Middle of the Night Writing Exercise.

Thank you, San Francisco Writers’ Grotto for the writing prompt and to my friend, Jane, for the inspiration. Write a story in which each sentence will begin with a different letter of the alphabet, beginning with the letter A, and moving sequentially, i.e., B, C, D, and so forth. A single Cheeto lay on the stoop in front of my front door. Baffling and profoundly … Continue reading Middle of the Night Writing Exercise.

What item in your house are you most grateful for? (And why I picked Cheese Can.)

This was a writing prompt I came across while procrastinating on my latest WIP (work in progress). My book/WIP needs a warehouse filled with whiteboards and a medicated staff to untangle the discombobulated thought streams my brain shot out on the active storylines. So I thought this writing prompt might clear away the clutter in my brain. But the prompt says “item”. What’s an item? … Continue reading What item in your house are you most grateful for? (And why I picked Cheese Can.)

Email Marketing for Idiot Writers

First off, you’re probably not an idiot. So remind yourself of that often during your writing journey. Second, I wrote this while heavily intoxicated on a cocktail of binge-watching three seasons of House and then experiencing a total tech meltdown. Step into my cage of honesty and rage. You’ve been warned. I’m a writer. That’s really all I want to do. Write my stories. And … Continue reading Email Marketing for Idiot Writers

Farmville 2 Country Escape is Dangerous

To me. It began with a breezy launch. One day, my sweet adult daughter, whose head was constantly in her phone showed me what she was playing, and I downloaded the app too. Maybe it was my subconscious or my naturally devious thought process that had me do it, but either way, the lure of the game and enticement of tutoring me got my baby … Continue reading Farmville 2 Country Escape is Dangerous

Winter is Stupid. Foiled Girl’s Trip Makes Author Mad.

Those of you in warm climates may not understand, but life is generally more difficult during the winter months in Minnesota. A short story to support this bold yet oh-so-softly phrased statement is below. I’d planned a February girl’s trip to my lake house in northern Minnesota. The plan was for me and one bestie to get up there, crank up the heat, haul the … Continue reading Winter is Stupid. Foiled Girl’s Trip Makes Author Mad.

Reacher . . . My Boy is Back!

I just binge-watched all eight episodes of Reacher. It wasn’t my plan. I started watching at 7 pm, but I could NOT STOP. Finishing around 2 am, laughing and smiling with the last surprising scene of the amazing show, hubby George—who felt the same as me—turned off the lights and we went to sleep. Dreaming of Alan Ritchson wasn’t a bad way to pass the … Continue reading Reacher . . . My Boy is Back!

Animal Kingdom. A Freaking Rollercoaster I Can’t Get Off.

I feel nuts. I haven’t written anything in so long it’s making me crazy. Come on, Annabelle, that’s not the reason. I just finished binge-watching five freaking seasons of Animal Kingdom. And no—not Mutual of Omaha’s WILD Kingdom—the show from ancient times. And no—not the Disney show either. It’s the TNT drama. Be bloody aware—it’s like you’re a lion ripping-into-a-fresh-kill addicting. I couldn’t turn it … Continue reading Animal Kingdom. A Freaking Rollercoaster I Can’t Get Off.