Recently, I had the pleasure to being interviewed by teenagers who dream of writing. They asked insightful questions and a couple that “dug” into challenging experiences of my youth. During the interview, one student asked me how I “overcame” my obstacles and how I helped my children overcome theirs. This, of course, inspired my response . . . These wise words are from the quote by Dr. Charles Swindoll. It was on my refrigerator for as long as I can…..
COVID has “locked” us down and changed how we interact with each other; however, I am finding more and more ways to get back in the saddle again – especially where children are concerned. In the past, I went TO the classroom to read to the kids. Today — even though we do not live in the same state –the Internet gave me the opportunity to read to Rusty’s kindergarten class (for the first time!) It was an honor and…..
I had the honor and privilege of being the guest author in Ali Faustino ‘s eighth grade English class at The Brawley School in Mooresville, North Carolina. Although I have done many television and radio interviews during my literary journey, this was my first zoom interview with teenagers. I was wonderfully surprised by their insightful questions. Not only did they inquire about how to write in general and how to tackle the arduous task of writing a novel, they also…..
I watched Gone with the Wind today — AGAIN! I realize many people — especially the younger generation — like to “blow off” these “old” classics because there isn’t any computer generated action with a lot of instant gratification woven through it. Instead, these movies rely on the script, the cinematography, the story, the music and — of course — the acting. Unfortunately, this particular movie is one of many that has been a target of “Cancel Culture” because it…..
Several times in the last couple of weeks, people have asked me to repeat my philosophy on this subject . . . here it is in a nutshell. During the years when I was teaching, the parents of my toddlers often asked for parenting advice. Many of them were first time parents who were struggling with their child; however, some of the parents had several children and were confused because each child reacted differently. My first response is always —…..
The film “Dr. Zhivago” is based on the novel by Boris Pasternnik. It is — at its heart — an incredible love story; however, the film is much more than a romantic journey. It uses historical events as a backdrop and is well worth your time to watch it. If you choose to watch “Dr. Zhivago”, I highly recommend doing a little preliminary research on Russian history of the era before viewing the film because — in my opinion —…..
ENCOURAGE one another and BUILD each other UP. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Spread kindness, tolerance, patience, encouragement and joy to everyone — even to people who do not LOOK or THINK like you do! Be the Light to Help Others See! If you do this . . . think of the ripple effect you will have on everything and everyone around you. United We Stand!
Memorial Day Weekend As we enjoy this three day weekend with family and friends, let us not forget why Americans have a day off to relax and enjoy. Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day celebrating the lives of more than 620,000 soldiers who died during the Civil War (April 12, 1861 to May 13, 1865) Although the South was well known for “decorating” the graves of their soldiers during the Civil War,…..
Have you ever had one of those days when you truly wish you could start over? Perhaps it was a volatile interaction with a co-worker . . . or a misunderstanding with a friend . . . or a nasty argument with your spouse . . . or a screaming match with your child . . . or a horrible traffic jam that put you in an irate mood; consequently, you took your anger out on a stranger . ……
In honor of Thanksgiving Weekend, I have a question for all of you! Like it or not, we are all rapidly approaching the hectic, crazy time of year we fondly refer to as “The Holidays.” Often — we are so busy — we forget why we are celebrating; instead, we plow through the days checking things off of our to-do lists. I’m just like you! Too much on my plate and not enough time to do it all. Consequently, I…..