It has been a busy 10 days here, working on final galleys and participating in two writers conferences. Last weekend, I had the privilege of being on faculty for the fabulous Northwestern Christian Writers Conference at the University of Northwestern-St. Paul. I taught a workshop on “Avoiding Common Mistakes on the Road to Publication,” met with up-and-coming writers, and participated on a … [Read more...]

It’s summertime here in the northern hemisphere. If you’re having hot, sunny weather where you live as well, perhaps you've cooled off with a visit to the beach. I’ve been spending a lot of time on the beach myself. Not in reality, but in researching a future novel set on the English seaside. I’m guessing some of you may have watched the fairy recent miniseries, Sanditon (based on Jane … [Read more...]

I have been going to Dairy Queen on my birthday for about 50 years. It’s a simple, sweet tradition that started when I was seven years old in central Illinois (the same year I received my lime green 3-speed bicycle). The first Dairy Queen opened in 1940 in Joliet, IL, not far from Chicago, where I was born.  Dairy Queen’s international headquarters is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, near … [Read more...]

A few months ago, I participated in an online discussion of the book Jane Austen Embroidery: Regency Patterns Reimagined for Modern Stitchers during a meeting of the Jane Austen Society of North America (MN Chapter). The author introduces the book by saying: “We all know that Jane Austen was an accomplished novelist. Less well known is that she was also a talented stitcher, as at home … [Read more...]

Just a short but definitely sweet post today, in honor of my favorite springtime flower and my favorite fragrance in the world: Lily of the Valley. I look forward to these dainty beauties blossoming every year, and then gather stems of the fair bells to perfume my office. Sadly, the flowers don't last long, but are wonderfully fragrant while they do. I would far rather have two or … [Read more...]