I‘ll be honest, I’m not much of a New Year’s Resolution kind of girl. I have had only one really successful resolution, and that was nineteen years ago, when I quit smoking. I took my last puff at 11:59, and then snuffed the cigarette out and flushed the rest of the pack down the toilet. Hard work, as anyone who …
Christmas with the Smiths
Well, Christmas is over for another year, and I’m feeling a little sad. Why don’t we stay in touch with extended family throughout the whole year, instead of waiting for Christmas? But I guess that’s one of the things that makes the holiday special. Here are a few pictures of my Christmas fun. First, here’s me in a very special …
Wicked Madness!
Three years ago, my daughter, Christy, and I went to New Work to celebrate her birthday. We saw Wicked on Broadway, and both of us went nuts. (For those of you who are scratching your head and saying, “What’s Wicked?”, it’s the story of the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda, the Good Witch, back when they were young …
Christmas Decorations, Books, and Other Treasures
Feeling all warm and Christmassy? I am! My tree is up, twinkling gloriously in the front window so the whole neighborhood can see it. I’ve supported the Boy Scouts this year, and have a beautiful fresh wreath hanging on my front door. And best of all, today the UPS man delivered the fourth and final piece of the collection that …
A Week of Thankfulness
On a flight yesterday from Dallas to Salt Lake City, I became desperate for reading material when I finished my novel. (Sharon Hinck’s Stepping into Sunlight – highly recommended!) I picked up the American Airlines magazine and read an article about famed poet and author Maya Angelou. Fascinating woman. At one point in her life she was on the streets …
Inspired by Food
I was signing books at a book store the other day and a lady approached. She picked up a few of the books displayed on my table, glanced at the back covers, and said, “You must be inspired by food.” I eyed the basket of chocolate candy on the corner. Don’t get me wrong — I love chocolate. But on …
Living Fiction
Fiction really draws me in. The other day I read a book about a demon-killing soccer mom who identified her evil targets by the horrible stench of their breath. The next morning I awoke to find my husband was still asleep, his face turned toward me in the bed. In those fuzzy moments between waking and sleeping, with that story …
Jazzy’s Famous on the Internet!
I’m excited to announce that Jasmine Delaney, the excessively clean violin player who has a starring role in A Taste of Murder, is making her Internet debut! Her very first interview appears on a fun blog called Craftie Ladies of Suspense. Get the scoop about Jazzy’s hair-raising adventure at the Waynesboro Bar-B-Q Festival in her own words. Hear what she …
Jesus for President!
Everywhere I go these days people are campaigning for some political candidate or other – Bowers for Mayor, Williams for District Judge, Sutton for City Council. The messages are on tee-shirts, campaign buttons, billboards, yard signs—especially yard signs. When I walk to the end of the driveway to get the newspaper each morning, my neighbors’ choices for president are proudly …
Hummingbirds
My husband and I don’t have pets. We both adore animals, but we travel too much to take on the responsibility for a pet. So we have to be content with occasional visits from my daughter’s dog, Jasmine, and our backyard residents, the hummingbirds. Hummingbirds are delightful little creatures. We get up in the morning and take our coffee to …