Ohioana!

I just found out I've been accepted for the 2011 Ohioana Book Festival! This is a special event that increases awareness of Ohio writers. I'll be there to meet people and sign my books. The festival is May 7 in Columbus, Ohio. More info to come!

Goodness Graces! Ten Short Stories about the Sacraments

Writing this collection of stories about the sacraments was quite a challenge! I wanted to help kids learn about and appreciate the sacraments in a fun, non-preachy way. So I tried to create realistic characters with problems middle grade readers could understand. Instead of lecturing, I tried to make one of the sacraments a natural part of each story, showing how it gave the main character strength and brought him or her closer to God. Some of the stories are humorous; some are serious. Hopefully, kids will find them fun to read and relevant to their own lives!

Missed It!

I drive a ’94 Camry. It’s been a good car: few repairs, pretty decent mileage, dependable and comfortable. Recently I noted that the odometer was getting close to the 200,000 mark. Wow! I thought. What a milestone! I planned to wait until the odometer was about to turn and get my husband to join me in the car as I drove past the magic number. How fun would that be? But one day I looked down and saw that the odometer was at 200,187. I had gotten so distracted by my busy life that I missed the big moment!
Okay, a changing odometer isn’t a big deal, but I had to wonder – what else have I missed? Like what happened to the summer? We have a lovely deck, but I sat out there and relaxed only a few times the whole season. And the fall? Well, that’s practically gone, too. I guess it was beautiful, but who noticed? And couldn’t I have spent less time dashing from task to task and more time actually talking to people, enjoying family and friends, appreciating my life?
The years are clicking by faster than the miles on my odometer. If I don’t pull over to look at the view now and then, I’m going to miss everything that matters.

Christmas is coming!

And it'll be here before you know it! Pauline Books and Media has a nice seasonal book out -- Celebrate the Season! Twelve Short Stories for Advent and Christmas. It's a great book for kids 8-12. You can check it out at http://www.pauline.org/. And, YES, I have some stories in that book!

On the Radio

I had my first ever radio interview this morning on The Catholics Next Door. It was fun, but it went by in a flash! Greg and Jennifer were so nice which was great because I was nervous. (Thanks, you guys!!) I'd love to get feedback from anybody who listened to the broadcast -- I can use your suggestions!

Radio Interview!

I'm being interviewed on the radio! Tune in to The Catholics Next Door on Sirius 159/XM 117 about 11:20 this Thursday (October 21) to hear me talk about my books. (I think there may be a podcast on the website later for those who don't have satellite radio.) The Catholics Next Door are Greg and Jennifer Willits. Their fun program is about all kinds of things -- marriage, kids, pop culture, everyday life, etc. I'm looking forward to talking to them!

It's Time for Books by the Banks!

Books by the Banks, a great book festival, is tomorrow, 10-4 at the Duke Energy Center in Cincinnati. Admission is free, but you'll probably want to buy some books! There will be lots of authors there to autograph their books as well as speakers, a kids' area, etc. Check out the website for more information. Hope to see everybody there!