Last night, after dinner with a friend, I had to go to Walmart to pick up some things before coming home.  It was after eight o’clock, and our Walmart’s parking lot is not particularly well lit at night.  As always when going there at night, I parked as close to the front door as possible. 
On [...]

I host a healthful meals blog and occasionally get asked about rich gravies and sauces.  It seems a misconception that there’s no room for them in a weight-loss or healthy diet.  Prevention magazine recommends one tablespoon of corn starch dissolved in one cup of liquid for an easy, fat-free sauce or gravy, but corn starch [...]

Did you make lofty, ambitious new year resolutions a few weeks ago?  New year’s resolutions are a tradition in our society, and I usually participate.  Then about mid-January, I lose my resolve.  Not always.  One year I set a goal to run my first marathon in October, and I succeeded.  But I’m not disciplined enough [...]

It’s safe to say that the alleged infidelity of Tiger Woods has sparked controversy, debate, and discussion. So what does this have to do with writers? What can writers learn from a media storm like Tiger’s?
A recurring media trend takes place when it comes to big stories. First comes the inciting incident that makes the [...]

With only a dozen days left till Christmas, you may be feeling the pressure. Are you hosting a dinner party or open house? Is your gift shopping completed? Are the decorations up? Are you relaxed and enjoying the holiday season?
Did you answer “no” on that last one? Oops. Perhaps [...]

Divas, of course we love books.  As a Special Project, I’ve launched a site called Chapter 1 Zone to help readers connect with authors through the first chapter of their books.
There’ll be a new chapter 1 posted every week.  This week, the feature is JAMES ROLLINS’ ALTAR OF EDEN.
As well as reading a new first [...]

A child inspired me. I never saw her. Her grandfather and I are members of Emerald Coast Writers and in a pre-meeting discussion we were fawning over our grandkids, as grandparents are licensed (and fully expected) to do.
He had taken his family on a vacation and he and his granddaughter, who is six, were out [...]

We’re all busy.  Our schedules look like something out of a horror film, and for every item we take off, someone puts two more on.  Grabbing a few minutes for ourselves is hard, and sometimes seemingly impossible.
And yet we are diverse women with broad interests and deep concerns.  We don’t want cotton candy for brains [...]

Pardon the pun, but it’s National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and I have valuable information for you to pass on to your daughters, granddaughters, nieces, and other young women you love.  Don’t wait until you reach the at-risk age to prepare your bodies to fight breast cancer.  There are things you can do–and eat–that lower [...]

October is National Reading Group Month sponsored by the Women’s National Book Association.
Reading groups are a great way for people (yes, mostly women) to get together to share their love of reading. It’s a time to socialize, catch up, and discuss some really great books. Today, book clubs have expanded from mommy groups that talk [...]