Feast!

 Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, Oct 7:  Was any human being closer to Jesus than Mary? As our Mother and His, Mary can help us learn more about Jesus and the sacred mysteries. She was the first one who “pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19 RSV).  Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us!

Saint of the Day

(We pray with saints, because they are the special friends of God and can help us obtain the graces we need to help us on our earthly pilgrimage back to Him.)

Therese of Lisieux, Oct. 1: Was the path to holiness easy for Therese because she lived in a convent? As she writes in her Story of a Soul about her difficulties, she offers a lot of encouragement and hope to the rest of us. Many devotees (myself included) testify that she answers the novena addressed to her with roses. St. Therese, Little Flower of Jesus, help us to abandon ourselves to Jesus with childlike trust, and to love Him with all our hearts.

September Giveaway!

This is my first ever "giveaway" on Facebook -- copies of my latest book "John of the Smiles" on Audible, thanks to my publisher, New City Press!  All we ask is a review (also on Audible) once you've finished the book...

April Fun

This past week I was able to attend a writing workshop (in my own backyard), and have two school visits, thanks to the help of two authors in my critique group. Thank you, my friends.  (It pays to network, and to have a critique group.)

Children are so precious and beautiful.  It was my privilege and a great joy to read to them.

Forging Ahead in February

I took the plunge and sent an (extensively revised) article about Crater Lake to a children's magazine, also sent the revised picture book about Our Lady of Guadalupe to a Catholic publisher. Submitted a short poem ("Ode to Menopause") to a humorous poetry contest, too. Will I get rejections in March/April? Could be. Meanwhile, working on other projects.

Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.
– E. L. Doctorow

A Mystery of My Writing Life

Whenever I'm the most excited and think that a manuscript is great and ready to go, it still needs a lot of work. Whenever I'm hesitant and unsure that the manuscript will appeal to anyone, it's deemed good (and sometimes published). Something similar happened frequently when I took exams in school. When I thought I aced it, I got only an average grade. When I thought I bombed, I did well or at least much better than I expected.

Can anyone explain this to me?  I'm confused...

Comforts on an Icy Day

Fireplace, fleece-lined slippers, Ghirardelli mocha hot cocoa, warm words in favorite books.