Blog

Quotations Galore

quotes

Quotations Galore

My daughter gifted me with the book, The Quotable Book Lover edited by Ben Jacobs and Helena Hjalmarsson. Here are a few favorite quotes. Reading: From your parents you learn love and laughter and how to put one foot in front of the other. But when books are opened you discover that you have wings.   – Helen Hayes – Books go out into the world, travel mysteriously from hand to hand and somehow find their way to the people who need them at the time they need them…Cosmic forces guide such passings-along.  – Erica Jong – Wordstruck is exactly what...

Great American Read

Book events / survey

Great American Read

I hope you are enjoying the PBS Great American Read. It’s fun to head over there and vote every day. I seem to vary my selections based on my mood of the day, but I always enjoy being part of a gigantic survey that references books across a wide spectrum, many I’ll probably never read. But I’ve been introduced to them so who knows. The chance to learn about the books and authors that made the top 100 list has been fun. NOTE: The survey ends on October 23 so hurry over and cast your votes on pbs/greatamericanread.com  Locally programs...

Writing Update

musings

Writing Update

People ask me what’s next on my journey as a writer. Right now I’m into research for a possible novel that would be about 2 years out. Up to now, I’ve written what I knew or what I’ve experienced; now I’m stepping into an unknown world that interests me, a world where I have only limited knowledge so I’ve become a library book hound. Luckily I have a friend who’s an expert so I’ll be picking her brain a lot! When I take a break from that research I’m reading for my book club, looking back at a bedtime story...

Tasman Review Winner

book reviewing / random drawing / Tasman

Tasman Review Winner

It’s always fun to read what readers think about the books they read, especially when they share their views about my books with me. Last Sunday I drew the third quarter winner of a $20 VISA card. The winner is Karen Bruck, a retired teacher, book clubber, community good neighbor and a Stephen Ministry lay person. She has faithfully written reviews and supported by other publications and I appreciate her taking the time to write a review of Tasman: An Innocent Convict’s Struggle for Freedom. Knowing her thoughts and your thoughts help me as I look forward to future writings....

Book Event #2

Book events

Book Event #2

Tis the season for sharing books. Join me at the Puyallup Festival of Books, Saturday, Oct. 6th from 1-4 PM at the Puyallup Public Library, located at 324 S. Meridian, Puyallup, WA 98371 (253-841-5454). I’ll have all my books available, plus free sample note cards and materials. I look forward to having the chance to visit with you.

Conversation with a Peach

Book events / musings

Conversation with a Peach

This time of year fruit is abundant. Fresh fruit brightens the grocery stores, nearby fields, and our backyards.Their scents fill the air with a faint lusciousness. My husband recently harvested peaches. One of the joys of eating those peaches is stopping to admire how lovely they are: the color, their shape, the way the attached leaves bend to show-off the beauty of the fruit. Next comes the smell: sweet, warm like sunshine, almost fuzzy like the first touch. I do talk to them. How can I not when I know the first bit through the skin will make me sigh...

The ABC’s of Student Writing Topics

details in writing / writing

The ABC’s of Student Writing Topics

Somewetimes students need a bit of inspiration to find a writing topic that interests them. Creating a potential list of topics for students is as simple as ABC: Feel free to add to or alter the list to match your needs. It’s always fun to play with words and topics to keep writing time fresh.

Lakewood Film, Arts & Books Festival

Book events

Lakewood Film, Arts & Books Festival

Please join me at FAB: the 6th Annual Lakewood Film Art and Book Fest held at Clover Park Technical College the weekend of September 28-30. Book sales, free resources, and signings are available from 12-6 PM each day of the event.

Interview with Edmonds Bookshop Owner, Mary Kay

interviews

Interview with Edmonds Bookshop Owner, Mary Kay

Dear blog followers: I’m reissuing this blog after my writing friends noticed that my brain and my editing of the blog was really off kilter. My apologies to Mary Kay for misspelling her last name. She has my complete appreciation for all that she does and I apologize again for my errors. For book lovers everywhere who cringed at my book title typos I can say there are some days I should stay in bed and not touch a computer!! Celebrating Books with Mary Kay-Edmonds Bookshop Following a successful Where’s Waldo event in downtown Edmonds, it seemed like a great...

Refugee Book List

book lists / book reviewing / reader suggestions

Refugee Book List

When I was leaving my recent interview with Mary Kay at the Edmonds Bookshop I stopped to survey the front window. Michelle Bear, assistant manager of the bookshop, had arranged a display of books on refugees from around the world. I hurried back inside and asked her if that list would appear on the Edmonds Bookshop website http://www.edmondsbookshop.com Michelle assured me it could. Two days later she sent me the entire list which I have permission to reprint for your perusal. Thanks, Michelle! the display invited me to read outside my usual genres and was a timely topic. I hope...