Well, I have done it. I have procrastinated until I can procrastinate no more. November first is less than two hours away and still haven’t done my outline. I told myself, self this year you are going to write an outline, you are going to be super prepared and utterly successful. Yeah, didn’t happen.

I…

“Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday dear………”

Do you remember the birthday parties you had when…

Today I submitted a story into a writing contest.  *gulp*

The requirements are that it - rhyme, be no more than 300 words, and - along with some other writing specifications - would appeal to a child.  So I dug out my rhyming story that I had asked my critique group to give their opinions on a few months ago, and seriously tackled the comments and advice. Then I posted it for critique again, tweaked a few little things, and prepared it for submission. Oh my...

I chose to submit…

Well, this is it — my last night to be free of the madness of NaNoWriMo. But I’m not really free of it because it’s looming over me, less than four hours away. Of course, I won’t roll up my sleeves and face it until tomorrow morning.

Luckily, I’m well prepared with a fantastic “NaNoWriMo Survival Kit” from my good friend Jenna, which includes such writing essentials as a reusable coffee mug, a pen and notepad, a stuffed “plot bunny” (so cute!),…

Everyone was talking about the film a few months ago, but I wanted to read the book first. It starts with a chilling scene: Ree Dolly, in thin cotton dress and combat boots standing on the front steps buffetted by the wind of an approaching snowstorm, staring at deer carcasses hanging from trees across the creek. The meat belongs to relatives who may or may not share it with sixteen-year-old Ree and her two younger brothers. In any case, the children won’t ask for it, but will instead make…

In my March 17, 2011 article, Synchronicity: Life’s Amazing Signs and Meanings I discuss the common expression, “There are no coincidences.” “Coincidental” experiences happen to us more frequently than we…

Seated: Grandma and Grandpa Berg and "She Who Holds the Reins'.

Surrounding: The Instigators

Halloween.

Ghosts and goblins.

Witches, black cats and scary pumpkins.

Pirates, vampires and mummies.

An evening of treats, tricks and mischief.

And it has…

My boyfriend and I just completed building a house and we're now decorating it. The following is a popular and frequent exchange, occurring several times a day. 

HIM: "How can you not like that?"

ME: "Because it's ugly."

And blackout.



Through this intense process of…

(I hope you enjoy Olivia’s tale. I had an overwhelming urge to create, even though as in all fiction there is a lot of truth here. Forgive the grammar; it’s old mountain dialect and the way Olivia talks.)

Well this is it, the day I dread all year. It’s hog killin’ day. My name is Olivia Oliver. The year is 1928. I was born here in this place called Cades Cove almost thirteen years ago. Some white folk changed its name way back when. The real name is Kate’s Cove. Named for…

Today is Halloween, I will be heading off to teach high school English dressed like I normally do which, according to my teen age daughter, is boring.  All of the high school students will also be dressed in their normal clothes: jeans (pulled up or down to varying degrees and with varying degrees of “fashionable” holes), sweatshirts, and t-shirts.  Anyone who dresses up in costume will be sent home to change.

Why? You might ask. Does the administration not have any sense of fun? They…

“ I don’t normally like to do this over the phone…but, your biopsy came back.  I’m sorry, you have breast cancer.”

And with one phone call, a new life began.

...…