Packing a lunch. I haven’t done this for three years and now I finally get to again. Researching quotes for lunch bag love notes. Occasionally, I even make up a few, which is always good for a laugh. Finding my jellybean jar empty. This is much better for my waistline. I’ve already lost 5 pounds. School events. I swear everywhere you look you can find some sort of plot line. Multiple sets of shoes by the front door. Granted we...

Have you ever tried using your less dominate arm for everyday things? I personally try to avoid it. Typing is slow, hair brushing impossible, and eating, well… really not that pretty. Unfortunately, I have been forced to give this a go. I got into a bit of a ski accident. But, like everything else in my life… I’m going to use it as plot line. Firstly though, I need to thank the Whistler ski patrol. If you are going to get hurt, there is no...

Change seems to be my theme over these last several months. I am sorry for not blogging sooner. My family, husband and kids, have been through a lot recently. Amongst other things, we sold our house. A place we built sixteen years ago. We’ve moved away from the small town we loved and where we raised our kids. My husband sold his company. We lost three beloved pets. One to wanderlust (our turtle Todd went walkabout. I’m thinking he found a...

I love to cook and I am somewhat, no scratch that, all the way addicted to chocolate. This week, when my head was a bit too jumbled to write a cohesive sentence, I wandered into the kitchen and did a little reading from Desserts From My Kitchen, by Leslie Stowe. I am now cursing the friend who gave me this treasure trove of yumminess, but only in the best ways. 🙂 So when you just can’t get your thoughts down, I suggest turning to my...

How do you start writing a book? Step one: Outline *Conflict, resolution *Characters, setting This process takes about a week. I plot out my story line and get my ideas down on paper. My outlines always change as I start to write, but I find them essential for keeping my thoughts organized. Step two: Research *Who are the characters I want to write? *Physical description, what do they want? You can’t write what you don’t know. Step...

I am not a public speaker. At least that is what my brain tells me every time I get up on a stage. My heart palpitates, I forget everything I want to say and then I never quite remember what actually came out of my mouth. Talking to a group of kids does not bother me. My own children tell me that is because I never really grew up myself. But adults…talking to adults scares me. Recently I did a national Skype interview with Tim Knox and...