Celebrate the moments

Yesterday I finished my final final. Some may understand what I mean by this. It's not what I thought was final when I submitted my manuscript to my publisher last December, and of which I signed a contract barely a week later. Nor is it the version I completed one month later, taking those few … Continue reading Celebrate the moments

Writing about the bad

When I began writing about Dad in My Music Man, I didn’t intend to write about his alcoholism. While it was a big thing, it wasn’t the big thing when he died. Rather, I missed him, his stories, and his connections to our past. It was in my first draft of  writing about him when I … Continue reading Writing about the bad

Founders Day: We all have our stories

"As a kid, my favorite boating destination was Champoeg Park," begins My Music Man Chapter 13. Today, Champoeg remains one of Oregon's natural spots most sentimental to me and my brothers. It was the place to be the day after Dad died, and again today on this warm May afternoon for the 175th Founders Day celebrating … Continue reading Founders Day: We all have our stories