My New Book Got a GREAT Review!

A well-researched, lively volume that leavens the Ellis Island experience with humor, fairy-tale magic, and an appealing plot — Kirkus Review   My new book SAILING BACK TO ELLIS ISLAND, due to be published next month, got its second GREAT review. Besides my favorite part, quoted above, Kirkus Review also says, “Collen admirably balances fact and fiction…

How you spend your time is how you spend your life

Here today, gone tomorrow. Really, it’s gone instantaneously. What am I talking about? Time. We act like we have forever ahead of us, which isn’t the case. Because we don’t know how much time is left and we don’t treasure it like the precious, non-renewable resource that it is. The older I get, the more that…

Wrapped in love

On Tuesday night, my spirituality group presented our first completed prayer shawl to a group member who has been dealing with the death of one loved one and coping with the illness of another. Given that her family members live in other parts of the country, Kris will miss a month of meetings. We wanted her…

Be well

There are so many lifestyle habits that provide benefits to body, mind and spirit. Why do we have such a hard time incorporating self-care practices into our lives? Scientific research backs up the connections between taking care of ourselves physically to stay heart strong, but also for brain protection. Exercising, eating nutritionally and getting sufficient sleep are…