I can’t believe it’s August already. As I type this, the temperature here in New England is 95+ degrees. We’re in the middle of a drought as well. This means my lawn is a lovely shade of brown (or as my four-year-old neighbor likes to say ‘it’s crunchy’.) But fear not! Hot and humid didn’t…
Author: admin
Retro Cocktail of the Month (July edition)
Don’t forget – drink responsibly and never drink and drive.
Life
Last week, I turned 58 years old which means I’ve had some experience at this life business. As my birthday gift to you all, I’m going to share an important piece of wisdom that I’ve managed to learn over my almost-six decades on earth. Life is hard. Life is unpredictable. Life will kick you in…
Writing vs Storytelling
This is for R— “I’m not a writer. I’m a storyteller,” a friend of mine texted the other day. She made it sound as though being a storyteller was a bad thing. I disagree. Being a good storyteller – and trust me, this particular friend is very good – is a gift. The world is…
On Cats and Sharing Family History
When I was a little girl, I wanted a kitten. I mean I really, really wanted one. Alas, my older brother suffered from severe allergies which meant no furry animals in the house. I begged. I pleaded. I threatened to run away with my stuffed animals. (A threat thwarted by my mother making French toast…
Barb’s Book Reviews for July 1, 2022
Happy Independence Day everyone. Thanks to audio books and a long drive to Vermont, I managed to squeeze in a number of books in June. The Wedding Veil by Kristi Woodson Harvey: Harvey’s first historical fiction is more a women’s fiction-historical hybrid. In the present-day storyline, we have Julia Baxter, a young bride-to-be and…
Ten Tips for New Authors From an Old-Timer
Recently, I was asked if I had any advice for an aspiring author. I had a lot of thoughts, but in the spirit of brevity, I’ve narrowed my tips to ten. My writing friends will note that much of what I’ve written I should heed myself. As with all advice, take what you want and…
The Top Ten Books on my TBR Pile
Happy Thursday! I’m posting this week’s blog a day early because I’m hitting the waters of Lake Champlain to do some sailing. Enjoy! Can you believe the year is half over? I’ve been staring at my TBR pile wondering how I’m going to finish all these books (plus the ones I’ve yet to buy) before…
Barb’s Book Reviews
Hey Gang! It’s time for Barb’s Book Reviews. This month, I’ve got three, count ’em three, really good summer reads for you. BLOOMSBURY GIRLS by Natalie Jenner: An utterly charming book by the author of The Jane Austen Society, BLOOMSBURY GIRLS is a celebration of books and the power of friendship Set in a post-war…
Retro Cocktail of the Month: Planter’s Punch
Memorial Day is the unofficial start of the summer, so why not celebrate in Sixties style with Planter’s Punch. Before You Celebrate, Pause to Honor Those Who Fell I’d be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to remember what Memorial Day is truly about, and that is to honor those men and women…