In the publishing world, there are scores of acronyms specific to the language of that world. Here’s are two perfectly legitimate sentences: Last week, I finished my WIP (work in progress) and had it printed into an MS (manuscript). In a couple of months, I’ll copyedit the MS before drafting a QL (query letter) to send […]

Read more "R & R (Not Rest and Relaxation)"

While melamine foam, the substance which is behind all the ‘magic’ in a magic eraser, has been around for a long, long time, it wasn’t until 2003 that we were able to buy the special foam with micro-cells, at the grocery store, for at-home use. I love melamine foam. It has allowed me to wipe […]

Read more "Magic Eraser"

You’ve been there. Whether it was in a church with cathedral ceilings or more intimate ceremony in a small mortuary, you’ve been there when at the most quiet, most solemn moment you hear it. Someone has let loose and now, like waiting on the sound of thunder after a lightning flash, you count the seconds until […]

Read more "Farting at a Funeral"

Yesterday’s post–the one with the painting of the naked woman which started off with a mini-rant about Facebook feedback buttons, but ended in a pitch for feminism and nudity–got a lot of reads. It got substantially more than “usual.” For this, I’m pleased. If you read this blog on a regular basis, you know how […]

Read more "You Readers Fascinate (Confuse) Me."

I thought I’d end up blogging about those goofy new choices we’ve been offered from Facebook. Now, you can “like,” “love,” “wow,” “cry,” and “growl” at people’s posts. Passed is the requirement that you need offer condolences when a friend announces the death of a parent. Now you can just click the crying yellow face […]

Read more "Would You Be Brave Enough?"

Ever go to bed thinking that tomorrow is going to go a particular, very planned out way only to wake to realize that you are not the architect of your world? I went to bed last night knowing that I’d wake up early, get to writing, and today–yes, today–I’d finish Accidental Gravitas. (I still do not […]

Read more "The Best Laid Plans . . ."

My husband leaves me notes. I find them, usually curled up in the coffee cup next to our ancient Mr. Coffee, while the rest of the house is sleeping. He writes them before he goes to bed, which is sometimes only a few hours before I get up. This morning’s note read: “Paul sends his […]

Read more "Cake or Compassion? You can have Both!"

Ninety minutes from now, life will be back to normal. My children will be at their respective schools, my spouse will be at his office, and I will be in my writing space closing in on the end of a manuscript. The dogs will be curled up on the couch and will raise their heads when […]

Read more "“Who Wants Cake?”"

A few months back, I wrote a blog post which was rooted in cynicism and, for lack of a better word, paranoia. In 438 words, I made quick work of summarizing what it felt like for me (and I learned many others based on both public and private feedback) to live in a small town. […]

Read more "Sometimes, It’s Not So Bad . . ."

In January 2010, I tore the ACL in my left knee playing soccer with a bunch of men in a gymnasium. I had played soccer as a child and through high school, and after a twenty year hiatus, started playing in a women’s league the previous fall. In order to stay “close the game” that […]

Read more "Thank You, Torn ACL in my Right Knee"