The Short Row

Ah, summertime, sweltering heat and harvesting, where sweat soaked clothes and hair cling to the body is a farming fashion statement. And let us not forget those must have accessories, the grass burrs. Why do it? Two reasons. One, I like fresh veggies and two, I’ve trained for this my entire life. I was born into a farm family and have heard so many times growing up that there would come a day when I’d appreciate knowing how to feed myself. And with the skyrocketing prices at the supermarket, I am thankful every day for the education. It’s hard work, but again, I was trained from birth about hard work and getting the job done.

It is that work ethic instilled in me by my parents that I carry into writing. Believe me there are times, especially when I am trying to figure out a twist in the plot or having to delete a whole chapter because it is not working that I ask, why do this to yourself. Then I hear those two voices echoing from the past. “We’re on the short row. All we like is finishing up.”

Whether I pick peas or pick verbs it is all about seeing it through and rewarded with the fruits of my labor.  

Spring into Summer

Mother nature decided enough of spring and flipped the switch to summer. What happens in Arkansas when summer hits? The humidity is high, air thick with moisture, hair frizzing like a 1970 perm gone bad, and after a month into it, people are grumbling how they can’t wait for fall.

Now I’m southern, a proud Arkansan born and bred in the Natural State full of rural areas and natures beauty, but  I have a theory about why southerners like myself speak with a slow (depending on the region) twangy draw. I think the first people living in the southern US who experienced the high humid summer felt like the life was being sucked out of them leaving it hard to talk thus drawing out words into a long and slow rhythm. That’s just my thoughts.

So, what to do in this furnace of hades? Find a river and float down the cool water. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate  Vacation at the beach. For me I’ll just play my best Scarlett Ohara and say my, my ain’t it hot, stay under the air conditioner, and put my butt in the chair writing on another book until fall.

Memorial Day

Today we honor those who served our great nation and never made it home. When we think of Memorial Day, we think of the soldier. I know I do. I think of the mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and grandparents who wore out their knees praying for their loved one to return home safely only to face the grief of knowing they would not. But I also think of the civilians, people who voluntarily go to the battlefields to bring a bit of home or entertainment to remind our military they are loved and missed. There have been those who have lost their lives in such endeavors.

On this Memorial Day, remember the men and women who gave their lives, the families who grieve the empty seat at the table, and remember the ones who just wanted to help bring a smile to a soldier’s face if only for a moment and never came home.

Pine Tree Slaps and Stewardship

I love writing and spend a good deal of time doing so, but there’s more to me. I am a fifth-generation landowner derived from a family history of self-sufficient farming and living. I take the responsibility to care for the land very serious with the goal of handing it down for the next generation.

A few days ago, I jumped on the SXS checking the gardens, fields, and forest. Most know, walking in the woods is my go to place to think on a story. Not gonna lie, got a little distracted and ended up getting slapped in the face with a tree branch. Anyway, as I rode around, I gave thanks that the land provides me with everything I need, food, a peaceful place to call home, and a Zen for writing. My name is on the deeds and book covers, but I know, whether it is writing or farming, I am just the steward nurturing and growing what is offered.

Professionalism, Flip Flops, a Warped Sense of Humor.

While feeding the drama queens this morning (yeah, my hens and don’t get me started), marketing my books weighed heavy in my thoughts. Yes, I’ve watch videos on marketing and other authors approaches to promoting books and themselves or their brand. I am by no means an expert and for that matter I really dislike the sound of my own voice and face appearing in pictures and videos but I understand that is part of it. Most material hammered home about being professional. I think the best approach is being authentic and relatable.

 I won’t show up to an event in a tube top and flip flops (I’ll keep the flops in my bag until after an event) but I will bring a real smile and laugher, a genuine interest in the person in front of me giving my full attention to them as they chose to share their time with me.

 Here is the disclaimer: I have been accused of having a slightly warped sense of humor

Come on Girl, Get in the Blog Zone,

I’ve neglected the blog. Yes, things have been busy but in truth, I have struggled finding something to write. Do people want to know I’ve spent a good deal of time at the keyboard in the past three weeks writing on a new book and when I am in the zone I get caught up, lost in the story to the point I forget something is on the stove cooking until I smell it burning? Are they interested in how I walk around in a field going over dialog in my head holding posts while my brother pounds them in the ground with a backhoe bucket (yep there is a lot of trust there). Or maybe how my chickens have an attitude where they want to fly up in my face every time I walk into the pen and I begin questioning my devotion to them which strikes an epiphany on a character’s loyalty in the new book.

Oh, well maybe not. but I will work harder to find something to blog on that is worthy to read.

Meet, Greet, and the Rodney Dangerfield Treatment

Yesterday was the first signing for Sins of the Sister. It was slow, as expected, but what thrilled me the most, meeting people who came in for a specific thing and ended up wandering over engaging in conversation with someone they didn’t know. Most walked away with a book.

 Of course, getting the book into people’s hands is important. For me though, just meeting people and having a conversation whether it is about the book, weather, farming, motorcycles, or just life in general makes me smile.

 And yes, when I arrived home, I told my mean high school girl hens all about it. They had this look of good, now where’s our meal worm treats. I feel like the Rodney Dangerfield of the farm. I get no respect, no respect at all I tell ya.

Storm Shelter Vacations

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Ah mother nature she is a fickle heifer. It’s that time of year in southern Arkansas where we wear shorts one day and a coat the next. We take those sporadic vacations to the storm shelter or hallways in our homes. Nothing like a weather alert going off at four in the morning showing a confirmed tornado on the ground not too far away to wake a person up really quick. As crazy as it sounds, I usually sit on the front porch wearing a sarcastic worded tee shit and pajama pants sipping coffee watching the radar and listening for sounds to decipher if something is about to go down. The way I see it, living in the woods, there is nowhere to run from all these trees. So, with a song and a prayer, I keep drinking my coffee.

March has been exciting on other fronts as well. Sins of the Sister released. The waiting game begins to find out how it is received by readers. Visit the event page on my website www.bralmond.com for signing dates.

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Book Release and Conversations with my Chickens

I am grateful I have no close neighbors. If I did, I would be called the crazy lady who talks to her chickens. With the release of Sins of the Sister tomorrow, I held this conversation with my mean girls while hanging out in the coop feeding them.

“Well ladies, tomorrow is the big day,” I say.

“Squawk, squawk,” they respond.

“I know, I know, I will either hear it’s good or I suck,” I say.

From the back of the coop comes one single loud, “SQUAWK!”    

I really don’t know if it was a sarcastic barb or song of praise. So, I just cover my bases. “Oh, yeah? Well, you better hope I don’t suck if you want to keep getting fed.”

Check out Sins of the Sister releasing tomorrow.

Serious, Funny, and Pulling Up the Granny Panties

I blog a variety of things with no particular theme. I write what I feel and the occurrences happening in my life. As I say, I am a writer, farmer, and lover of motorcycles.

Some entries are funny and have absolutely nothing to do with writing and then there are days I post a serious subject. That’s who I am. I am somber and serious when needed, but also try to find the humor in any given situation.

As we head into Sins of the Sister book release and spring, I will post about the trials and tribulation of marketing books and gardening. Either way I maintain the same outlook with both. If it turns fruitful, then I am blessed. If not, then I pull up my granny panties, write something new and replant.

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.