Having high expectations could be your downfall — I woke up alone. The quiet stillness in my brain was unusual, even irritating. I snapped my fingers to test my hearing. The clipping sound broke the eerie silence and I closed my eyes, mentally scouring the vacuum that had stolen all signs of input. I pulled the sheets over my head, terrified. Apparently, sometime during the night my muse had left me — again.

A chance encounter stirred more than curiosity — Enjoy this excerpt from The New Girl in Town — And Other Journeys Above and Below the Belt I tried not to stare. I even pretended to be drawn to a newly stocked bin of potatoes, so the other shoppers wouldn’t realize I was homesteading the aisle — watching her. Maybe it was her shoulder-length…

In the end, you’ll know the truth … — One of my favorite sanctuaries lies on the west coast of the U.S. Located a few miles north of the California border, this restful and inspiring respite is one of the few locations where nature, in its inevitable way, has managed to ward off humanity’s best efforts to leave its mark. Long stretches of beach reflect the sunrise off lightly-treaded sand while rolling…

Baring your heart and soul through your story may test your commitment — Instead of having children, I write books. Deciding to write book-length fiction was a significant decision for me. More than answering the restless desire to create, I felt the urgent need to produce something important, even significant — something I could hold in my hands and call my own. It was as if my artistic biological clock…

Miraculous acts of kindness and compassion occur every day — For most of us, Thanksgiving is typically a time to reunite with family and gain a few pounds from over-enjoying a table loaded with the requisite turkey, dressing, and all the trimmings. The day is also a highlight for football fans as well as signaling the traditional start of seasonal…

A young woman’s tiny note touched his heart — and kept him alive — On Veterans Day, we honor and commemorate the men and women who have served our country through their military service. Our focus is naturally directed toward those who fought our country’s enemies, unselfishly risking their lives to preserve a way of life without equal anywhere in the world. Most of these men and women have very personal stories about their war-time duty — memories about a particular event or situation…

Selfless acts are rarely recognized — except by those who appreciate them the most — In the neighborhood of my youth, Halloween was strictly for children. In small towns and rural areas, there were few, if any, Halloween parties for adults. It was simply a time for kids, costumes, and collecting candy from the neighbors. And in my eight years or so of going house-to-house in search of the cherished nugget-sized Baby Ruth or the equally…

Maybe you need a change of mindset before you hit the covers — There’s no doubt about it: Getting enough sleep is important to our overall well-being and state of mind. While we understand the necessity of racking up the Z’s, sometimes sleep simply eludes us. With restless thoughts and limbs, we wonder how we can possibly take our minds off the worries of the day. …

For many, printed books offer a deeper connection — and more meaningful experience — A few years ago, there were predictions suggesting the printed, physical book would soon go the direction of the dinosaur. The growing popularity of eBooks had many authors wondering if they should even consider the option of releasing a printed format. Fast forward to the present. Physical books are still here! And people are still buying them.