When I was a kid, I adored the Ghostbusters Saturday morning cartoon. My favorite character was mad scientist Egon Spengler. Over and over, I imagined that I was the Ghostbusters’ secretary, like Janine in the cartoon. I imagined myself dating … Continue reading
I started my Twitter account in 2009, but I found Twitter intimidating, and I let my account lie dormant. After hearing a presentation from Alex Arnold (@AlexYArnold) at a SCBWI regional conference, I was inspired to try again. In the last … Continue reading
My Oregon hometown has very mild winters. On our rare snowy days, the white stuff fell in sullen clumps. I’d seen pictures of six-pointed snowflakes, but I assumed that they existed at a microscopic level. During my first winter in … Continue reading
I had a grand time at a family reunion last weekend. I’ve been thinking about the words we use in English to talk about the people who become our family by marriage. For example, think about your brother-in-law or your … Continue reading
Many calls for help focus solely on what the requester needs. These two go beyond in different ways. I found them refreshing, and I’ve supported both. Buy an e-book to help author Eugie Foster with cancer treatment When she faced … Continue reading
I decided never to mention the flaw in my grandmother’s gift, because I didn’t want to hurt her feelings. You see, I knew that it was very naughty to write in books, and my new copy of Dinotopia had been … Continue reading
“The Witch’s Cat” and “You Have to Follow the Rules” remind me of each other. (Teasers and themes ahead, and notes on character identity from mid-story, but no plot-event spoilers.) Both short stories have a young protagonist facing a confusing … Continue reading
My husband and I combined Steven Brust’s Dragaera fantasy series with housework. He’d read aloud while I chopped vegetables. I’d read aloud while he washed the dishes. Dragaera was a reread for my husband and a new discovery for me. … Continue reading
Sidewalk construction interrupted my regular jogging route. Along my detour, I passed a tree stump whose cut surface had weathered to gray. The chainsaw had sliced gashes in its roots. Around its perimeter, small branches sprouted a bevy of healthy … Continue reading
When I saw “Leo’s Buffalo Spaghetti” in the Table of Contents for the latest Penzeys Spices catalog, I flipped right to that page. I like Buffalo-style chicken wings, but I’d never thought about using that flavor profile with spaghetti. I … Continue reading