Appalachian Blessings
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Why I Write . . . and Keep Writing
I think if you ask just about any writer why they write, you'd get some version of, "I can't not write." We're the sort of people who live for story, who want to tell the rest of the world what we've seen and experienced. We're the people who come home from the...
Appalachian Thursday–Shortcut Beans & Cornbread
CROCK POT BEANS & CAST IRON CORNBREAD Back in Miracle in a Dry Season, beans and cornbread is the first meal Perla makes for the town of Wise, WV, that somehow feeds them all . . . with a little left over. Growing up, beans and cornbread was a standby meal for...
Writing “Real” Characters
One of the nicest compliments I've gotten about my books is that the characters seem real. Well thank goodness, because sometimes I forget and think they are! One of the most common pieces of advice writers hear is: Write what you know. That works great for me. I grew...
Appalachian Thursday – Almost Heaven Isn’t
I guess it was John Denver who started the whole "almost heaven, West Virginia" business with his "Take Me Home, Country Roads." A very good song, in my opinion. And an accurate sentiment for the most part. Goodness knows, when I step foot on the farm that's been in...
Things My Mother Used to Say
I think we all come to that moment when we open our mouths and utter words that we suddenly, unexpectedly recognize as . . . our mother's. They're the phrases she used over and over until we really didn't hear them anymore. Except they're indelibly imprinted on our...
Appalachian Thursday–Blackberry Winter
This past weekend I noticed that the blackberry brambles were swelling with buds and thought to myself that Blackberry Winter would likely be along any day. Well, yesterday started in the mid 40s and today the high is supposed to be 55 after a stretch of 70s and even...
Every Author Needs a Few Friends
Before I was published I might have daydreamed a little about the events I would do once I was . . . well, you know . . . famous. Signings, readings, interviews. Now, two years into this published author business, let's just say the reality hasn't quite lived up to...
Appalachian Thursday–The Outhouse at My Wedding
We celebrated our 20th anniversary yesterday, which seems impossible since we only just met, fell in love, and decided to spend our lives together! But here we are, a chunk of LIFE under our belts. I think you could say our wedding was pretty uniquely Appalachian with...
Meet Sarah
