Nature: An Unrequited Love As Valentines approaches, I'd like to declare my undying and unrequited love for nature. Nature, of course, doesn't care about me. Red in tooth and claw and all. But, like other quasi-relationships I've known, a lack of reciprocity doesn't phase me. This love for nature has now led me into the … Continue reading Nature: An Unrequited Love
Tag: southern
For the Love of Trees
I'm a finalist in the January 29th Winter Hauntings competition for my short story "Taste of Robins." This is exciting, as I was also a finalist last year and am hoping this time, I'll win. Winter Hauntings required ghost stories of 1300 words or less, with a Carteret County connection. My entry from last year, … Continue reading For the Love of Trees
Ten Years with My Gingineer
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
A Farewell to Horses
A Farewell to Horses So far, readers, you've met Phoenix, Sugar, the three paint mares, and the mustang. But that's only six horses out of fifteen. In this last post, let's visit the other nine horses and find out why I left them. Behind Horace's barn was a stately black draft gelding and a gray … Continue reading A Farewell to Horses
All the Horses
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
Horace of the Horses
Horace of the Horses I met Horace beside a sewer pipe. It was a brand new sewer pipe; Horace was connecting it to my house, digging its trench with his backhoe. When work was done for the day, I offered him a smoothie, since I'd just made one for myself. And by smoothie, I mean … Continue reading Horace of the Horses
Hot Writer Summer
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
Who Stole My Meat?
Who Stole My Meat? I'm halfway through writing a post about comic books, and it's an important topic, to be sure, and I promise I'll get to it soon, but right now, I have something more urgent to share: One time, someone stole all our meat. I'd forgotten about it - let bygones be bygones, … Continue reading Who Stole My Meat?
Prayer for Judgement
Prayer for Judgement I got pulled over last week for running a stop sign in my neighborhood, where a police officer had been sitting all week, waiting for someone to run that stop sign. Since I knew he was there, I didn't run the stop sign. Also, I don't run stop signs. He said I … Continue reading Prayer for Judgement
It’s Nothing
It's Nothing Main Street Rag Literary Magazine published my poem “It’s Nothing” this month in their Winter 2023 issue, bless their dear hearts. I hate to tell them, but “It’s Nothing” isn't literature. It's a poem about my old truck. I loved that truck, with a visceral and romantic love. What other reason could there … Continue reading It’s Nothing










