Have you seen this going around Facebook lately? A list of random items and you have to check off what you've done. I would NOT call this a bucket list. A bucket list are things you want to do. This is more of a "life inventory" of sorts. Kind of reminds me of those e-mail chains that went around 15 years ago with things like, "Ranch or Honey Mustard?" "Leave a message or just hang up?" Anyway, I thought I'd take a stab at it here on the ol' blog. And because I can't ev

I have never been happier to see Friday. After being gone to a conference last weekend, I am looking forward to my usual weekend routine! So. Last week in Chicago I had dinner with my sweet friend Liz who is the most amazingly talented artist. She's a freelancer and specializes in watercolor. So I've been looking at ideas on Pinterest because I want her to create a logo for my business cards and stuff. Don't you just love that technical term: stuff. Liz told me, "Make a P

For those new to my little corner of the interwebs, here a fun fact about me: I lived on a farm for about two-and-a-half-years. I'd love to tell you that I was some sort of local co-op farmer who grew organic veggies for a CSA and each week customers came by and picked their own or some crazy, made up story like that. Hardly. It was a big change for me to live out there. I am a city kid to the core. And to live on a farm where the water was so hard turned your toilet orang

If you're familiar with books, you know that every book that has been published has an ISBN number. ISBN = International Standard Book Number. Flip over a book on your shelf and you'll see it. Usually right over the barcode. If not, look at the first few pages with the copyright information. Anyway. In order to get that number, you have to have a published book. Wait. What? Yep. My book is being published! I know! I know! I KNOW!!! I can't believe it either. In late sprin

When I read Kelly's first novel, Chasing Crazy, I saw a lot of my 19-year-old self in the female main character. This is why I love New Adult and Contemporary Romance novels. I like identifying with the characters, making it easy to understand why they do the things they do. How in the world it happened again I have no idea because while I can't ski, or decorate worth anything, and as a late 20-something I couldn't just hook up with a guy....I can admit freely that I, too,

On my old blog, I used to do some Friday Fav shout outs and thought I'd do the same on this blog. So...here we go! My Favorite Tomato Soup Recipe It's crazy but the weather in Minnesota fluctuates like crazy this time of year. So while winter is gone, "soup weather" is still sticking around. This recipe is so easy. Sherried Tomato Soup by The Pioneer Woman NOTE: I have omitted the heavy cream, reduced the butter by half, and I use red wine instead of Sherry. 3 Tablespoons

Text from my 14-year-old nephew (using my sister-in-law's phone). And....my reply... The result? I spammed his brother's Instagram instead, liking most of his recent photos. I know. I'm so mean.

Recently on Twitter I found myself connecting with some authors who have worked with specific publishers that I have been researching. One of the best ways to research publishers--especially small presses--is to look at the books that they've edited. Granted, I know that this is subjective. The author still has the control in their project--so even if an editor suggests that something be changed, it may or may not happen. And if a book interests you--obviously buying books