Sunday Inspiration: Our Willingness To Be Vulnerable

I became interested in the Jesuits when I created a Jesuit character, Father Isaiah Colburn, in The Color of Light. As part of my research I began to follow Father James Martin, SJ, on Facebook, as well as the Jesuit magazine, America. This week I was entranced by America’s story of Andrew Garfield, who plays a missionary in…

Read More

Upside Down: Doing Things the Hard Way

Sometimes my best ideas occur in the middle of the night. Sometimes answers to my toughest problems occur then, too. And sometimes my dream self just says, “You know, it’s a good thing you didn’t want to be an engineer.” This past week dream self sparkled and tinkled her way into my bedroom and waved her magic “Let’s…

Read More

Sunday Inspiration: Today is the only day

“Today is a moment of light surrounded on all sides by darkness and oblivion. In the entire history of the universe, let alone in your own history, there has never been another just like it and there never will be another just like it again. It is the point to which all your yesterdays have…

Read More

Resolution or Revolution: An Oldie But Goodie

I spent the end of 2016 on a cruise boat relaxing after an unusually tough push to finish 2017’s The Swallow’s Nest. Before I even stepped on board I promised myself I wouldn’t work, and I stuck to it. Now I’m home with some of my family visiting. So instead of an “original” blog I’m…

Read More

Sunday Inspiration: A Fresh Start

“A New Year. A fresh start. A new chapter in life waiting to be written. New questions to be asked, embraced, and loved. Answers to be discovered and then lived in this transformative year of delight and self-discovery. Today carve out a quiet interlude for yourself in which to dream, pen in hand. Only dreams…

Read More

Gone Fishing!

With my book finally finished I’m taking a blog break this week, to smell the flowers–I do live in Florida, don’t forget. I hope you have and continue to have a wonderful holiday season, too, and enjoy the final days of 2016. Next time you hear from me, it will be 2017. Didn’t that happen…

Read More

Sunday Inspiration: The Spirit of Christmas

“The spirit of Christmas is the spirit of love and of generosity and of goodness. It illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the world’s busy life and become more interested in people than in things.” -Thomas S. Monson Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you, including your…

Read More

Booklover Carols Revisited: A Tradition Gone Awry

Given the choice, would you rather have a book from me in June or new Booklover Carols this week? That’s what I thought. It’s December 20th as I write this, and I haven’t decorated my house. I haven’t sent Christmas cards. I haven’t baked a single thing. But I did just, and I do mean just,…

Read More

Sunday Inspiration: Lasting Memories

“It’s true, Christmas can feel like a lot of work, particularly for mothers. But when you look back at all the Christmases in your life, you’ll find you’ve created family traditions and lasting memories. Those memories, good or bad, are really what help keep a family together over the long haul.” -Caroline Kennedy I can…

Read More