Christmas in Scotland is a wonderful blend of the old and the new.  All the usual holiday trimmings are on display, but with a warm twist that is pure Scotland.  Bagpipes weave their magic throughout cities both large and small, a Christmas Santa might wear a kilt and haggis might be decorated with holly. The use… Read More

SOUND —–The tone of a person’s voice can provoke a rainbow of emotions.  A deep voice can make us feel grounded whereas a high pitched screech can put us on edge.  Experiment the next time you are watching a television show or movie.  Close your eyes and try to picture the person from the tone… Read More

In honor of the launch of the Starz adaptation of Diana Gabaldon’s, Outlander, on August 9th, I’m sharing what I’ve learned on one of my favorite subjects:  Time Travel. Although it might feel that the idea of time travel is a modern concept, humans have talked about, written or dreamed of the idea for thousands… Read More

The Sense of TASTE How do we learn? You’re probably wondering what an odd question. But ponder the question for a moment. In school, we are taught through listening to a lecture, through reading textbooks or through writing down answers or constructing sentences. When you read a novel those same principles are in play. Taste… Read More

Writing Tips – The Six Senses – first in a six part series.                  THE SENSE OF TOUCH   We all have a story to tell. Some of us shout it from the rooftop, while others share the tale by a cozy fire. That doesn’t matter. What DOES matter is that our story holds our… Read More

August Eve or Lughnassandh is one of the three main Celtic Festivals: Samhain, in the Fall, Bealtaine in Spring and Lughnassadh, in summer.  Lughnassadh is celebrated when the harvest is over, and the fruits and grains are stored and ready for use during the long months ahead. Lughnassadh is also named for the Irish sun… Read More

sto-ry-tell-er: a: teller of stories, b: a reciter of tales, c: a writer of stories.   I recently researched a topic for a welcome letter for the PNWA writer’s conference that I’d like to share.  It discusses what it means to be a storyteller. The word in its current form, dates as far back as… Read More

Ask yourself; is your writing life a roller coaster, or a merry-go-round? This question occurred to me after watching the 1989 movie Parenthood with Steve Martin, Mary Steenburgen, Jason Robards and one of my favorite actors, Keanu Reeves, before he became the mega star of Matrix.  Steve Martin’s character, Gil, wanted a quiet, uneventful life,… Read More

In researching the origins of Father’s Day, I found remarkable similarities between Mother’s and Father’s day. Both were tied to the Civil War and both were inspired by Anna Jarvis, the creator of Mother’s Day. (For details regarding Anna Jarvis, and the origins of Mother’s Day, you can refer to my blog). In 1909, Sonora… Read More

Although writer’s conferences happen year round, the summer months are packed solid. And as with everything in this world, there are varying opinions on how to select the conference that is right for you. Deciding the best one can be daunting. Below is a list I hope will help. Travel and time off: Can you… Read More