>CHRISTMAS COOKIES

>One of my favorite childhood memories is going to Granny’s on Christmas Eve and feasting on her beautifully decorated sugar cookies. While I didn’t help Granny make them, my mother did help my sisters and me make cut-out cookies. Later, I followed the tradition with my four boys. Not sure how much interest they had in the art, but they …

>SHADES OF TULSA Book Signing

> My first official “Book Signing” was yesterday at Steve’s Books and Magazines in Tulsa. It’s an old-fashioned book store/soda fountain that is a landmark in Tulsa. We had a great turnout and sold all the books (an anthology of the Tulsa Night Writers) our president brought with her. She had to dash home and get some of her reserve …

>My First Book Signing

>Shades of Tulsa, an anthology showcasing the writing of the Tulsa Night Writers, has just released. Many of Tulsa’s published authors and others who just have a story to tell are showcased in this eclectic collection. A bit of history, a few ghostly tales, memories, and a poetry section make up the book. I’m privileged to be part of this …

>What Book Got YOU Hooked?

> Here are the top twenty-five books that got people hooked on reading, according to the FirstBook.org poll. It sort of takes you back, doesn’t it? Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder Little Women by Louisa May Alcott The Cat in the Hat by Dr. …

>Things Go Better With . . . Caffeine

>The day before Thanksgiving, I stumbled into the kitchen, as I do every morning, and made a beeline for the coffeepot. Made the coffee. Pushed the button. Listened to the gurgle as water poured out over my Sumatra blend. Inhaled the aroma. Then . . . volcanic rumblings came from the belly of the machine. Bubbling, spitting sounds. I looked …

>Book Review: NOBODY by Creston Mapes

> THEY SAID, “HE’S A NOBODY.”THEY WERE DEAD WRONG. Newspaperman Hudson Ambrose discovers a murdered homeless man with a bankbook in his pocket showing a balance of almost one million dollars. Isn’t that a great premise? I was hooked right off. Hudson makes an impulse decision that sends him on a frantic search for answers, not only about the dead …

>CARNIVAL OF CHRISTIAN WRITERS

>The November Carnival of Christian Writers begins tomorrow (Monday) at Writer . . . Interrupted. This month you will find posts about the bountiful blessings of being a writer and as always, great writing tips and advice. I’ve joined the carnival this month. You can read what I have to say about Plotting here and then see what others have …

>FUN CONTEST AT ASHBERRY LANE

>My friends at Ashberry Lane are hosting a contest and giving away EIGHT books! Read below and get your name in the hat to win a prize. I’m in. How about you? A special announcement from Sherrie Ashcraft and Christina Berry: We cowrite books about relationships. We are a relationship. We want to dominate the relationship brand. And we want …

>Every Day Thanks

>Most evenings, my husband, Max, asks the dinner blessing. “Heavenly Father, thank you for who you are . . . for sending your son . . .” In my flurry of life, that’s all I need to know—God is. He sent his son. Our lives are in His eternal hands. I am blessed by so many things, but today I’m …

>GOT JUNK?

> Cleaning out his mother’s basement after her recent move, Max found a lot of cool things—old letters, forgotten toys from his childhood, pictures, and well . . . junk. Things his mother thought she might need someday. Useful things stacked on shelves and gathering dust. Max spent days of sorting, choosing what to save, what to give away, and …