Joining a critique group brings an end to the arrogant delusion of, "I have written a great story." In fact, I'm discovering some hard, and down right scary, things about myself. Scary fact one: My main character lacks emotional responses to events and family members. Should I be in intense therapy? Why is this so …
Life is Messy…
Some days, you just have to spread everything across the floor and sort it out. My work in progress is a YA Historical Adventure, requiring abundant research notes, maps, and an accurate timeline for the plot. My head was about to explode. It reminds me of laundry day when my three, close in age, young …
Gritty Sandwiches
Before almost dying in the desert, my family almost died in a dry riverbed. 1968 Our gray Volkswagen wouldn't move. Dad and my brother, Barry, tried to dig sand away from the tires while I sat in the backseat. Mom held my baby brother, Stephen in the front seat. A hot breeze blew through the windows, …
The Perfect Parent Myth
The fact that you worry over being a good parent, means you are. But I understand the frustrations and doubts. Your child steals something, bullies someone, fails in school, you name it, and it has to be the parents fault, right. Hogwash—you've corrected them, cuddled them, and sent them to counselors. In exasperation, you've yelled, cried, and …
Phyllis A. Still 