Dear Daughters, I am a woman with no children of my own. I am a universal mother of children born to other mothers. I...
Betsy Ashton
Raising Ben
No one would say I'm a poet. I'm not, but occasionally I write something that goes beyond my standard doggerel. I'm...
Wait! You’re A Writer?
All of us who write get a series of questions, most of which are asked out of curiosity, a few out of envy, and even...
Close Captioned
I don't know about you, but sometimes I need close captioning in my life. Or for my mouth. I try to watch what I say....
When the Going Gets Tough,
the tough go shopping. At least that's the old cliche. Retail therapy doesn't work. I'm much less of a shopper today...
Serenity
Serenity can be so difficult to find in the hustle and bustle world we live in. Everywhere we turn are screens...
How I Found Mad Max
Perhaps the title should be "How Mad Max Found Me." I'm often asked by book clubs how I come up with my ideas. That's...
Searching
Humans are always searching for something: the Holy Grail, le mot juste, the perfect piece of chocolate. Some searches...
California Deamin’
 About this time of the year, I long for sand between my toes.  Winter is winding down, and I need sun and sand. I use...
Query Letter Mistakes
If you think you're ready to query editors or agents, please read this advice. And follow it. It's spot on.
When Good Is Good Enough
Writers are never satisfied with what we write. We strain to find the le mot juste, the perfect right word for the...
I’d Walk A Thousand Miles
Twelve years ago today, February 15, my mother, variously called Doc or Mini-Mommy, died. I still miss her every...
