When I’m mulling over my writing, my garden always provides inspiration (story-wise and writer-life-wise). With several stories in different phases, I tend to take time outside to sort things out. Lately, my garden inspiration comes from my camellias. Three plants, all different species. Over the last few months, I’ve watched the tiny buds forming. Little by…
Category: Writing
The Eyes Have It
Photo by Scott Van Daalen on Unsplash To better understand the finer points of social media marketing, I’m taking a class to learn how to optimize my writing business. Our first assignment is to read and discuss a case study involving the online prescription eyeglass company Warby Parker. How did a group of classmates change…
Finding A New Way Through the Fog
Photo by Patrick Hendry on Unsplash I remember living in Fresno and driving to work in our “Tule Fog.” It was so thick I couldn’t see more than a foot beyond the hood. I couldn’t see the lanes, the stoplights, or discern intersections. The only way to cross a street was to open the windows…
Fear and Pursuing Your Dreams
I’ve suffered from panic anxiety for over 40 years. That means two-thirds of my life has been consumed with fearing things that might never happen. Feeling that like death was right at my door, I got good at staying inside my comfort zone and preparing for any What If? that came up. While I have…
Author Spotlight: Brent Gill
(Originally posted January 7, 2019) I’m chatting with Brent Gill about his newly published middle-grade novel, Fire on Black Mountain. Before we get started, congratulations on your book! This is a major accomplishment. Thank you so much, Joan. It sure feels like a major accomplishment to me. It has been a five-year process. It’s quite an experience…