Do you enjoy bookstores? Ironically, in 1931 – during the year the characters in Reflection of Memories were born – only 4,000 stores in America sold books – most of those were gift shops or specialty stores that sold only a few of the best known novels. In fact, brick-and-mortar bookstores at that time numbered less than 500 – the majority of them were in major cities, not small towns. During the mid-to-late 1900s – as our nation became increasingly…..
I know in my heart that Mother’s Day is meant to be a celebration; however, for those of us who no longer have a living mother . . .this day can be bittersweet. As the constant television ads and Internet marketing campaigns bombard shoppers, we are often engulfed by countless waves of nostalgic memories. The day can be painful when it should be beautiful. My mom was an at-home mother during an era when that choice was the norm. She…..
I experienced two mini miracles today. Moments like this, I normally don’t share; however, my friends and family were a part of it – so I want them to know — and perhaps you will find some comfort too. Today, in spite of the beautiful sunny morning — I got a late start – I felt a bit of heaviness in my heart – missing loved ones – and moving slowly. Consequently, I chose to go to the 10:55 Connect…..
The Community Yard Sale is a huge twice-a-year event in our neighborhood. If you like yard sales, ours is considered “Yard Sale Heaven.” Forty to fifty families normally participate; as a result, there are thousands of things for sale. And . . . guess who is in charge of organizing it? As we all know, it has been a long cold winter . . . however, the weather last Saturday turned out to be very inviting . ……
When Failure Turns into Success When I was very little, my father’s job took us to Paris where we lived for two years. During that time, I attended kindergarten and started the first grade in French schools. According to my mother, I spoke French fluently (but don’t ask me to speak it now.) I was halfway through the first grade when we returned to the United States. Unfortunately, I did not have the reading foundation in English to excel. For…..
Your Kids Should Not Be the Most Important People in the Family The article might be a little difficult to read on your iPhone; as a result, I have included a link. http://www.readingeagle.com/life/article/john-rosemond-your-kids-should-not-be-the-most-important-people-in-family This particular article has been around for a while; however, I just read it for the first time via my Instagram feed. I can’t stop thinking about Rosemond’s sage words. In fact, I had to read it twice to let the information sink into my brain, and…..
Do you feel as if your neighborhood is an extension of your home or merely land surrounding your house? For today’s BLOG entry, I have chosen to write more about my surroundings – as a child and as an adult – and the impact my neighborhood had/has on my life. Perhaps you will be able to relate. If so, please do provide your story. I grew up in the small, 100-home community called Tauxemont — located a few miles south…..
Are you ready for spring? I am sure most of you agree . . . this has been a long, cold winter. Not only are the temperatures frigid, there has been an unusual amount of snow. One pretty snowstorm a year is about as much as I can enjoy. Thankfully, I am not the one who has to shovel it, and the Carolina sun usually melts the snow by the time I need to drive out of the neighborhood. Unfortunately,…..
After two weeks of traveling, book signings and book clubs, I am HOME. It was an exciting, successful and event-packed adventure. I loved being with family for Thanksgiving and truly enjoyed seeing “old fans” and meeting so many “new fans” at the Barnes & Noble and other book events! Your enthusiasm and support inspire me. Thank you! As I sit in my comfy Lazy-Boy chair sipping on my morning coffee, I realize I have not written on my BLOG for…..
Do you rely on determination or luck to build the bridge to your goals . . . . One of the fundamental themes in Reflection of Memories is . . . “Don’t let the elements of your birth define who you are or how you live your life.” For those of you who have read either or both of my novels in The Malone Family Saga, you know that Richard Malone and Caroline Sue Miller are from totally different backgrounds…..