Aromatherapy and Earthworms

Want a sure-fire, cost-free cure for the blues? Try weeding your herb garden. This spring I’ve been kept out of the garden by frequent rains (I’m thankful for them) and writing mysteries (I’m thankful for them too). Yesterday, however, I grabbed gloves, trowel, and kneeling pad and dug in the dirt. Mint, as you know, […]

The Happy Medium

The Happy Medium

No, I’m not talking about a gleeful seer, but striking the right balance between using good rules of writing (grammatical guidelines) and presenting a well-thought out and interesting story. A writer, unless she has some patient and understanding editors and first readers, must write with a lot of things on her mind. Should I put […]

Looking Back

Looking Back

Many years ago, I wrote a weekly column for my hometown newspaper, The Tahlequah Daily Press, called Looking Back.  In it, I included articles on Tahlequah’s historic homes, businesses that flourished in the past, and, most importantly, the people of Cherokee County. Articles on my mother’s family, Levi and Edna Latty, were the basis for […]

Sounds That Shape Our Lives

Sounds That Shape Our Lives

Does sound travel better through cold air? Are rain and fog good conductors of noise? This early in the morning, I sometimes hear far-off clangs and bangs, with a continuous underlying roar. The only explanation I can think of is the train downtown. It must be busy doing whatever trains do on those tracks, maybe hooking or unhooking […]

Coffee, Cookies, and Cozy Critiques

Coffee, Cookies, and Cozy Critiques

Yesterday from one to three was one of my favorite times of the month, the time when we cozy critters get together to read, discuss, share triumphs and challenges, and, in general, shape up our writing efforts. Once again, Helen had a victory to share. The Sanctuary of Hope in Branson published two more of […]

Saying Good-bye to Old Friends

Saying Good-bye to Old Friends

It’s very hard to say good-bye to friends who have been with me for forty years or more but sometimes, it is the wisest and most unselfish thing to do. I mean, would you rather see new sights and new faces, or be stuck in a dark and dusty garage for the next four decades? In answering […]