Holiday fun. And short story audio available!

Writing update. My lesson from Groot. What I’m reading and discussion of when to stop reading a book you’re not enjoying. Gifts for writers and readers.

How my short story came about - getting a little personal. More holiday gifts for readers and writers. New Onyx podcast. Book review: It Happened One Summer.

Discussion of worth. Book review. Gifts for readers & writers.

Discussion of the inspiring quotes from WriterFest in Nashville.

Today, I’m talking about my writing updates, including an upcoming holiday short story (for newsletter subscribers only), book review: Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood, heat levels in romantic fiction, and the coziest PJ pants to gift for the holidays.

A great way to handle your tasks and stress. Book review: Beth O’Leary’s The Flatshare. Ways to help the homeless: care bags. The best way to cook bacon.

Evaluating patterns in the past can help you avoid repeating them in the future.

The impact of words. Thoughts on friendship. A tea recipe to share with your book club (Hot fruit tea. Yum!) And a book review: The Road Trip by Beth O’Leary.

What to do when the to-do list tries to kill you. New Onyx short story podcast. A story about shoes.

Do you talk about your problems? Does mindfulness enhance your life? Book review: The No Show by Beth O’Leary. Do you judge a book by its cover: a new way to pick your next book.

Don’t let anything stop you.

Nothing.

Not your own fear and doubt or pride.

Not the lies you tell yourself about yourself.

We get used to the hustle and bustle of life, and it’s so easy to take the small things for granted or let them go unnoticed. We tend to focus on what we don’t have or what we can’t do or what hasn’t happened yet.

The temptation to feel sorry for yourself. The dangers of doing so. My encounter with a centipede. How to combat self-pity so it doesn’t stop you from getting what you want. And find books set in your area.

The influence of habits and attitude on day to day life.

How being vulnerable can enhance your life, using the example of character creation in fiction.

Refreshing your pattern by adding in something new.

How you look at criticism and instruction can either break you or hone your skill.

When you need to trim some things in life so you flourish.

When you’re dealing with the in-between times, but haven’t made it there yet.