Many fathers don’t understand the impact they have on their daughters’ lives. This relationship influences how a woman feels about herself, men, and her standing in the world writ large. Abusive fathers, those who leave and never look back, and those who never showed up in the first place are … Read More

Montana winters are long. We feel it most acutely after the tease of a January thaw, followed by the deep freeze of February. It’s not the same as the joyful anticipation of the holiday season, but rather a desperate questioning of “When?” When will warmth finally return to release the … Read More

For most of my career, I’ve let characters drive my plot. Some of my early work helped me work out some issues I was dealing with. For example, when I wrote California Sunset, I was dealing with a job layoff from a large corporation and an alcohol-fueled marriage. Elizabeth, my … Read More

In the Bible, Isaiah says, “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” I don’t know about you, but I … Read More

An idea for a new series has been wandering around my brain for almost a year now. These ideas always begin the same way: What happens if … Images float around. A tall, big-boned woman with a shovel pouring the first clumps on her husband’s coffin before handing the tool … Read More

You know the moment. The controlled fury as you long to tell your nemesis exactly what you think of her. But there are a dozen of your co-workers or friends standing around you, so you simply say, “Thank you.” You may be a skilled politician, so only the two of … Read More

I fell in love with Freckles when I was a young teen. The young adult romance, written in 1904, was high-drama and noble romance and spoke to me of the ability of love to transcend ideals and make them into reality. (It probably had something to do with why my … Read More

The summer can be a gift if you let it be one. Hot days, remembering childhood summers, or a vacation in the mountains can remind you of the time to read and relax you once had. A strenuous hike can make you feel like your mind has been cleansed of … Read More

When I was a young teen, living in Framingham, MA, once a week I’d get on my bike and head to the library to bring back the teen romances, mysteries, and westerns I’d read. It was the best day of the week as far as I was concerned. I could … Read More

As a lifelong learner, my curiosity has been an asset as I developed the Beck Family Saga. Each book has required research into topics that weren’t usually on my radar. Rosie the Riveter is familiar to many people. (She’s even got her own national park in Richmond, California:  (https://www.nps.gov/rori/index.htm). The … Read More