November 2021

One of the scenes in The Healing of Natalie Curtis that readers are talking about concerns Natalie and another white woman, a teacher, singing happy birthday to an Indian child not allowed to sing her own songs.  Minus the prohibition on singing, this scene came right out of my own life.

October 2021

October offers a variety of special “days” to celebrate. A favorite of mine is National Poetry Day (7th) along with World Teachers Day (Oct. 5th).  World Ballet Day is the 19th and World Singing Day is the 21st. Those latter two carry special meaning related to The Healing of Natalie Curtis, my latest release.

September 2021

People often ask if I have a favorite title and I answer with “the one I’m working on now” which is true. But The Healing of Natalie Curtis, out September 7, is a close second. It’s a story of the power of music and intention in a healing journey.

June 2021

I had my first in-person presentation last month at the Women of Worth event sponsored by the Rolling Hills Community Church in Tualatin, Oregon. The group celebrates women over fifty. You can watch the video here. I spoke on “Hope is an Orientation of the Spirit.” Music and inspirational words precede my part. I’m at the 39 minute level if you’re time constrained. Enjoy.

May 2021

Writer Brian Doyle in One Long River of Song wrote that Europeans who first saw them called them “flying jewels.”  They had never seen them before and lo, hummingbirds are only known in the Americas.

April 2021

With hope, a little anxiety and love in my heart, I boarded a plane for the first time in two years to officiate at my nephews wedding in Minnesota. After failing to get Uber to note our address in Southern California as anything other than “Bing Crosby at Greer Garson” (a road sign that is two homes away from our home), I decided to drive the 8 miles at 4:00 am and leave the car at the Palm Springs airport.

March 2021

I’ve spent a fair amount of time on the Oregon Trail.  Driving it. Walking it. Reading diaries from it and putting characters on it. In 1852, the first year that the most families came across, there were all kinds of fascinating things that happened.

February 2021

To begin in beauty once again, I present the cover of my September release, The Healing of Natalie Curtis. I love it! The story of Natalie Curtis is set mostly in the Southwest and this cover says that to me.

January 2021

I chose to open Story Sparks this month with a beautiful sunrise photograph taken by a Canadian friend Amar Athwal. You can find more of his wonderful photographs at banffmoments.com. Dostoyevsky wrote that in a time of despair, “beauty is more important than bread.”

December 2020

For years I’ve misquoted William Shakespeare’s words in Romeo and Juliet by saying “Waiting is such sweet sorrow” instead of using his word, “Parting” as being the source of the sadness. I say “wait”  often. It’s a command I give to Caesar while I untangle his leash or pick up his poo.