If you know my family history, you’re aware I’ve only been a parent since 2018. Well, I was a stepdad until 2023, when I adopted my wife’s daughter Lauren, making it legally, in the words of the judge who signed the paperwork and presided over the lovely ceremony that took place in the courtroom, as […]
So Much For Which To Be Thankful
I’m substituting today in a sophomore English classs. In preparation for reading John Steinbeck’s The Pearl, we’re watching a video on the history of pearls. While the students watch and fill out a study guide, I have some time to myself. Happily, these kids are terrific, so I can do some writing. And so here we […]
I’m Gonna Be On The Radio!
I’m so excited! The Last Train To Glen Alum debuts tonight! What is Glen Alum? I’m glad you asked! It’s a small town in Mingo County, West Virginia. It’s also the location of an infamous train robbery that took place in 1914. A group of masked desperados robbed the local train as it was transporting […]
Review of THE GIFT OF THE MAGPIE by Donna Andrews
As I am having a go at writing a cozy mystery, I thought it wise that I read as many as I can just to get a feel for the genre. But I didn’t know where to start, so I went to my trusty Libby app and searched for cozies. It had been my intent […]
A Cat Named Tater Salad?!
It was fewer than 400 words. Barely a page. But I’ve begun my first cozy mystery. I honestly have no idea where it’s going yet. At this point, I’m just introducing characters, getting to know the setting. Regardless, it’s a start and I’m excited to see where the story takes me. I’m also excited to […]
A Change In Direction
I’m going to be frank. I’ve been struggling to write lately. Specifically, I’ve been struggling to get myself to work on a new draft of my first Jamie and Pip Halloran Mystery, which I wanted to think of as a complete re-imagining of my old first book, Harsh Prey. It felt a little too much […]
Harlan Coben’s DEAL BREAKER
I discovered Harlan Coben by watching a couple series based on his books on Netflix. I liked them. They were fun and twisty, with good characters. So, I decided I wanted to read some of his books. I did some research and found that, while many of his books are stand-alones, he has a series […]
The Best Day of My Personal Life
I talked a couple weeks back about my best day professionally, so it makes sense that I talk about my best day personally. Folks who know me well could probably guess this, having heard this story about eleventy billion times, but I love thinking about it, so I’m going to tell the story again anyway. […]
Tips For a Good Marriage
As you may know, I recently performed the wedding of my daughter and newly minted son-in-law. It was an honor and a privilege and a blessing not just to be a part of the wedding, but to be allowed to speak from the heart as they started their voyage through life together. I was told […]
West Virginia Writers Conference Report
It’s a surprisingly cool morning here at my house for this time of year. I’m just praying the temperate conditions hold out until Saturday for my daughter’s wedding. As life is about to get pretty crazy for about 48 hours, I thought I’d take a few minutes and talk about the West Virginia Writers Spring […]