Life is full of choices. Sometimes the biggest choice is whether to move forward or stay where we are comfortable. This week I'm making a presentation in Nottingham, England, at the Society of Legal Scholars conference. It's a definite step outside my comfort zone. Now, don't roll your eyes. Yes, I teach a couple times a week at Purdue University, but I don't teach other professors. … [Read more...]
King on the Mountain
I grew up on the Rice County, Kansas farmstead established by my mother's grandparents. My dad bought the farm from my great-grandparents when I was about three years old and I lived there till the day I went off to college. It's the only childhood home I remember and it was the best childhood possible. I didn't attend kindergarten, but when it was time to go to elementary school, I only had to … [Read more...]
All because two people fell in love
Today is my 40th wedding anniversary. (Not sure how that can be since I'm only 35, but it's true.) And oh how quickly those four decades have flown! It seems like just yesterday I was that wide-eyed nineteen-year-old heading down the aisle on my father's arm, wearing a dress my mom sewed—like she did all my clothes. At the end of that aisle was the man I loved more than life itself. I'm not sure … [Read more...]
Novelist Retreat: 11 Heads Are Better Than 1
Last week I got back from a very special retreat. Every year, for a dozen years, a group of writers have gotten together to Plot, Pray, and Play. Here is our group photo: … [Read more...]
A Weekend to Remember
I often talk about how writing is a hard career for an extrovert. So often my writing is done in front of a computer and I wait for electronic feedback from my agent, editors, friends, readers. It can feel solitary because the face to face contact usually comes once a year at ACFW. This past weekend, my daughter and I changed that dynamic. We put over 600 miles on the car as we drove around … [Read more...]