I really do. Books, of course, but also TV, movies, and spoken word. I set a timer to sit down at three o’clock on Saturday afternoons to listen to The Moth Radio Hour whenever I’m home. Three or four people tell stories on a particular theme. They’re hilarious and they can break your heart, often in the same piece. I come from a long line … Continue reading I Love Stories
The other day I saw this meme and it made me laugh, so I reposted it to my Facebook page. Many of my friends saw it and laughed with me, proudly confessing they had at least one exactly like it, but shaking their cyber fist at the idea it was time to throw it away. I agree. Those cookie sheets are perfectly fine. They simply … Continue reading Becky’s Heroic Journey
PROLOGUE… When Becky’s power went out, she and her hubs realized their battery back-up for their important stuff wasn’t working. Hubs got a new one and hooked it all up before leaving for work one morning. ACT ONE BECKY ENTERS, a look of befuddlement fixes to her face, and remains for an uncomfortably long time. Why? Because while she is finishing her morning’s work, the … Continue reading The Teriyaki Salmon Saga
If you do, you’re probably cowering under your covers instead of reading this because today is Friday the 13th. Both of those delightfully king-sized words describe a fear of this supposedly evil and unlucky day. Paraskavedekatriaphobia comes from the Greek word for Friday, Paraskevi. Here’s how to pronounce it … Friggatriskaidekaphobia comes from the Norse Goddess for Friday—Frigg— in mythology. Here’s how to pronounce it … Continue reading Do You Have Paraskavedekatriaphobia or Friggatriskaidekaphobia?
Becky here to introduce you to my friend Kathleen Donnelly. We’re both in Colorado and in the same Sisters in Crime chapter. We once did a field trip to a locale where Kathleen put her adorable Sparky and Gracie through their paces to find the narcotics she had hidden. Absolutely fascinating to see her and the dogs work. In addition to having smart and adorable … Continue reading Guest Chick: Kathleen Donnelly and a Giveaway!
For reasons mostly related to my body falling apart, I’ve started swimming every morning at our Rec Center. I was on my high school swim team for, oh, about eight minutes, so believe me when I tell you I’m not what you’d call a graceful swimmer. I’d like to see video of my first day at the Rec Center because I suspect it was pretty … Continue reading Pish, Anyone Can Do This
My parents bought this coffee table in 1972 or so from the old Levitz Furniture store. It was simply a cheap necessity when we moved into a new house. It was always a reliable place in front of the TV to do my homework or mindlessly work my childhood magic in a coloring book. My older brother and younger sister and I played countless hands … Continue reading A Boring Old Table
Remember last week when I posted about my new obsession with online jigsaw puzzles? We were having a GIGANTIC thunderstorm so I went downstairs where the noise from the hail wasn’t quite so deafening and tried to distract myself with a jigsaw puzzle. One of the other “weighty mental paths” I traveled while I worked on it ended up being something I keep thinking about. … Continue reading … But It Makes Perfect Sense
I have recently discovered my love for jigsaw puzzles. Well, technically, I’ve always liked jigsaws, but haven’t done them since I was a kid when my mom would set up the card table and dump out a box. What changed was I found an online app—Jigsaw Planet—that is perfect for my iPad. At breakfast and lunch, I typically solve crosswords while I eat, but I’ve … Continue reading It’s So Puzzling …
When I first began writing, I wanted to get kids—reluctant readers, especially—to love books. So I told them entertaining, funny stories. At least that’s what I tried to do. I didn’t truly know I hit my mark until I got a letter—yes, this was back in the day—that said, “I didn’t like to read until I read your book.” Honestly? I could have quit right … Continue reading Those Little Grey Cells
Yesterday was launch day for BOOKED, the first book in the Sugar Mill Marketplace series. Yay! The early reviews are positive and make me very, very happy, because it’s scary to put a book out into the world! Until the world at large sees it, you don’t truly know if you’ve done what you set out to do. That said, reviews aren’t for the author. … Continue reading Stars in Our Eyes
Yesterday was release day for RAT RACE (yay!) But I’ll tell you, I never thought it would get here. Not because I was wiggly with excitement like I usually am for a new release, but because I honestly wasn’t sure I could make it happen. I’m sure you heard—because I whined about it incessantly and melodramatically—that I was sick for almost 8 weeks. And not … Continue reading Of Rats and Newborn Koalas
Chicks on the Case 