‘Twas the Day after Christmas

Spring is on the way! Now that the frenzy of Christmas shopping, cooking, and eating has died down to eating leftovers, making returns and wondering how I could possibly have eaten so much the last few weeks, the end of the year turns into a “pause and reflect” time for me. I don’t make NewContinue reading “‘Twas the Day after Christmas”

One Strip of Lace, Ninety-six Years Old

I consider myself an organized person — make that very organized. I usually plan menus for the week and go to the grocery store with a list. I make daily to-do lists. I keep up on car maintenance (and don’t you dare leave trash in my car), go to the dentist twice a year, andContinue reading “One Strip of Lace, Ninety-six Years Old”

Seeing a Project Through to the End

I am currently working on finishing a writing project that I began at least nine years ago. Yes, nine years. It was the project I was working on before my trip to England and the inspiration for The Gate House, my first published novel. After that I wrote Lydia’s Story, a follow-up to The GateContinue reading “Seeing a Project Through to the End”

My Boring Neighborhood

My neighborhood is boring. I live in a suburb of a major east coast city. We have an excellent school system, low crime, residential streets with nicely manicured lawns, and it’s boring. Our homeowner’s association requires certain standards to keep the appearances uniform — and it’s boring. I didn’t know the area when we moved here,Continue reading “My Boring Neighborhood”

How much do writers read?

I was a guest author on a mystery panel at a local library last week, and we were asked the question: How much do you read while you are writing a book,and do you worry that what you are reading will influence your writing? I read constantly. I read before I go to sleep, whileContinue reading “How much do writers read?”

Being an Editor

Besides writing, I do a fair amount of editing and have found that I enjoy it almost as much as I do writing. There is something about clarifying a piece of writing, while still retaining the writer’s voice and intent, that is enormously satisfying. I know from experience that a writer can read over aContinue reading “Being an Editor”