Now that I have your attention, I'm sorry to burst your bubble. I am not here to share fine secrets about blowing your book or your bank account out of the water. Rather to tease into this idea. It often happens as I peruse various author groups on social media, I see someone newer to … Continue reading Making it BIG as an Author
I rarely enter writing contests, but the one celebrating the Astoria Column's first one hundred years spoke to me. After all, I have a model of it in with other keepsakes in my ancestral altar. I've mentioned the column in all three of my works of fiction and my first memoir. It meant a lot … Continue reading Writing and the Astoria Column’s Centennial Celebration
Yeah, I've said it before and likely again. It takes a lot to shut up both my inner voice and brain. Even when I come off propofol, apparently, as I did after last week's colonoscopy. I asked my daughter (the PA who works in a CICU) later if most people are chatty after. I'm sure … Continue reading Hearts on Call: Compassion, Overload, and their Costs
Three interconnected standalone novels. Read them in any order. I have sometimes said I write by the seat of my pants. That's not exactly true, although I do allow my heart to lead the way into the stories I write. My prefrontal cortex is absolutely invited to join the journey, but the essence of the … Continue reading The Art of Character Handoff: Inside My Companion Novels
A bit about my guy I don’t write a lot about Russ, even though I met him when I was 21. That's a long forty-three years ago. He was the only guy about who I called Mom after a second date (okay, it was more than a date) to say I was in love. I … Continue reading Between the Lines of Life and Fiction
Willamette River Channel near West Linn and Lake Oswego. What bucket list? Don't get me wrong. I remain healthy and pretty fit (I think) for someone in their early 60s. Yet, when I read this week's tragic account of a skydiving plane going down, it got me thinking about my bucket list. Or even more … Continue reading Writing the Bucket List for the Second Half
In this Entry:A Map of Her Own/ The Big and Little SteamboatPersonal Reflection/ Power of Human ConnectionBook Recommendations/ This is Happiness +Postscript T.S. Potter, image credit Salem Public Library Big and Little Steamboats I had a lot of fun during my recent interview on KBOO's Jonesy Hour. Having listened to previous episodes, I knew Ken … Continue reading Steamboats and Soul: A Map to Happiness
I've frequently referred to the Columbia River Bar Pilots and Columbia River Pilots (COLRIP) in my writing: my blogs, fiction and memoir. It's true too, that I can't think about the work they do without remembering Dad. Yes, Dad was an exuberant cheerleader for these mariners, and the work they do to keep ships moving … Continue reading River and Bar Pilots: Beyond the Romance
A few years ago when at our family cabin in Ocean Park, dear neighbor Sandy dropped by, gifting us a copy of the Coast Weekend with an article about my then new book Humanity's Grace. While I had seen the article online, I had not yet realized the news source was a printed weekly magazine. … Continue reading A Map of Her Own: Circling Back
Yesterday I told a friend that my favorite author-related activity is joining book groups to discuss my books. I meant what I said. As much as I enjoy presenting book talks, usually with folks who haven't yet read my book, nothing compares to exploring a book's nitty gritty details. All of it: what people most … Continue reading Exploring Author Insights Through Book Groups