If you’ve been to Texas, raise your hand. I am sure that every person thinks THEIR state is the best state. It’s good to love where you’re from. Right? I’m actually from California, but I’ve been in Texas a very long time. This month I thought I’d share a list of what I love about the Lone Star State, beginning with the pictures above. The rivers The still wild places Our long, long sunsets The people That we still have so many horses Wildflowers Pecan trees Our Gulf Coast Small towns Fun, exciting cities The beach How big everything is in Texas! Dirt roads The Hill Country The mountains Our ..read more

And more books! I love books. I love them in all sizes and shapes … and formats. When you’ve been published for a while, yes-that means I’m oldER than when I started this gig, you start seeing your books published in a variety of formats. Mass market (purse-sized) Trade (full sized) Large print (even bigger) Soft covers (paperback) Hard covers (kinda self explanatory that one) Audio That last one is fun. In the last few years I’ve become a real fan of audio books. I found out I can knit and listen. Ha! Two of my favorite things at once. I also listen to audio books when I have a long road t ..read more

I’m so excited to be in 2024. I’ve always liked new years, new calendars, fresh starts. And this year is especially sweet. I’ve decided to dub this year my “year of jubilee.” Do you remember that story in the Bible? I found this: According to regulations found in the Book of Leviticus, certain indentured servants would be released from servitude, some debts would be forgiven, and everyone was supposed to return to their own property in jubilee years. ~Wikipedia I like the sound of that. Okay, I’m not an indentured servant. I wouldn’t mind my debts being forgiven, and I’m not sure where I’d re ..read more

A Few of My Favorite Things November always brings to mind the many things I have to be thankful for. Sometimes, it’s hard to focus on those things. So much pulls us away from that attitude of gratitude–the news, our aches and pains, financial hardships, car repairs, relationship challenges. Oh, but wait. This blog was supposed to be about gratitude. See how easy it is to be tugged in a different direction? I recently read a book about memory by Lisa Genova, aptly titled “Remember.” It’s a fascinating look at the brain and how it works. One thing Genova points out is that we will remember ..read more

Let’s see if you’ve heard any of these. “Tough times never last, but tough people do. ~Robert H. Schuller “You’ve got to stay strong to be strong in tough times.” ~Tilman J. Fertita “I think most art comes out of poverty and hard times.” ~Willie Nelson I’ll bet you can think of a few more to add to this list. Most of the time, when I see sayings like this, or “When life gives you lemons make lemonade,” I shake my head and walk away. Lemons and lemonade. Right. Got it. But I have a bucket in my sink! It’s been there for a few weeks, and I don’t think it’s going anywhere. In fact, I’m starting ..read more

Raise your hand if you were raised in the south with no air conditioning. Haha. I’m sure I’m not the only one. We didn’t have air conditioning at home–or at school–or in the car. I think about that at least once a day, since Texas is currently melting under 100+ temperatures. We survived though. Somehow. And mom wouldn’t let us hang around inside. She made us “go outside and don’t come back before lunch.” Oh my! Can you imagine telling a child that now? Definitely those were different times. So what did we do? We found someplace shady, for sure. We rode our bikes or played with the kids next ..read more

It’s true. I’ve accepted a half-time teaching position. Beach time is over my friends. Okay, I was only at the beach for 4 days, but you get my meaning. Life is about to get busy! So am I still going to write books? You bet, I am! I’ll still have half a day. What do you think I’d spend that time doing? Eating bon-bons? I don’t even have any bon-bons. But seriously, I’m super excited about this opportunity to return to the classroom. I have a lot of experience teaching–15 years. (To some of you that’s nowhere near how many years you have in the classroom, and my hat is off to you. Well done ..read more

As a writer, I need things to do that don’t require sitting in front of a computer. I knit. I quilt a little. I love to play in the garden. But Good Golly Miss Molly, it’s hard to maintain flowers in Texas. It involves so much watering. At first it’s every other day. Then it’s every day. Then it’s twice a day for the rest of the summer. I’m not whining, mind you, I’m just rethinking this flower thing. I decided to give my flower pots a rest this year. Of course, that means the weather has changed and it is now raining every day. Ha! I’m not falling for that. Give it a couple weeks. I know Te ..read more

I had so much fun going through the final edits of my May release, Veil of Destruction. By the time I receive a book back from my editor and my proofreaders, it’s been several months since I finished writing it. I’ve usually written at least one other book in that time. So re-reading what has been edited and proofread is a special pleasure. It’s like meeting old friends again. As I was going back over this book, I couldn’t resist grabbing a couple of “Pull Quotes.” This is an old term from my magazine writing days. The editor would pick out a sentence or two and highlight it, put a box aroun ..read more

Isn’t this picture adorable? Can you guess which one I am? Clue: I’m not really paying attention. Ha! I’m the youngest, in the hat, staring at something to my left. I love this picture of me and my siblings. It reminds me of a simpler time. Plus, it makes me curious. What is my brother mad about? Having to wear that bow tie? And what are my sisters thinking about? Looks like they’re staring in the opposite direction I am. Why? This photo was taken in Los Angeles, outside the little 2 bedroom house we lived in. Gosh, that hat I’m wearing is cute. There are many things I love about Easter. The ..read more