Of valerian and other out-of-control issues

Before I say anything else, I want to mention that the flowers in the photo at left are pink valerian and orange marigold. When I found the valerian plant at a local nursery I got excited. I’ve discovered that valerian helps me get to sleep and I thought it would… Continue reading

The value of education

“College is not about grades. No one cares what grades you got in college. College is about exploring. Just try stuff.” That’s what Kevin Kelly says in his book, Excellent Advice for Living. I agree! After learning the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic, I believe the value of any… Continue reading

DARK GREEN: It’s simple but not easy

See that book I’m holding in the photo (don’t look at my hair, please). That’s my novel DARK GREEN, the first in the Mangas County Mysteries series. When I published it last fall I didn’t know it was going to need a subtitle. I mean, I knew that it was… Continue reading

And so it goes: writing is hard work!

This writing business is hard on a person. The hours of sitting is hard on my back, focusing on the screen for so long messes up my neck and shoulders, typing and typing and typing—or, worse, not typing, but cursing instead. Writing is hard work! But really, the truly hard… Continue reading