Knock-Out Hero I was at my niece's birthday party last week (her mom took the picture above), when a former student asked me, "Have you ever saved someone from drowning?" The young lady had just finished describing a rescue she'd witnessed. She'd felt helpless, unsure of her swimming abilities and unable to help a friend … Continue reading Knock-Out Hero
What the Twerk? I don't know how to process it. Last week, I chaperoned the local high school prom, and thing is, the kids weren't twerking. Not a one of them. Not at all. Not one booty bounce among the hundred-odd teens gathered on that dance floor, living it up. None. Instead, they were happy-dancing, … Continue reading What the Twerk?
Be Nice to the Trees, Or Else My short story "A Taste of Robins" won the 2025 Winter Hauntings competition, earning me a creepy doll and a hundred dollar award. Autumn Ware, the competition's creator (popping out behind me in the photo), claimed the hundred dollar bill was sewed up inside the doll. I am … Continue reading Be Nice to the Trees, Or Else
And the Cat Came Back On to the second pet-post to celebrate the publication of my essay "Pet Pack" in Next Chapter LitMag and a definite-maybe from Chicken Soup from the Soul: What I Learned from my Dog, for my essay "Rebel Heart." Fingers crossed, ya'll. Now let's talk cats. But first, a full disclosure: … Continue reading And the Cat Came Back
Lizardo In honor of Next Chapter Literary Magazine publishing my essay "Pet Pack" in their upcoming issue, I'd like to kick off a series of pet posts. Let's start with my lizard, Lizardo. My brother won Lizardo in a dart game at the Seafood Festival when I was in high school. Lizardo was one of … Continue reading Lizardo
Ten Years with My Gingineer My husband and I are celebrating our ten-year wedding anniversary this week. How is that possible? I mean, our eight-year-old son is good evidence of our longstanding relationship, but it seems like just yesterday that I met the man of my dreams. Was it in a bar, you ask? At … Continue reading Ten Years with My Gingineer
Broken In By Horses I was no more qualified to tend those fifteen horses than I was to write two novels, but I did it anyway, because I enjoyed it. Also, no one else was jumping for the job. It was poor pay and worse conditions - sweaty, stinky, sticky work (the horses, not the … Continue reading All the Horses
MAD About Comics The other day, my mother handed me a Hartman suitcase she'd found in her attic. Even without opening it, I knew exactly what lay within that smooth leather treasure box. My comics once lived at my father's house, in the top two drawers of my dresser. When I left for college, those … Continue reading MAD About Comics
Hot Writer Summer It's been a month since I last posted. You deserve better, readers. But let me tell you what you've missed: It's summer. In coastal NC. It's hot. The kids are home and every thought is interrupted by someone yelling, "Mom, this remote control won't work!" or "Stop touching me!" (that was me). … Continue reading Hot Writer Summer
Meeting My Role Model As the school year wraps up, I'd like to reflect on my first year of substitute teaching. It's been interesting. I've mostly taught at the primary school, since my kids are there. Despite eleven years as a high school teacher, I was not ready for "the littles," especially Kindergartners. My first … Continue reading Meeting My Role Model
Jessi Waugh Writer 