The Balancing Act Called Life

I was asked if I write full time. The answer is no. I do not depend on writing for an income. I write for the joy of loving the craft. If it happens to produce an income, then I will be truly blessed.

My time is divided between writing, gardening, and trying to maintain control of ten hens testing my resolve. I also spend time with family and friends, reading, watching shows, surfing the internet, daydreaming of motorcycles, and occasionally road tripping to a favorite or new place.

I believe it is important to balance life between what you love, and who you love.

Sins of the Sister, releasing March 3, 2026

Skating Uphill and a One on One meeting with Myself

If ice remains on the ground around my house after fourteen days, do I get to punch the groundhog in the mouth after it predicted 6 more weeks of winter? It has been an adventure around here skating, and I mean skating, to the chicken coop twice a day changing out the water container that kept freezing.

I took the time to have a much needed meeting with myself about taking a couple of weeks away from the next manuscript and work on seedlings for the garden. It got pretty heated. Things were said, feelings were hurt. I walked away from the mirror and cooled off. In the end I compromised and agreed to one week.

So may the groundhog be a liar, my seedlings grow strong, and Sins of the Sister releases without any hiccups on March 3rd.

Hard Work Pays Off

The great ice storm of 2026 kept me plenty busy around here. The one thing it allowed is isolation to finish what needs to be done on the writing front.

It’s been a long time coming but I am happy to announce my new book, Sins of the Sister will be out on March 3. The book is listed under the BOOKS section on the website. Click on the image to see the back of the book for an idea of exactly what kind of things roll around in my head. It will be available in print and ebook where books are sold.

I Hear a Snowy Hurdy Gurdy Playing

Wow, life has been somewhat of a three ring circus the past couple of weeks. I wish I was the ring master but feel more like one of the clowns getting out of the tiny car. The tigers have been tamed, the monkeys are re-caged, and I extricated myself from the car to step into winter that is finally showing it’s face in Arkansas. For those who do not live in southern Arkansas, ice and snow do not play well with southern Arkansans. We are not equipped for the expected four to fifteen inches of ice and snow. But it does take away distractions and I can get some writing done.

I am running a little behind on a couple of things and hope to be caught up by the end of the month. I know, I know, I planned a cover reveal, and it is coming I promise. Stay warm and may the electricity stay on.

Books, Seeds and Sorority Sisters

The holidays are finally over. I’m still on schedule for a spring release of my new book, Sins of the Sister, with a cover reveal coming within the next week and I am very excited for everyone to see it. To occupy my anxious waiting, I turn to preparing for spring by starting some seeds and looking at the plant catalogs like a kid loose in a toy store. Plus, the ten mean girl’s living in the chick mahal graduated from high school and are now a sorority treating me like a pledge during rush week.

So, with fingers crossed, I hope to post a firm release date on the book soon. I hope I come to my senses and close the seed catalog ordering just the necessities, and most of all, I hope that the ladies of Phi Beta Hen will stop with the hazing.

Looking Back

When I think about Christmas, the first memories are not as a child standing in awe of the items Santa left under the tree. No, I think about the kitchen table where we gathered for breakfast after dragging Mom and Dad out of bed before sun rise.

Mom mixed up biscuits, fried some bacon, and made gravy listening and laughing as Dad took time with each one of us praising the doll or truck Santa had brought us and maybe spouting a silly song he came up with on the spot. It is the laughter and love gathered around that kitchen table I recall the most.

If I could go back and change one thing it would be to say what I didn’t say at the time. Thank you. Thank you for giving me such a great memory.

Merry Christmas to all.

Books, Motorcycles, and Chickens

As I say, I am a writer, farmer, and lover of motorcycles. For writing everything is moving along really well with getting the new book released in early spring. Motorcycles, I’m still daydreaming looking at pictures online. So that leaves farming. I have mentioned a few time that there are ten mean girls living in my coop. I feed them good grain and provide treats such as meal worms or crickets. Well, I ran out of treats. For the past week, I am getting attitude when I walk into the pen to feed. I walk in, they see I have only grain, look at me and WALK OFF. I’m picking up treats tomorrow and when I do, I am going into that coop, holding the bag in my hand, just look at them, and then walk off.

Somewhere in this crazy adventure there’s got to be a story. The title will be, Show Down at the Chick Mahal or Revenge of the Rhode Island Reds.

Just Thinking About Spring

Man, oh, man, it has been a mixture of cold and wet around here for the past two weeks. I am not a winter person and counting down the days to spring. In fact, spring hold something significant for me in 2026. I am releasing a new book titled, Sins of the Sister. On the social media outlets and my website, I posted a short trailer announcing it a week ago. Thank you for the views and shares. As things progress, I will send out more news, trailers, and cover release, culminating in the reveal of the release date. I have no expectations regarding how it will be received. I write because I enjoy it so much. I publish to share it with others.

Mixing the Mix

Turkey and ham and dressing, oh my. Reading and formatting and preparing promotional post, oh my. Right now, I’m not sure if I added salt to the potatoes or posted a suspense trailer about a coconut pie recipe. Oh well, we shall see when I get comments. Things are moving along on both fronts. I can say I am shooting for a release on the new book early spring 2026. But I cannot say how the potatoes will taste….

 Keep a watch, we may see a teaser over the holiday.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Thanksgiving

Over the past year, I have been blessed. I may not have gotten what I hoped for, but I got what I needed. I maintained a roof over my head, food on the table, clothes on my back, anything extra, I see as a blessing. Sure, I would have loved a new car or new furniture, but those things are a list of wants and not needs. When things don’t work out for the wants, there is a reason for it. I know for me, I may not see the reason at the time of my want but in the long run, I realize letting go of it was for the best and in some cases better things came along. Count your blessing for the things you received and for the things you didn’t.

Happy Thanksgiving! May your turkey be cooked to perfection, your dressing spiced just right, and your recliner reclines.

Get your Asphalt in Gear

Life is a highway, get your asphalt and fill those potholes. I’ve decided every time I face an issue; I am just going to shout bring me a shovel and a bag, got a real tire shredder here. In this day and time, we all could use some laughter because there are too many people who don’t know how to fix their road. It sure doesn’t help when others load up spinning, doing burnouts on something already worn. Be kind to others, help lay asphalt when you can, because you never know when the rain might erode your stretch of the highway.

A Busy Bee

Things are getting exciting! I met with my graphic designer discussing a vision for the cover of my new book. Of course, I keep reading and placing the manuscript under a microscope searching each comma and period for errors but no matter how many times I go over it or how many sets of eyes search each sentence, I have to except the fact, something may get by. My goal is to publish this novel with the best of intentions and efforts with only the expectation of truly entertaining those who chose to read it. I will post more as things progress.

Pre Day of the Dead

Halloween, not a fan. Kids dressing up is cute but I’m not into scary things. I’ve written my thoughts on horror books keeping me up all night. And gory movies… No way, no ma’am, no how. I do not like them.

 I did watch the Walking Dead but not for the reason one might think. I didn’t care for the zombies but the innovation of survival skills, I found intriguing. I asked myself, if we experienced a world changing event where technology and the basic things that make life easier disappeared, what skill would I bring for survival. Well, I was raised country so I know how to garden and pluck the feathers off a chicken so that would make me a prize catch.

 Anyway, Happy Halloween and may your ghosts and goblins be of the friendly persuasion.

ISO Rent Free Space

I spoke with someone recently about how I am feeling the closer I get to publishing and releasing my new book. I have carried this story and the characters around with me for twelve years before getting to this point. It is not the concern of how it will be received bothering me. It is sharing this story that has lived inside for so long. The only way I can compare this feeling is to think about something you have that means so much to you, something that is yours that you have kept to yourself, and now you are about to send it out into the world, giving it away, no longer exclusive to you. A lot of mixed emotions but in the end, this story should be shared, and I hope it takes up a rent-free space in people’s heads as it has mine.

Curing Antique Worry Warts

The hardest part of decisions is anticipation. After thinking things through, the waiting for the actual results is stressful and somewhat nerve jolting. As a writer, anticipation can stretch from a few months to years. The way I handle the waiting game is recognizing I cannot carry it twenty-four seven. I set it to the side and allowing myself to feel it for a couple of hours each week. The point is, we cannot wear anxious worry all the time or we will miss out on life.

So, when you have a breakout of worry warts, treat it like a valuable antique, box it up, set it on a shelf where you can see it but limit how much time you get it out and hold it.

A Leap of Faith

“When one jumps over the edge, one is bound to land somewhere.” D. H. Lawrence.

The way I interpret this quote is, don’t be afraid to take a leap of faith. For many years, I spent a good deal of time writing things down and crafting stories. I kept everything to myself wanting to publish but fearful of sharing my work. Was it judgement that kept me silent for so long? No. The fear of stepping out on the limb stems from being a person who is well versed in masking thoughts and feelings. Publishing gives people a slight glimpse into my thoughts. And here I am today sharing my thoughts in a blog and getting ready to publish a second book.

Know what I’ve learned through this journey? It is not the actual diving off into the air and being unsure where one will land that is the scary bit. No, the frightening part, standing on the edge working up courage to jump.

Here’s to you, Fall

Fall is upon us. The leaves are beginning to show a peak of the beautiful colors preparing to paint the forest. Some may see fall as the end of sunny warm days and a precursor to dreary cold and gray month. Not me, I see it as the beginning of renewal, shedding the old and preparing for a new adventure.

My best writing is sitting on the porch with my laptop, drinking coffee, and feeling that early morning light cool air of fall invigorating my head space where stories gather. I smile wondering what new characters will come into my life and how I can share them with others.

So, raise your pumpkin latte or in my case, my plain coffee with a shot of vanilla. Here’s to the fall, may it bring the inspiration, the hero’s, the villain’s, the adventures, the humor, and the readers.

Rain, Tin Roof, and Reading

When I was young, my grandfather’s house had a tin roof. I remember sitting in a chair, laying my head back, listening to the light pecking resonating a hypnotic rhythm while watching water drip off the edge.

I’m very fortunate to have a home in the middle of the woods, quiet, serene, and it has a tin roof. When it rains, I lay on the chaise lounge on my porch listening to the drops hit the roof while reading a good book. That sound pulls me deeper into the story.

 Yes, I have been known to fall asleep. That’s okay, the rain on a tin roof also makes for some good dreaming, and I will admit, on more than one occasion, I have abruptly awakened after rolling off the chaise.

The Good, The Bad, and The Gray

Stories have characters who are essentially good and some who are bad from the beginning. My favorite characters to write are the gray, those who just can’t be good all the time, and those who are bad yet give us surprising moments of goodness. I enjoy the challenge to show the breaking moments when a situation turns the normalcy just enough to give a glimpse of another dimension to a character.

I think of myself as a gray character. I have days when I am the best version of me, days when I don’t want to be around myself, and days that start off in a clear direction, ending so far away from where I originally started.

At any time, life can twist us a little, changing our mood. Just remember, on your best day, share a bit of joy with others, and on your worst day, commit an act of kindness. It is surprising how on a bad day, being kind gives a glimpse to the dimensions of your character.

Imagining All My People

I took a day trip to the place that provided inspiration for the book I have just finished. I walked around seeing my characters in certain places. I am sure the passerby’s thought I was some lunatic just walking around smiling and occasionally stopping to sit on a bench. Oh, if they only knew what was actually going on in my head. Then again, with this book, it may be a good thing they don’t know.