Disenchanted Peace

More than anything— other than living a writer’s life— I dreamed of becoming a famous actress. Fame was essential. It was the only level of validation that would prove to my family I wasn’t a self-serving wastrel. I studied the craft, auditioned, performed, and I...

Writing Voodoo

January 20, 1980 was Super Bowl Sunday. I spent the day moving into the thirteenth floor of a dormitory on the campus of Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, Illinois, where my ex-husband was in pursuit of his MA in geology. In addition to his studies, he was...

BIG MAGIC’s Magic

If you’ve managed to avoid, or have not yet reached the senior moments in life, you may recall how I was kidnapped by Chuck Palahniuk. His memoir, Consider This, is a must read for any writer with a desire to extract the cement from their writing. One of my goals for...

I’m With Woody— Apropos of Nothing

I’m not political. My interest in politics only developed during the 2016 presidential campaign. The only reason that happened was because of the moral crisis our country was facing and has yet to rebound from. I’m not an activist. Although I admire those who are and...