Christmas Traditions in the Late 1840s
Because the emigrants in my first Oregon Trail novel traveled between April and October, I didn’t have to write about their Christmas celebrations in that book. But the sequel covers a three-year time span, so as I work on this draft, I am learning about Christmas traditions in the late 1840s. The American Puritans abhorred […]
A Writer’s Journey, and the Value of Critique Groups
In my gratitude list, I mentioned the support of colleagues and mentors as something I am grateful for. When I decided to spend my time writing, finding fellow writers was a year-long journey. For the first several months, I just wrote. And read books about writing. I learned a lot about novel techniques, and I […]
Jingle Bell Villanelle
As Christmas approaches every year, I worry about all the things to do — send cards, buy presents, mail packages, make travel plans. I feel overwhelmed. Here is the poem I wrote a couple of years ago to express my frustration. It is in the classic villanelle rhyme scheme. Jingle Bell Villanelle The ads […]
Nominated for “One Lovely Blog Award” . . . and My Nominations
A writing and blogging friend, Linda Joyce, has nominated this blog for the “One Lovely Blog Award” – I am honored. One more reason to be grateful as this month of gratitude draws to a close. Nominees for this award are required to: 1. Thank the blogger who nominated them, which I most heartily do. (Check […]
‘Ode to Joy’ on Our Wedding Anniversary
I always assumed I would walk down the aisle at my wedding to the strains of the Bridal Chorus from Wagner’s opera “Lohingren” (also called the “Wedding March”). You know the one: “Here comes the bride, All dressed in white, . . . “ So imagine my surprise when I got to our wedding rehearsal […]
Meet the Parents and The Circle of Life
No, my dad isn’t Robert DeNiro, but we did have our own version of “Meet the Parents” just before my husband and I were married. As I’ve mentioned before (see here and here), my husband and I are about to celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary. We got married on the Saturday after Thanksgiving in 1977. […]
My Gratitude List, 2012
Gratitude journals are a tool used in many disciplines. Psychologists prescribe them to combat depression. Writing and creativity coaches encourage them as inspiration. Religious leaders recommend them as a way to focus on the blessings in our lives. There is even a Wikipedia entry on gratitude journals, and for those who want a special place […]
Celebrate The 10th “I Love To Write Day” On November 15, 2012
Delaware author John Riddle established “I Love To Write Day” in 2002. According to the I Love To Write Day organization’s press release, the day is now celebrated in over 28,000 schools across the United States, with bookstores, libraries, community centers, and just plain writers also joining in the fun. “My goal for I Love […]
The Travails of Elizabeth Dixon Smith Geer
As I wrote in my last post about the Oregon Trail, the emigrants wanted to get to Oregon before the winter weather set in. Most travelers arrived by the end of October, but some were not so lucky. One of the unfortunate travelers was Elizabeth Dixon Smith Geer. Elizabeth kept a diary of her family’s […]
Family Recipe: A Good Christmas Present
It’s about time to start Christmas shopping, if the store windows are any gauge. Have you enjoyed this blog? Then consider buying my book, Family Recipe: Sweet and saucy stories, essays, and poems about family life, for the people in your life who might also enjoy my stories. The book would make a good stocking stuffer, […]