The Great Things About Turning Forty

Forty is awesome. I know you hear a lot of talk about it as a big scary number and I admit I’ve thought so too. Which is why I’ve been working hard for a couple of years to get my life to an exciting place for the big 4-0, just so I wouldn’t feel disappointed.Continue reading “The Great Things About Turning Forty”

‘Here Be Dragons’ — How to Try New Things w/o Losing Your Nerve

I’ve been trying a lot of new things lately, from entering screenwriting contests to getting my first ‘real’ cell phone (I had a phone for three months for a trip once, but it was always to be temporary). I’ve used Fiverr for the first time, uploaded video to Youtube, and am working on getting connectionsContinue reading “‘Here Be Dragons’ — How to Try New Things w/o Losing Your Nerve”

Harder: The Thing That Stands Between You and Your Dreams

Coworker: I just graduated. Me: Congratulations! That was a lot of hard work. Coworker: Not really. But thanks. Later my friend also reiterated that, while it was nice of me to encourage him, graduating wasn’t really that hard of work. WHAT? I felt like he would have had lots of times, lots of choices, whereContinue reading “Harder: The Thing That Stands Between You and Your Dreams”

How to Create the Life of Your Dreams THIS YEAR

So, it has arrived. My final Change-Your-Life Challenge for (Georgia USA? My 30s? The old ‘status quo’?) this period of my life. In brief, my life has been roughly divided into home-schooled, hanging-with-the-fam era (birth to 25), and then the hanging-with-my-sister, learning, growing, preparing era (26 to 39). Now, baby, watch out — 2019 isContinue reading “How to Create the Life of Your Dreams THIS YEAR”

These 500 Words Will Make Your Life Awesome

I’m almost 40, which isn’t too old — I’ve got lots more adventures planned. But I’m also aware that I’m moving toward being ‘an adult’ if not yet quite an elder statesman. In some ways I’ve always felt this mature; I remember being 20 and thinking I felt my ‘true age’ was 42 (the answer toContinue reading “These 500 Words Will Make Your Life Awesome”

The Ocean is Still Out There, Magnificent and Wide

It had been over 20 years since I had seen a beach. I had had good intentions several times over the past few years (“We’ll go for my birthday”; “Let’s cerebrate New Year’s on the beach, watching the sun rise”) but each time bad weather, illness, holiday retail worker craziness, or just the idea ofContinue reading “The Ocean is Still Out There, Magnificent and Wide”

How to Make This a ‘Beacon’ Year

‘We’ll Burn Like a Beacon and Then We’ll be Gone.’ That line is from a Frank Turner song (Poetry of the Deed — great song!) and I think it’s a good setup for you and me to talk about how 2019 is the craziest, awesomest year ever (yet!) and we’ve both about to blow theContinue reading “How to Make This a ‘Beacon’ Year”

To Honor the Failing Darkness

Trying new things is hard. Returning to old things is hard. Doing anything worth doing is probably hard. 😉 But as the darkness of ignorance falls away we become more comfortable, less afraid, less annoyed.  The new is always challenging, which is why we rush past it — getting to know that new boyfriend, wantingContinue reading “To Honor the Failing Darkness”

Why I Write Fantasy: A Post About Possibilities, Magic, and He-Man

“Why did you pick that genre? Why fantasy?” It is almost a strange question to me, like ‘Why do you breathe air?’ Though of course, sometimes I don’t breathe air — sometimes I hold my breath and swim deep into the seas of historical fiction or Gothic romance. But I always resurface soon enough, alwaysContinue reading “Why I Write Fantasy: A Post About Possibilities, Magic, and He-Man”

How to Turn ’18 Up to ’11’

Hi! Good to see you; I know it’s been awhile ;-). So, this year has been crazy. And awesome. Crazy-awesome? Yes. And I’ve wanted to get back to the website for a while but I’ve never found the perfect thing to say, the ideal reentry into the form. But… who cares? I’m just gonna jumpContinue reading “How to Turn ’18 Up to ’11’”