Vintage Romantic Author
As I reflect on our garden over the past year, as usual, there were highs and lows. I was appalled when a grasshopper ate most of my husband’s prized Chinese maple. Fortunately, the tree managed to replace at least some foliage and actually appears less “fried” than it usually does at the end of summer. …
It was off to the San Fernando Valley to spend a bit of time in the past—the valley’s past and our past. My husband and I visited the recently refurbished North Hollywood train depot so I could take some pictures. This station is of particular interest because it provides a setting for my upcoming book, …
It’s something new in my life—people saying, “I’m reading your book.” What does that mean? Do they think I’m some sort of lunatic for letting people read what I write? Are they impressed I even wrote a book? I’m never quite sure how to respond. “Keep up the good work!” or, “Tell your friends!” I …
Recently, I found an article recommending couples should return to old ways of courtship to keep their relationship fresh and alive. Certain I’d discovered a source of vintage dating information, I eagerly read the seven points listed. I was quickly disappointed when all seven suggestions boiled down to one simple statement: put away the electronics …
Life has changed a lot since I was young. Over the years, I have resisted technology, only to embrace it fully when it was forced upon me. Allow me to provide some examples. I saw absolutely no use for VCRs until we had one. Suddenly, a whole world of unimagined convenience fell my way. I …
I used to love the heat of summer, but no more. I now tend to hunker down under a fan and move as little as possible. Even so, there are a few new and different things going on around my house. All my tiny violets in the kitchen window are blooming at the same time! …
That’s the motto for my books. Do you like it? I never felt comfortable categorizing them as romances. Although they all have a central romance, they are more about family and home. Unfortunately, there’s no category like that. This is how I picture Hannah’s table for Hollis’ first chicken dinner in her tidied-up kitchen. The …
On to the nuts and bolts of my personal editing process. The first layer of editing happens after I’ve stepped away from my stories for a while so I can read them with a fresh eye. It’s always obvious my sentences are too wordy. I cut a lot of words out or substitute others. This …
It’s hard to find a good editor. My first experience proved disappointing and I haven’t had much luck since. If any business person is unresponsive and untimely, I’m not interested in an ongoing venture. If an editor is more interested in telling me what they don’t do, I start to wonder what they will do. …
I’ve always been a collector. There’s something exhilarating about hunting and gathering. Maybe I have more in common with my cave woman ancestors than I ever imagined. As a child, I had a thing for glass animals. Doll clothes were a real obsession. One day, I’ll post some pictures of my vintage Barbie clothes—and I …