bathwater
“You always have a choice.” I’ve spoken or written this central message of The Best Advice So Far literally thousands of times by now. And yet, I still feel and see the power in it as much as I ever have—the power to transform the way we view and live life. In the first chapter of the book, I introduce you to Chad. You can read his full story there in the book (or HERE, right now and for FREE, if you like); but I trust you’ll get the gist from this snippet, even without the full context: You…
choice: the wall
In my last post, I invited you to celebrate with me the successful completion of a yearlong writing goal I’d set for myself in 2017. Since that post, I’ve allowed myself a break from all things blog. It was strategic. I knew that if I were to just continue on writing at the previously set “goal pace,” I would have felt locked into it rather than having been able, as I did, to have closure on that goal—and to then begin a new one. Well, today is the day I begin that new goal where this blog is…
huzzah
I use the interjection “Yay!” a fair amount, though mostly in text messages. Then there’s “Hooray!” which I say as well as write. But far and away, my favorite exclamation is this one: HUZZAH! It just … sounds right (pronounced huh-ZAH, with the accent on the second syllable). It looks right. What’s more, it feels right, what with that buzzing double ‘zz’ and all. It’s the kind of utterance that stirs speaker and listener alike, all but demanding a rousing stir of fist. Aw, go on — say it.…
candy canes
I finally got my tree this week. The front lot at Hanson’s Farm up the road glistened with new-fallen snow. They had fewer than a dozen trees left, having started with nearly two hundred just three weeks ago. This actually worked in my favor, given my longstanding tradition of choosing the Charlie-Browniest tree I can find — the one least likely to be picked due to some flaw or other. Some I had to rule out on account of their being too tall or too fat to fit in the space, nestled between a…
losing track of why
Saturday afternoon, I cheated. Well, OK. What I mean is that I cheated on my self-imposed low-carb diet and got a ham, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich at a local joint. With bread. English muffin, to be exact. It was snowing like gangbusters, and my feet were wet and cold. So sue me if I wanted something warm and salty — and crunchy. I definitely craved the crunch. I know. I was weak. You may sneer and/or jeer at will. I’d placed my order (which included a hot decaf peppermint-mocha with…
i think i can
In July, I completed the recording, editing and mastering of the audiobook version of The Best Advice So Far, right on schedule. By mid-August, the audiobook had been submitted to Audible, approved and officially released. From the very start — before I’d ever even penned a word of it — I knew that I eventually wanted The Best Advice So Far released in digital, print and audiobook formats. At long last, that vision had become a reality. Within days of that milestone, and while still on…
big deal
This Thanksgiving held changes for my family. My mom has been putting in long hours for a while now, caring for her own mother, so that my 93-year-old Nana can continue to enjoy the familiarity and comfort of living in her home of more than 60 years. In addition to being plumb tuckered out most days, mom was also sick heading into Thanksgiving day. So for the first time ever, we had our small family Thanksgiving out at a local restaurant instead of at my mom's house. No preparation. No dishes…
what to say (reprise)
Back in the spring, I introduced you to my writer-friend Diana by way of a unique book review with a personal twist. (By the way, this four-book series, The Rose Shield, would make a perfect, no-fail gift for any choosy Fantasy readers you may know; and Diana's also just released a beautifully illustrated children's book, Grumpy Ana and the Grouchy Monsters, for the little readers on your list.) Sally Cronin of Smorgasbord revived one of Diana’s previous posts entitled “Write and…