It seems like a lifetime ago, yet 50 years have passed since a soldier in the United States Army was wounded. Ross McCollum (my husband) was one of the lucky ones in that fire-fight. He was serving with US Army’s 9th Infantry Division’s Mobile Riverine Force in the Mekong Delta Region of Viet Nam. Six
Remembering Ross 50 Years Later Read More »
I think I know why more of us don’t write the stories of our lives. We feel like a small creature swimming in the ocean of our experiences. They feel WHALE-ish: BIG. MASSIVE. TOO MUCH. The dilemma is that there is too much to count. In frustration, we put away the idea of writing anything
The Dilemma of Writing About Your Life Read More »
As I was searching for a visual to describe the summer season of writing your book, I realized that the stereotypical view of summer is a beach and a relaxing break from the real world of work. But the summer of writing your book is actually the opposite; it’s more like an Arizona summer, a
The Summer Season of Writing Your Book Read More »
YAY spring! A time of change, coming alive, and the fragrance of lilacs. It’s great to experience a surge of energy to clean up, clear out and begin the projects that seem to sit eternally on the To Do list. Some projects take us outside, others—like book projects—take us within. Writing a book is a
Three signs of an Author’s Spring Read More »
Grab your coffee and get ready for your heart to melt when you read Janet’s story of falling in love. Even though it took place 70 years ago, it’s magical. Falling in love stories inspire our imaginations, making us feel a sense of hope.
Janet took my Story Writing class about a year ago, and the whole group enjoyed her reflections of her life. Just like those beginning college today, she had choices to make and seemed guided with good sense and maybe an angel on her shoulder.
Janet’s Love Story Read More »
By a show of hands, who has ever felt a little more lonely as Valentine’s Day approaches because there is no someone special in your life who will remember you on that day? My hand is up, because I spent a decade being single. I know, it shouldn’t be a big deal, but somehow it
Squash Loneliness this Valentine’s Day Read More »
When I hear about the Women’s March, I think about P.E.O. (a Philanthropic Educational Organization), and how they began their march for women 150 years ago. Our seven founders, then students of Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, marched single file into the chapel wearing identical aprons they made to announce their new society.
The 150 Year Women’s March of P.E.O. Read More »
I love to hear shoe stories. It’s my favorite workshop question because everyone—EVERYONE—has at least one good shoe story to tell that makes them laugh, shake their head and remember a tucked away day from the past. Our shoes are more than a fashion statement. They take us “…where we want to go and how we
What’s Your Best Shoe Story? Read More »
We hear it all the time: “It’s not my first rodeo.†That’s what we say whenever we’re talking about something we’ve done before. I’ve been thinking about this phrase a lot as we enter this wild unknown arena called 2019. Time brings with it the possibility for all sorts of experiences. You’ve got 365 days
No Worries-2019 is not Your First Rodeo Read More »
