Last February, Rick and I traveled to South Africa to see the filming of Redeeming Love. It was so exciting to meet the actors, the director, the crew, and so many other people involved in making the feature film based on my novel. The sets were beyond my dreams, the costumes fantastic, the …
Years ago, I read John Steinbeck’s Travels With Charlie, and loved the whole idea of wandering the country and meeting all kinds of people. America is a melting pot of cultures, and I’m not just talking about those brought in from other countries to enrich our nation, but geographical areas that create unique styles in …
I saw a picture the other day of the Straits of Juan del Fuego where the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans meet. You could see where the waters collided and didn’t blend. Why? They have different salinity. Some doubted the veracity of the picture, but it reminded me of oil and water. They do not mix. …
When Rick and I were young, we got into debt. It was so easy to do. When I graduated from college, companies sent me credit cards. As newlyweds, we needed just about everything essential. We “needed” other things, too; nice dinners out, mini-vacations, sporting events, etc. It wasn’t long before all we could afford were …
I love working in the garden, even when I’m cutting away and pulling up so many plants that the yard looks barren when compared to spring and summer. Sometimes we must do the same kind of work on ourselves. Raul and Enrique came to prune the vineyard last weekend. These two wonderful friends have been …
Last year, 2020, was an historic year for all of us with challenges beyond our expectations. So many people have lost jobs, homes, property. We’ve relied on big box stores and Amazon for our necessities (though I don’t know why the same safety rules shouldn’t apply to small businesses). Activities have been curtailed, leaving people …
Imagine the dire possibilities that might make Santa Claus late this year: -Santa was stopped at the border and searched for possible contraband. -Every package must go through scanners. -Santa has been charged with trafficking weapons. All Nerf guns, slingshots, rubber knives, bows and arrow have been confiscated and cataloged as evidence and stored …
I saw a redwood sapling in a terracotta pot the other day and wondered where the owner planned to plant it. I’ve passed by homes with redwood trees planted in the front yard. They grow with surprising speed in the right environment. Take that as a warning, if you’re new to California and you want …
Ranger, our five-month-old German Shepherd, is away at Puppy Boarding School with a professional trainer for a few days and nights a week. His loving attention can literally knock us off our feet. Hence, the call for help. A well-behaved and trained dog is pure pleasure. Ranger will be that after he serves his time …
Lots of people think meeting a deadline and turning in a manuscript is the goal for a writer. Not so. That’s somewhere in the middle of the long road to publication – and publication, even for a previously-published author – should never be taken for granted. The hardest part of writing a novel is starting. …