What is a writer's pocketbook, you ask? It's what I call the pocketbook that's big enough to hold the book I'm currently reading, a small

Ingredients for success certainly include knowledge, experience, tenacity, and passion. However, every recipe needs that special something

Learning, networking, and receiving feedback are what I use to boost inspiration and motivation as a writer. That's why I'm headed to...

One of my favorite late-December activities is shopping for a new journal.

Adventures help build creative muscle. I'm convinced writer's block can always be cured by taking a break from the keyboard and trying...

Amidst my hectic graduate work, middle school teacher, and novel writer schedule, I carved out time for a writers and illustrators...

When I sat down in a session at the SCBWI-Carolinas fall writers and illustrators weekend retreat, everyone around me was exchanging...

Recently, I had the privilege of speaking at the SCBWI Carolinas Deep Dive Day. My presentation was rooted in my personal writing and...

The Birkhead Wilderness, which is part of the Uwharrie Mountains in central NC, was the inspiration and setting for my Zahra of the...

The start of school had me overwhelmed and underproductive when it came to my writing obligations. During every spare minute, I was...

Nearly two months ago, I tried something new. I reached slightly outside my comfort zone and participated in a local open mic event....

My first summer break since returning to the classroom is over. It was a good break. I played, traveled, studied, wrote, read, and...

When writers create characters, they draw from observations of friends, relatives, acquaintances, and strangers. Then they mix those...

On a recent trip to visit my cousin in New York City, I was asked if I wanted to walk across a bridge. "Of course! Let's do it!" was my...

A family vacation followed by an illness that had me in bed the better part of a week conspired to stall progress on edits to a...

It was a chilly day. We were heading down the mountain where my son and daughter-in-law live. We had errands. About halfway down the...

I've been a dedicated NaNoWriMo participant for years. Each November, I challenge myself to draft a book—or at least the first 50K words...

The following is from my September 17, 2021 Facebook author page post: This evening I took a walk on the beach. The sun was setting. I...

We wear many hats in our lives. My collection includes mother, wife, aunt, daughter, caregiver, marketing director, mentor, friend, and...

My mom is a ham. She's sociable, funny, and dramatic. Could she have been an actor? After her recent stint in the recording booth, I...