Hello. I'm at work again after taking a two week road trip all the way to New York City and back. I used to fly when I traveled to writers' conferences and workshops, but since my husband retired a few years ago we now drive just about everywhere. It's fun but it can be exhausting. We have a Mini-Cooper and you should see that little car full of two big suitcases and books and book bags. (Plus, … [Read more...]
Searching for Pitcher Plants
Happy Wednesday. I've had a quirky week so I thought I'd just take a little vacation with all of you before I head out on a road trip to the RWA (Romance Writers of America) Conference. Let's start with a nice image of a peaceful place. This was taken on a river near where we live in Florida. Quite and beautiful and out in the middle of nowhere. My husband wanted to find some of the … [Read more...]
Close Encounters of the Best Kind
Every five years or so, the family I married into holds a reunion, and my husband, his mom, three brothers, "baby" sister, and as many of the grandkids—and now great-grandkids—as are able, gather at the designated place for a week of fun and adventure. After forty-plus years as a Raney myself, I'm here to testify that the Raneys have a corner on the "adventure market" and when you get twenty-five … [Read more...]
An Unexpected Adventure
Life is an adventure. We can probably all agree on that. Sometimes it takes some unexpected twists and turns. I just got back from one of those. It was a good twist, but one I never expected to find myself taking. I spent all of last week in Brazil. When you ask me where I want to travel, what I what to see, what I hope to experience, Brazil never hit the list. In fact, traveling south of … [Read more...]
Stepping out of Comfort Zones
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...]