Yes, poppies were the evil flowers that put Dorothy and her friends to sleep in the Wizard of Oz. They also bring to mind the killer seeds of the opium crisis. But the blood-red, starkly bright poppy blossom also represents something more: the memory of lives lost in battle. And maybe–just maybe–a bit of hope for those left behind. Continue reading Poppies – 2022 Edition
It’s March in the Northeast, the blustery month that comes in like a lion and out like a lamb. Smack in the middle are St. Patrick’s Day, the Spring Equinox, and–for one Chick–another ever-green holiday, Christmas… Continue reading The One with the Lion, the Lamb, & No Snakes
Yes, beloved readers, it’s Valentine’s Day. Even if you celebrate Superbowl Hangover Day, Olympic Ice Dancing Recap Day, or your regularly scheduled I-Don’t-Like-Mondays Day, you’ll be bombarded with pink and red hearts and flowers and droolworthy chocolate recipes. You won’t find those here, but one of us Chicks has a public-service warning for you: Beware the Roses… Continue reading The Rose Wars
Remember that hilarious scene in Home Alone where the McCallister family runs around the house like crazy people before they leave for the airport and everything’s a mess? Yep, that is my house right now. And those people are me. I hope you’ll read on, but you’ve been warned… Continue reading The Big “What If?”
Recently I mentioned I’m a fan of the TV show Ted Lasso. Don’t worry, I won’t give anything away here, if you haven’t seen it yet. This is what you need to know: The bumbling, ever-positive Ted (played by an amusingly mustachioed Jason Sudeikis) is an American college football coach hired to coach a ragtag football (“soccer” to Americans) club across the pond. He literally knows zip about British football. But what he does have to offer is folksy advice—often unsolicited, but always on-point—to those who need a little motivation. Or a lot. Continue reading Through the Dark Forest: Ted Lasso for Writers
Today we Chicks are delighted to welcome back guest author Kathy Lynn Emerson, a/k/a Kaitlyn Dunnett, who has an exciting new book and venture to share with us. Take it away, Kathy! Continue reading Guest Chick: Kathy Lynn Emerson (a/k/a Kaitlyn Dunnett)
While flipping through my high school yearbook recently in an odd fit of nostalgia, I reread the caption under my senior picture. Somehow, I’d forgotten I had a sort-of nickname: Squirrel. But there it was, listed first thing. Continue reading Hey, Look–Squirrel!
The one in which Extra-Chirpy Chick does her best to build a case for Mondays. Inconceivable, you say? It’s all in how you look at things. Just grab your coffee and hear her out… Continue reading Monday, Monday: Writers Pandemic Edition
Sometimes it’s hard for us authors to believe we are really, truly…well, authors. What an honor and thrill that the words we tap onto our keyboards magically–or not so magically–become books that other people may read. We Chicks still pinch ourselves sometimes, but here are the moments we realized, Hey, this is real!
Continue reading “The Moment We First Felt Like a Legit Author”
So I wrote this post for Chicks a couple of years ago. But it seems wildly appropriate for our current times, so I thought I’d bring ol’ Murphy back for a spin. He’s hard to get rid of, as it turns out. Don’t say I didn’t warn you… Continue reading When Write Goes Wrong: Blame Murphy
I’d like to thank the Chicks for having me on as a Guest Chick, but if you don’t mind, I’m going to turn my blog post over to Waylon Jenkins, Zombie Cosmetologist, the hero of my story Pluck & Cover. He’s always bugging me to let him have his say so we might as well give him the platform. As a special prize for listening to him natter on, anyone who comments below is automatically entered into a giveaway for a free Pluck & Cover ebook. —JD Blackrose, Zombie Wrangler. Continue reading Guest Chick: J.D. Blackrose
I’m looking for the perfect town. It can’t be too hot or too cold, too rich or too poor, too big or too small, and preferably there will be an adorable cat or dog and a plate of cookies at every house and shop. Oh, and this town must have at least one charming bookstore, multiple gourmet restaurants, a sleepy police department, and very few troublesome children. I’d like to visit the area in person, you see, but even the combined power of Google Maps, Siri and Waze can’t seem to locate it. Can you tell me how to get to Cozy Street? Continue reading Directions to Cozyland
Chicks on the Case 