Guess what came in the mail today…

My proof book arrived yesterday. I noticed the small package inside my front door after returning home from work. The housecleaning service set it inside. My heart did a jump up heel click while I opened the cardboard package. What a rush to finally hold an actual book. READ THE ENTIRE POST...

Refrain from the Identical Book Update

I look around my house and sigh, “Wat een Rommel.” (The Dutch expression for “What a mess”) The last several days of my hubby's “paint the house project” culminates in piles of disorganized stuff. To say that I'm overwhelmed is an understatement. Only three more days until I have to go back to work and my …

Purging the Pests from our Creative Lives

My husband and I have finally won our war with the squirrels. Over three weeks and $300 later, the poisonous pellets and squirrel trap have worked (Justin actually trapped over 40). I returned from my writing retreat to see roses blooming, strawberries ripening, and tomatoes hanging from the vine. Yet before I left for that glorious week …

“Self-Publishing — I’m not alone” by Christine M. Grote

Recently, one of my blogging friends, Christine M. Grote, asked if she could feature my self-publishing journey on her blog. This morning she sent me the link to her post. When I read through the entries, I cried. There was something powerful about having my self-publishing history laid out before me. When I realized how far …

Create and Live Imperfectly…thoughts on Self-publishing, Marriage, and Life

How fitting that I begin a new writing journal on my 9-year anniversary. This day also marks the completion of the preliminary book section submissions to Createspace. I’ve completed all of the questionnaires for the Createspace design teams: interior design, cover design, and media press release. I never dreamed there would be so many pieces …

My Kindred Heart

How odd to see a version of yourself walking (or jumping) around in male form. This is the way I feel about my son who is currently working for a small start-up company in Cape Town named Virtual Mobile Technologies, founded by two South African brothers, Wilter and Arno du Toit. As if some serendipitous encounter consumed us—on different continents during …

Becoming your Own Best Friend

My best friend lives far away. And although we talk to each other several times a week, both of us feel the pain of not being able to sit across the table from each other sipping a cup of Joe while discuss the day. We often sigh and dream aloud, "What if we lived in …

Memoir Check

"God, keep me in reality!" My former Twelve-step sponsor used to pray these words every day. She knew her mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being depended upon staying "denial-free." Also married to a recovering sex addict at the time, I embraced her wisdom and chanted the same mantra in hopes I, too, would retain my …