Read MoreTraveling South For The Winter
Did you see me waving as we drove by? I hope so. Southern Exposure will be back next week when I’ve settled in and unpacked. In the meantime, have a great week.
Read MoreFavorite Moments of My Summer and Fall
It’s that time of year. We’re packing to move back to Florida. I’ll confess it’s time to leave. Chautauqua Institution, which hosts thousands during the summer but now, empty and silent, reminds me of that sad moment when you realize the party is over, the guests have departed, and you’ve been left alone to set…
Read MoreLaugh Like Your Life Depends On It
Do I look upset to you? Very, very upset? Or did you say to yourself (correctly) that, no, Emilie is channeling Lewis Black for a good laugh. Because that’s what I’m doing, and a pretty good job of it, too. On Saturday Proman and I did what we’ve promised ourselves we would do for a…
Read MoreSunday Inspiration: Are Grudges Keeping You Awake?
“We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.” -Martin…
Read MoreThe Best Laid Plans
Sometimes best laid plans should be discarded. We spent yesterday with our oldest grandson. Liam, seven, had another day off from school, so my husband and I bopped down to Ohio to spend it with him. Last month we had the pleasure of spending a day with Liam, too, and as part of it we…
Read MoreSunday Inspiration: Autumn
“It’s the first day of autumn! A time of hot chocolatey mornings, and toasty marshmallow evenings, and, best of all, leaping into leaves!” -Winnie the Pooh As the leaves begin to burst into color here at Chautauqua, I feel like following Pooh’s suggestion to leap into the leaves — or perhaps better yet to treat…
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