We’ve reached the point of the year where conferences send out award nomination forms to attending authors and fans and where readers, recovering from holiday festivities, are ready to settle down with an enjoyable read. I don’t have a “published in 2025” novel to beg you to nominate or buy. Rather, because of my husband’s […]

Rituals are about creating space in time, in our surroundings, and in our own minds. They give us a sense of predictability while still leaving room for creativity and flexibility. Something I already understood during my teaching career, where routine was the backbone of every successful day. When I began my second act as a […]

Keep breathing. That’s what I told myself despite the immense pain radiating through my chest and shoulders. I hadn’t expected to come out of surgery and feel like I was being crushed alive. The nurse thought I was exaggerating. After consulting with my doctor over the phone, and ignoring my plea-“I have a high pain […]