Travel blog!

The Instagram #iloveagoodstory2016 is proving to be more than a hashtag or a simple book challenge. It’s a gathering of devoted literary types who are so excited about the great books they’ve read this year that they can’t wait to share them with bookish friends. Talk about a win-win! I […]

When my writing critique partner Gretchen Anthony asked if I’d participate in a 14-day book challenge, I couldn’t say YES fast enough! Two weeks of Instagram posts where my amazingly talented writer friends share their favorite books? What could possibly be better! I’m admittedly brand new (and still tentatively navigating) Instagram, […]

Last month, we took an RV trip to Upper Michigan with my cousin and her family. The pressure began when she said, “The last couple years, we’ve taken the kids to Orlando. But instead, this year we told them we are going to Mackinac Island with you guys.” Gulp. As […]

Earlier this week, I was thrilled and humbled to have a respected literary agent from Toronto (my No. 1 draft pick, in all honesty) ask me to submit my full manuscript for FINDING SETH. I might not cry happy tears every time I get a request for a full, but […]

Now do you have a Byrds song stuck in your head? You are welcome! While you are singing, “Turn, turn, turn,” right now, I’m taking the lyrics to heart. That being said, this summer is not my time to be reaching out to literary agents. So as much as it kills my […]

Last week, I ran the Cellcom Green Bay half marathon. It was probably my fifth or sixth time participating in that event. Always a good race, I look forward to it every year. Especially the finishing lap around Lambeau Field, and the specialty beer at the finish line. (Bratwurst = not so […]

I’m a competitive person. Probably that comes from being a distance runner for the last 25 years — why wouldn’t I be competitive? My husband is competitive, too. Some of our battles over family game night are epic. Once, in a game of Pictionary that my mother-in-law was videotaping, we […]

After several weeks of research (preceded by several years of whining and begging), my husband and I brought home a brand new minivan this week. I was over the moon ecstatic. He was depressed. For me, this new vehicle represents freedom from the repairs, leaking fluids and weird grinding noises […]

Last weekend was the 27th annual UW-Madison Writers Institute — my first “real” conference as a serious author. I’ve been to conferences before as a professional journalist. But even though many journalists are writers, the atmosphere could not have been more different. First of all, about 90 percent of the […]

My husband and I took the kids this year on a weeklong Spring Break to south Florida. And we had an amazing time. For one reason or another, we’ve never gone away for a full week in March. So this year, when we had the opportunity to spend some time […]