A couple of weekends ago, my husband and I spent two giddy, glorious days standing in long lines, searching for each other through crowds of people, and spending money. No, we weren’t at Disney World. Or any amusement park for that matter. We attended the Texas Book Festival! Since moving to Austin almost three years ago, this has become our favorite weekend of the year. For two days … [Read more...]
Fall Flavors
I love October. The pumpkins are out. Football season is in full swing. The air is finally cooling off here in Texas, so I can think about chili and soups. One of my local coffee shops has busted out a maple pecan latte (which is fabulous!), and Trader Joe’s is a flurry of fall flavors. Since we’ve been in Austin, we’ve always had a Trader Joe’s grocery store nearby. In fact, from the front door … [Read more...]
A Writer’s Life
Last week, on the first cool morning since spring, I walked to a nearby coffee shop and sat on their patio to write this post. I live downtown, so the coffee shop’s patio was just beyond the foot traffic and the street. Buildings rose high in front and beside and behind, leaving my view of sky only a sliver. Pedestrians, cars—even bikes and electric scooters—passed by, close enough to hear … [Read more...]
New Release–and a Giveaway!
A new release always leaves me a bundle of nerves. Yes, there is excitement. And the pride of work completed. But there is also the nail-biting (literally!) suspense of how it will be received by those readers who have enjoyed your previous books, by those who are new to your work, by . . . anyone, really. And when you have been both author and publisher, those emotions rise to a whole new level … [Read more...]
School Days
Do you remember this snippet from You’ve Got Mail? I can relate to this sentiment. Fall, to me, is synonymous with the beginning of school. When my children were at home, I lived for that moment. It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy summer. I did. So many family memories made in the long, hot days. But by August, I was always summered out. I craved routine and schedule, even if those were … [Read more...]