We had a security alarm incident at our house last weekend. Thank goodness we were home, because one of the fire/heat sensors fell off the ceiling and set off the alarm. It also set off all the smoke alarms and the security panel announced FIRE! FIRE! FIRE! and flashed that the fire department was …Read More

    I am a homebody. No two ways about it. Thank goodness I have a job that is means I get to spend lots of time in the place where I love. Okay. That was totally a Freudian typo. I meant to type “the place where I live,” but see how it came out? …Read More

      January 28th Words Journal: 340  words Long fiction: 2026 words Short fiction: 0 Non-fiction: 0 words Blogging: 33 words Exercise: A smoke alarm fell off the ceiling, setting off the house alarm, an event that lasted for ten agonizing minutes during which I sprinted frequently from one end of the house to …Read More

  What a strange week it’s been. After last weekend’s writing retreat, I came home pretty tired, anxious to get the last 20K words done on the novel. I didn’t get as many words done as I hoped, but I’m on track to write the epilogue over the next few days. The other thing I …Read More

      I wake up to find the dishwasher is already unloaded. All my clothes clean at once. Honey in my tea. My mechanical pencil runs out of lead, but there’s another one in the chamber. When someone else changes the toilet paper roll. My keys are already in my purse when I’m about …Read More

One of my writing role models is Margaret Atwood. Did I say “writing role model?” That seems such a trivial phrase compared to the actual influence she’s had on my life and writing. From poems to essays to short stories to novels and children’s books. She’s done it all. And that’s where she’s had her …Read More

I had a bit of a writing hangover this morning after my big weekend, so I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to make words today. But after some journaling, breakfast, and a bit of yoga, I revived. Lots of business things to catch up on during the daylight hours, but after …Read More

    I tried to slip out of town with as little notice as possible on Friday to get a chunk of writing done on my WIP. Last year in January I booked an AirBnB in St. Louis near Lafayette Park. It’s a sweet part of town. But, frankly, it felt a bit weird, being …Read More

  Remember to breathe.     “Worrying does not take away tomorrow’s troubles, but takes away today’s peace.” — Anonymous (Though Miss Nina is happy to claim that she is actually Anonymous. She can’t think of anyone who might be better at it.)   January  21st Words Journal:  110 words Long fiction: 9011 words Short …Read More

  A quick post because I’m at a top-secret writing retreat for the weekend. (Okay, I’m in St. Louis. It’s not such a big secret.) This was an exciting week for me, with my first Edgar nomination. Also, I unveiled a new website design. I’m so delighted with the new look. Let me know what …Read More