In 2006, I went to a house party. While crossing the lawn on the way back to the car, my foot caught in a lawn divot, twisted badly, and shattered bones in five places—including my cuboid, which any orthopedist will tell you takes talent. I stuck my foot in a boot and prepared to spend the next six weeks in crutch-laden misery. If only. Two weeks in, I felt a…
It occurred to me recently that many folks who read this blog don’t know its history. It was started in 2007 by five women who had their first books coming out, and for a year, they blogged together about their experiences. Then, after all their books were published, they decided to do a rather unusual thing in the blogoverse: they picked five more women debut authors, and entrusted their blog…
The topic this week is CHILDHOOD MEMORY. We were supposed to begin at sundown, but Dad didn’t get home from work until eight. “Mrs. Bollag is going to be mad,” I stated when he walked through the door. It took him a second to remember what tonight was. “Tell you what,” he said, “let’s pretend we live in California. It’s five o’clock there. We’re right on time.” Dad was a genius….
When I read Louise’s post about her childhood memories, I had to laugh. Like Louise, my childhood memories are hazy. Former classmates are forgotten. Events never seem to have happened. My parents and sister will say, “Do you remember…” and I say, “Nope, not at all!” On a recent trip with a group of girlfriends, they were reminiscing about a camping trip from hell. It was raining, a woman came…
I have a wonky memory. I have purchased many novels, and have read twenty or thirty pages in only to realize that I had read the book before. I forget character’s names and movie titles and basically every plot point. My lack of memory goes for my own life as well as the stories I consume, so when I read that this week’s theme was childhood memories, I felt at…
Congratulations to Susan Gloss on the launch of Vintage today! It’s a wonderful read filled with treasure for both women’s fiction fans and vintage enthusiasts, and it’ll make you want to rummage through your closet with a close friend to rediscover the stories behind the items we keep. We are so excited for you, Susan! There’s a difference between living our lives surrounded by things, and living it surrounded by…
April in Sacramento heralds the end of a cold, rainy winter. I clear away weeds, mow the lawn, and get ready for hot,sweaty summer days. In April, I also get to enjoy the first rosebuds of the season – which makes me happy every year, because I love roses and also because these roses mean something special. I transplanted them from my father’s garden. At one point, my father had…
At heart, I’m a creature of simple comforts. The things I’m most attached to are my memories. Like most authors, I have a vivid imagination (probably too vivid – seeing as how I spend my days finding new and inventive ways to my kill my imaginary friends). Anything can trigger a memory, and almost everything does. I wouldn’t want it any other way. When I think about writing, I think…
From the 2013 Debs… Deb Kerry really has no news of interest. Other than discovering that apple pie can be made without peeling the apples first. This is BIG news for busy writers everywhere! Deb Dana spent a lovely Thanksgiving with her extended family — and ate way too much pie! Deb Susan also enjoyed a relaxing and happy Thanksgiving with family and friends – and hopes everyone else enjoyed the holiday too!…
Deb Kelly here. I am so tickled that my post day fell on one of my favoritest holidays. Halloween is such a fantastic celebration, so very American in its expression, so all-inclusive and nondenominational and indiscriminate in its merriment that I truly believe it should be a federal holiday. (Although, that being said, who would want to stay home from school or work on the one day a year you…
