Through the Purple Door on St. Patrick’s Day
In which I meet with a family whose ten-year-old daughter. Audrey, adores sock monkeys. She read The Secrets of Eastcliff-by-the-Sea and loved it.
Category Archives: Inspiration
Dolls and the Imagination
… it was through this act of playing that I practiced and learned the most valuable skill of all: I developed an imagination. I developed my innate ability to form stories in my mind, an ability to create.
Through an Artist’s Eyes, Part Four
It seemed fitting to end my journey to British Columbia visiting the house where Emily Carr grew up; to knock on the front door and be greeted by Jan Ross, curator of this National and Provincial Historic Site; to sit in the very parlor where Emily once sat; and learn more about this visionary whose art and life I so admired.
Through an Artist’s Eyes, Part Three
On the morning of our third full day in British Columbia, my husband Ralph and I departed for Victoria, the place of Emily Carr’s birth in 1871 and the city where she spent most of her life.
Through an Artist’s Eyes, Part Two
In the weeks before traveling to British Columbia to see two major exhibitions of paintings by Emily Carr—one of Canada’s most celebrated and fascinating artists—I read and researched everything I could about her.
Through an Artist’s Eyes, Part One
The decision to travel to British Columbia this past November was an impulsive one, uncharacteristic of my ‘long-range planning’ approach to life acquired during my career as a public school administrator. My invitation to do so appeared on the front page of the New York Times Travel Section on October 2, 2017, with the headline: “Vancouver Island, Through an Artist’s Eyes.”
Finger Sandwiches
Where do writers draw their inspiration? From many books, articles, trips, conversations, and recipes! In Chapter 23 of The Secrets of Eastcliff-by-the-Sea, “Tea Party,” Annaliese hosts a tea party for her three cousins and their sock monkeys. Nora, Nadine, and Nell Ann have a surprise for Annaliese … their mother gave their sock monkeys away!… Read More
A Recipe is a Story
One of the great pleasures of this past summer has been rereading the works of Pat Conroy, a quintessential storyteller and one of my favorite authors of adult fiction. The Water is Wide, The Great Santini, The Lords of Discipline, The Prince of Tides, and Beach Music hold a special place in my heart, and… Read More
Food!
Writers enjoy including food in our books. We’re often hungry while we’re writing! The opportunity to describe food so well that the reader can taste it is one of the fun parts of writing! This month, I’ll be sharing recipes from my books and other cookbooks I love. In Tango: The Tale of an Island… Read More
Happy Independence Day, America!
To celebrate, this poem by Emma Lazarus, “The New Colossus,” is apropos for our times. Written in 1883, Lazarus was determined to help raise funds for the pedestal on which the Statue of Liberty stands. Today, her poem is inscribed on that pedestal. Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride… Read More