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Women's Fiction writer, Author of Atomic Summer - Three friends, two lies, one secret, and the summer that changed their lives. Being a daughter, mother, friend, and soul mate are the most powerful influences in my life and my stories. But as a successful women’s fiction writer, does this surprise anyone?

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Life After Death?

What happens to us when we die? For many, that is a question of faith with very definitive answers. For others, it is a mystery subject to debate and speculation. There are people who claim to know exactly what happens when we die via near-death experiences. When clinically dead, they visit the other side, which for most is a beautiful experience. When they are revived and return to this life, they no longer fear death and are changed by the experience. Some publish their experiences and a few are best sellers.

One "Hot & Steamy" Atomic Summer vs. Too Many Shades of Grey

I am honored to be invited to guest post on Pavarti Tyler’s Fighting Monkey Press. When asked to think about a topic, she said it was pretty much up to me but most of her site were irreverent posts. As I began to think about a topic, I came across an article in USA Today about the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy and what made it compelling to women readers. So for the moment, stop what you are doing and follow along with me as I see how my debut novel stacks up!

How I Honored my Mother

In 1984, when my mother was thirty-eight, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent a mastectomy and chemotherapy. Five years later, without a reoccurrence, she cleared the “cured” hurdle. She diligently followed through on her annual exams and check-ups, which included a CA 125 blood test. For nineteen years, her tests all came back negative. Twenty years after her initial cancer diagnosis, her CA 125 test came back with elevated readings. A CA 125 measures the amount of protein (cancer antigen 125) in the blood. Various non-cancer relate

Lessons Learned from My Father

Father's Day is a special time to recognize our fathers for all the wonderful things they have done for us over the years. As I began to reflect on what my father has meant to me, and all the lessons he has taught me, the list was quite long, so I have compiled the top ones below.

Some things I learned from my father:

Creating a Southern Belle

Ever since my mother took me to see the re-release of Gone With the Wind, I have been fascinated by the south. I fell in love with Clark Gable’s dashing Rhett Butler, admired the tenacity of Vivian Leigh’s Scarlett O’Hara, delighted in the Hattie McDaniel’s perceptive Mammy, and treasured the faithfulness of Olivia de Havilland’s Melanie. A few years later, I borrowed my grandmother’s copy of the book. As I read Margaret Mitchell’s wor

What's in a Purse? The Queen, Mom, and Me.

“What’s in your wallet?” is the tag line for a credit card commercial. Seriously? Why bother asking the question? Not much fits into a wallet. But a purse? Now we are talking. Take a few moments to explore a famous and not so famous purses. What’s in your purse?