It’s all about You

  • Permission to Cry

    Permission to Cry

    About ten years ago, I had an idea for a project that I hoped to gift to several of my friends who were dealing with deep and personal emotional trauma. Using the package design skills I’d picked up at NIU, I created a box to fit the travel packs of tissues. It was printed with…

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  • As a day-lated tribute to Mother’s Day, I wanted to share this poem I wrote two decades ago. I’ve been inspired to update it–Every Grandmother’s Poem–and hope to post the new version soon. I hope you enjoy. Every Mom’s Poem (Life is Good) I’m just a “Mom,” A Homemaker, you see. But I’m a working…

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  • Warrior Pride

    Warrior Pride

    1984 was a great book. A decent movie. A groundbreaking commercial. It was an Olympic year, back when they were held every four years. And also an election year. But, by far, the reason it was the BEST year was because 1984 was the year we graduated from Rockford West High school. It’s been 35…

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  • Thank You Social Media for making Me a Better Person

    Yes, you read that right. The subject for this post came to me the other morning as I was looking up a “fact” I read on Facebook. I usually hit delete on incendiary posts, things that shock, mock, attack, or outright lie. But this one intrigued me. Instead of scrolling through the heated outrage listed in…

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  • When one chapter closes…

    When one chapter closes…

    It’s easier than I would have thought to say goodbye to In Print. As a founding member, I guess I let the organization go when I stepped down from ALL responsibilities. I held many titles, wore many hats, and accomplished many amazing things through the Professional Writers Organization I helped begin with fellow writers Kristin…

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  • Perceiving the New Year in 3D

    I keep seeing a lot of posts on social media about your “word for the year“. Great words, like STRENGTH, CONFIDENT, RESPONSIBILITY, and CONTROL. Kelly Epperson Simmons wrote a recent blog titled New Year’s Resolutions vs Word of the Year. She says resolutions can be vague and overwhelming. “Choosing a word is easier on our heads…

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  • The Art (and Application) of Positive Psychology

    Are you thinking, “Huh?” Do I have your attention with a blog title like that? I hope so. This is a good one. The first keynote at the Indie Author Conference was Daniel Lerner, renowned speaker, author, and consultant. Someone we all need in our band. He spoke energetically about Positive Psychology–where success and happiness coexist.…

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  • V is for V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N!

    V is for V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N!

    It’s Labor Day! You probably have the day off of work. Not quite a vacation…but still, no work is no work. Must be nice. You know, to take a day off. Writers don’t get days off. We may be away from the computer, but that doesn’t mean we’re not logging ideas, noticing details, or otherwise…

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  • U is for Unique

    U is for Unique

    Yes, the story has probably been told before. But not by you. Tell YOUR story. Your voice is unique. We’re getting close, folks… U is only five letters from the end and the 21st entry of The Writer’s Alphabet! Once I get through the alphabet in order, then I can start adding definitions willy-nilly! (note…

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  • Facebook Notes (Part 4)

    Facebook Notes (Part 4)

    Hard to believe, considering my weekly blogs, but I only posted four Facebook notes! Here is the last of them. Then: Printer’s Row June 7, 2011 at 9:55 AM My time in Chicago was brief, but I still enjoyed the event immensely. I attended the New Author Panel, featuring Deanna Fei, Samuel Park, Belinda McKeon,…

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