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What Does Your Christmas Tree Say About You?
Dec 17, 2024
It wasn't until I read a post by another blogger about her less-than-perfect Christmas tree, that I began to reflect on my own tree story. My mother and father always put...
Dashing Through the Door
Oct 14, 2024
Growing up in the 50's was somewhat like working for Door Dash A neighbor would call to borrow a cup of sugar Whichever kid was nearby Was assigned to deliver it. A...
Glimpse Inside a Family Time Machine
Oct 14, 2024
Glimpse Inside a Family Time Machine Every Tuesday my mother left the house and headed to do her weekly shopping in downtown St. Louis, Missouri. It was the only day other...
Are You Missing the Beam?
Sep 12, 2024
[Image generated by DALL-E in ChatGPT 4o] At the end of a longitudinal study about the spread of happiness in a social network, a reader commented:"In another...
The Faux Pas That Gave Me Pause
Jul 16, 2024
Something was wrong. The congregation applauded, giving me a standing ovation. I returned to my seat next to the pastor’s wife on the pulpit, tingling with joy as I...
Creating A+ Content on Amazon KDP for Your Book
Mar 05, 2024
When you publish your book on Amazon KDP platform, you want to take advantage of all the opportunities they give you to promote and market your book. Three ways to do...
Start Your Novel on Nov. 1st with NaNoWriMo
Oct 31, 2023
[Image courtesy of National Novel Writing Month] Every year as trick-or-treaters trail home on Halloween to tally their loot, writers around the world...
Remembering Our Fathers
Jun 18, 2023
Happy Father's Day to these beloved fathers, each memorable and unique in his own way. Before you ask, I'm the tall one on the right in the top right photo, shot in my...
The First Mother's Day I Picked My Mom Up in a Limousine
May 23, 2023
When my first child became a high school senior, it had become common for parents to rent limousines to take their kids to and from the proms. They felt it was safer than...
Disregard Sensible Advice
Apr 17, 2023
[Photo by Nathan Gentry on Unsplash] "A slow death comes for those who don’t revolt when they’re unhappy in their work or in love. Who...
Sending you love
Mar 15, 2023
You are worthy. You are valued. You matter. tags: memoir, biography, autobiography, family, history, legacy, letter, preserving, write, life,...
5 Ways to Make a Splash and More Cash at Your Next Book Signing
Sep 06, 2022
How did you do at your last book signing? If you're like many authors, you sold three or fewer books. If you expect to do better than this grim statistic, you've got to...
Capture Your Memories One Story at a Time
Sep 01, 2022
Writing about your childhood memories and family stories is one of the best ways to preserve and reflect on the milestones and events that shaped who you have become to...
Be Your Own First Fan
Jul 19, 2022
When I set up what a popular social media site used to call a fan page, there was a tip suggesting I be the first to sign up for my fan club. Good thing they posted...
California Offers Weather for All
Jun 27, 2022
Who knew there is snow in Southern California? I did, of course, and the rest of us Californians. But folks in other parts of the country are always shocked to learn that...
Caught Being Good!
Jun 17, 2022
"Grandma, look! I was caught being good!" my youngest grandson announced with a broad smile showing off an award ribbon years ago when he was in elementary school. ...
Cultivate Happiness by Flowing with the Seasons
May 11, 2022
You will pass through many seasons in your lifetime. Your happiness depends on how you manage them. When my children were young our family life revolved around...
Three Tips to Gain Confidence
Apr 27, 2022
“Nerves and butterflies are fine – they’re a physical sign that you’re mentally ready and eager. You have to get the butterflies to fly in...
What Will Rock Your World?
Apr 13, 2022
Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted. ~ Albert Einstein It was minutes before the Mistress of Ceremonies introduced...
5 Ways Sharing Your Personal Story Promotes Your Business Success
Jan 19, 2022
When you begin a business, there is often a goal beyond just making money. Your potential clients and customers want to know your origin story. What happened in...
Ready, Set, Write! Join the Annual Race to 50,000 Words
Oct 30, 2021
Every year as trick-or-treaters trail home on Halloween to tally their loot, writers around the world flex their fingers in readiness for National Novel Writing...
Detective Mom and the Truth
Aug 30, 2021
Welcome to Our Guest BloggerMarie Mason Growing up as a child in a different time that I live in now, I was always taught to be seen and not heard as a girl growing...
Moon Sister
Jul 28, 2021
We're happy to turn the STUDENT SPOTLIGHTonGreta Nagelfor her story"Moon Sister"as part of the Winter 2021 Life Story Class I once wrote a short paragraph about my...
Memorable Years on the Farm
Apr 01, 2021
We're happy to turn the STUDENT SPOTLIGHTonDyan Ventersfor her story"Memorable Years on the Farm"as part of the Winter 2021 Life Story Class Wow! How did...
Traditions Matter: It's Not Christmas Until Max's Coffee Cake is Ready
Jan 18, 2021
We're happy to turn the STUDENT SPOTLIGHTon Don Ebbertsfor his story, "Traditions Matter: It's Not Christmas Until Max's Coffee Cake is Ready"as part of the Your...
5 Ways to Summon Your Memories to Write Your Life Story
Dec 23, 2020
Writing your life story is important to you, but it is often still a challenge to know where and how to get started. That's why during November, Family Stories Month, I...
Once Upon a Time You Died Before We Really Knew You
May 22, 2020
[Photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen on Unsplash] When we think of stories, we often flash back to the ones we read as children that began “Once upon a...
Use Your Secret Power to Get Through the Pandemic and Other Gifts o...
May 21, 2020
“You have power over your mind — not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”– Marcus Aurelius At the beginning of 2020, I...
100+ Ways to Find Relief, Comfort, and Meaning During the Pandemic
Apr 06, 2020
Did you thoughtfully list your 2020 New Year’s resolutions and set big goals at the end of 2019? If you’re someone who plans ahead, you paid your final deposit...
Black History Month Trailblazers and Changemakers 2020-DAY 29: Cart...
Feb 29, 2020
Carter Godwin Woodson, was an African American historian, author, publisher, and the father of Black History Month which began as Negro History Week in February 1926. He...
Black History Trailblazers and Changemakers-DAY 28: Bill Pickett
Feb 28, 2020
Bill Pickett was a rodeo star, actor, and the first African American cowboy. He won acclaim for being the first to perform bulldogging, a rodeo event that involves...
Black History Trailblazers and Changemakers 2020-DAY 27: Dr. Ronald...
Feb 27, 2020
Ronald Erwin McNair was a physicist and NASA astronaut. He was the second African American astronaut in space with the launch of the STS-41B mission of the Space...
Black History Trailblazers and Changemakers 2020-DAY 26: Ann Atwater
Feb 26, 2020
Ann Atwater born July 1, 1935 in Hallsboro, NC, was a fierce civil rights activist, not afraid to speak up and encourage others to do the same. In 1971 in Durham,...
Black History Trailblazers and Changemakers 2020-DAY 25: Dr. Lisa W...
Feb 25, 2020
Dr. Lisa Willams, a mom, professor, and founder of a multi-million dollar company created and launched a doll line to honor the beauty and intelligence of multicultural...
Black History Trailblazers and Changemakers 2020--DAY 24: Octavia E...
Feb 24, 2020
Octavia Butler, born June 22,1947 in Pasadena, California , made her mark as an African American author in the science fiction genre which had previously...
Black History Trailblazers and Changemakers 2020--DAY 23: The Fisk ...
Feb 23, 2020
The Fisk Jubilee Singers are an American a cappella ensemble that was formed in 1871 at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. The school was founded in 1866 and...
Black History Trailblazers and Changemakers 2020-DAY 22: Jane Bolin
Feb 22, 2020
Jane Matilda Bolin was born April 11, 1908 in Poughkeepsie, New York, and in 1939 was sworn in as the first black woman judge in the United States. Her interest...
Black History Trailblazers and Changemakers 2020--DAY 21: The Platters
Feb 21, 2020
To those of us who swooned to the sweet romantic styling of The Platters in the 1950’s, they are an intact rock and roll group that carried us through our teen years....
Black History Trailblazers and Changemakers 2020--DAY 20: Henrietta...
Feb 20, 2020
DAY 20: Henrietta Lacks is an African American woman whose unique cells were taken without her knowledge while she was hospitalized for cervical cancer and are the...
Black History Trailblazers and Changemakers 2020--DAY 19: Florence ...
Feb 19, 2020
Florence Griffith-Joyner, better known as "Flo-Jo", is the fastest woman in history having hit the 100m world record of 10.49sec set in 1988 as well as the 200m mark of...
Black History Trailblazers and Changemakers 2020-DAY 18: Phillis Wh...
Feb 18, 2020
When I was growing up in St. Louis in the 1950s, my community was so thoroughly segregated that our schools and many other public buildings were often named for...
Black History Trailblazers and Changemakers 2020--DAY 17: Matthew A...
Feb 17, 2020
Matthew A. Cherry NFL wide receiver turned filmmaker was born in 1981 in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois...
Black History Trailblazers and Changemakers 2020--DAY 16: Carla Dia...
Feb 16, 2020
Carla Diane Hayden is the 14th Librarian of Congress. Her appointment to this position is noteworthy because she is the first woman, the first African American,...
Black History Trailblazers and Changemakers 2020--DAY 15: James Van...
Feb 15, 2020
James Van Der Zee was a photographer (1886–1983) born in Lenox, Massachusetts He was the second of six siblings all of whom loved learning. He began playing the piano...
Black History Trailblazers and Changemakers 2020--DAY 14: Essynce M...
Feb 14, 2020
Essynce Moore from Hillside, New Jersey was 11 years old when she wrote her first book, “6th Grade Middle School Chronicles: Where No Secrets are Kept”, about...
Love Should Never Hurt on Valentine's Day or Any Other Day
Feb 14, 2020
For florists, Valentine's Day is one of the biggest money-making days along with Mother's Day and the December holidays. For candy makers, Valentine's Day means...
Black History Trailblazers and Changemakers 2020--DAY 13: Leontyne ...
Feb 13, 2020
Leontyne Price (born February 10, 1927) is an American soprano who was the first African American to become a leading performer at the Metropolitan Opera and is recognized...
Black History Trailblazers and Changemakers 2020--DAY 12: Vanilla B...
Feb 12, 2020
I’m celebrating Black History Month by looking for changemakers and trailblazers. #BlackHistoryMonth Vanilla Beane, a milliner in Washington, D.C. is lovingly...
Black History Trailblazers and Changemakers 2020-Day 11: Christi Sm...
Feb 11, 2020
DAY 11-Cristi Smith-Jones and her daughter, Lola. When Cristi Smith-Jones’ 5-year-old daughter, Lola, shared with great interest that she had learned about the famous...
Black History Trailblazers and Changemakers 2020--Day 10: James Wel...
Feb 10, 2020
I’m celebrating Black History Month by looking for changemakers and trailblazers. #BlackHistoryMonth DAY 10-James Weldon Johnson (1871-1938) was multi-talented...
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