It's About Time

For those of you who think Texas is a wide-open place filled with blue skies and sunshine, think again. This photo was taken one morning, about 8 am. The fog was so thick you couldn’t see my neighbor’s house. Here’s how it looks on a regular day. It can change in the blink of an eye. I’ve seen snow in April and worn shorts in December. If you live in Texas, you learn to be prepared to adapt!

I googled the word imagination. It’s defined as the faculty or action of forming new ideas, images, or concepts of external objects not present to the senses. The ability of the mind to be creative or resourceful. Adequate, but to me, it seems a little lacking. I don’t know whether we’re born with it or it develops over time. Maybe both things are true, although I never remember being without…

  There are times when I would give anything to go back in time and spend one more day with my children when they were little. If I had the chance, I’d be more present. Pay more attention. Listen. They’re all grown up now, but I’m happy to say it’s not too late. A few weeks ago, we had the chance to spend time together. Because we all live in different towns, we don’t do that often, so it makes…

Some movies deserve to be revisited from time to time. Out of Africa is one of them.  The 1985 movie, based on the 1937 autobiography by Karen Blixen, stars Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. It won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. John Barry won an Oscar for the musical score, and David Watkin won an Oscar for cinematography. My sister and I were talking about a…

All Things Paranormal I’ve been hard at work on a new series. This is the first urban fantasy I’ve ever written, so I’m heading into new territory, and so far I’m having a blast. It takes place in a truly a unique city located at the edge of the hill country. People who live there have a saying. “Keep Austin weird.” Quirky and unique, this culturally diverse area of Texas is steeped in…

Round Robin – Critique Partners

I googled the word, and it said the word imagination is the faculty or action of forming new ideas, images, or concepts of external objects not present to the senses. The ability of the mind to be creative or resourceful. But, to me, it’s so much more than that.

In loving memory of Daylon Jones Royal February 15, 1945 – October 20, 2015 While channel surfing a while back, I happened to catch the end of Close Encounters. I never see that movie that I don’t think of my husband. Especially now that he’s gone. It was one of his all-time favorites. I never really thought about it until today, but now I understand why. In the movie, Richard Dreyfuss plays…

I can’t believe it’s February already. Where does the time go? Like everyone, I began last year with good intentions. I told myself I was going to post on my website regularly, finish another WIP and another novella, get them published, along with a laundry list of other things. But 2025 had other plans. It was my year for technical problems. I had to learn to use a new phone and a new…

Reasons to Attend the NETWO Writing Conference: If you’re an aspiring author and you’ve never attended a writers’ conference, why not? In the past, I’ve had the opportunity to go to the annual conference held by the Northeast Texas Writers’ Organization. NETWO’s annual Spring Conference will be held this year on April 5, 2025, at Northeast Texas Community College. Attending has allowed me to…

This is something I posted several years ago. Since then I’ve reposted it every years on Daylon’s birthday. While channel surfing this weekend, I happened to catch the end of Close Encounters. Never see that movie that I don’t think of my husband. Especially now that he’s gone. It was one of his all-time favorites. I never really thought about it until today, but now I understand why. In the…

Despite the fact that the weather predictions called for a mild winter this year, it’s been cold. And snowy. There hasn’t been any in my neck of the woods yet, but there are places even further south that have. I used to love it when it snowed. These days, though, I’m content to sit under a blanket with a cup of tea or coffee. Or at the window in a warm house, watching the Cardinals make a mad…

Despite the fact that the weather predictions called for a mild winter this year, it’s been cold. And snowy. There hasn’t been any in my neck of the woods yet, but there are places even further south that have. I used to love it when it snowed. These days, though, I’m content to sit under a blanket with a cup of tea or coffee. Or at the window in a warm house, watching the Cardinals make a mad…

Here’s to new beginnings and endless possibilities Better late than never! I’ve said that a lot lately, but I vow to do better. Of course, it didn’t help that this year Christmas and New Year came in the middle of the week. It’s cold in Texas and expected to get colder by the end of the week. I’m sitting at my computer with a blanket on my lap and my hands wrapped around a cup of hot tea,…

I logged onto Facebook yesterday and found something I had shared on November 16, 2013. Stories about my grandchildren are always special. Today, I’m making up for lost time. I intended to spend my entire Friday evening with my nose to the grindstone, writing and editing. Instead, my daughter invited us to sit around the fire pit with them, drink coffee, and visit. I danced under the stars with…

I logged onto Facebook yesterday and found something I had shared on November 16, 2013. Stories about my grandchildren are always close to my heart. Today, I’m making up for lost time. I intended to spend my entire Friday evening with my nose to the grindstone, writing and editing. Instead, my daughter invited us to sit around the fire pit with them, drink coffee, and visit. I danced under the…