I have been having a blast researching West Point Academy history in the 1850s. Writing a few chapters about the Academy in those pre-civil war days, when West Point was busy training leaders for both the North and the South, demands not only online research but books, magazines like Bugle Notes and some trekking through…
In reading the eulogies for 81 year old Senator John McCain, what resonated was how he faced his final fight. He knew his brain cancer carried a death sentence. He did not deny or avoid, but planned for the end. He spent time inviting special people to memorialize him. Given his seeming pragmatic approach, he…
Finding the Right Title is an art all by itself. How do I convey the subject matter of a story and ‘knock out’ the reader all in one punch? After the genius (ok, ok, 1% genius, 99% work) of writing a book, the author still has to come up with a title that will not only…
First we had a problem with being called “Grandma” and “Grandpa”, coming up with such creative names as “GranMo”, “Z” and “Sweetums”. (I drew the line at Grandude and G-dawg.) Boomers Name Themselves. Now we have a problem with being called “Senior Citizen” “Elderly” and “Golden Ager”. Forget ‘Seniors’ Aging Boomers Search For A Better…
It started innocuously enough in October 2015. After a weekend of yard-work, Becky woke up and noticed that she was unable to bend her pinky. She visited a doctor who thought the problem might be related to a herniated disc. Before agreeing to surgery, Becky sought a second opinion and horrifyingly learned that she had…
On my morning walk, I noticed: it’s a bit cooler and less humid. It feels like the start of something new. While it’s not January 1st, Labor Day and back to school advertisements makes it seem like a fresh start. You may not have any students in your life who are actually buying notebooks and…
I believe in reading to kids any way that is fun! My preference: goofy voices and silly accents. I love engaging them in a story, making them care about the characters. I, of course, am not the only author who is passionate about reading to children every day. “Trusting, singing, laughing, and language are the…
