EDIT (2/13/22): This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for reading! *GIVEAWAY: Be sure to read all the way through for your chance to win a copy of The Seventh Sun by Lani Forbes!* It’s one of those things we writers tell each other a lot. Your words matter. Your story matters. Writing for publication is … Continue reading The Power of Story
Personal Essay
Fumbling for a New Normal
Monday, March 9. I pull up into the pickup zone at my kids' school and watch as my daughter trudges out to our van. Something's wrong--her face is pale, and she's frowning. My fears are confirmed when she climbs in. "I feel sick, Mom." Worry curdles in my stomach. She has a big week this … Continue reading Fumbling for a New Normal
Christmas Thoughts + New Interviews
The northern half of the world has turned a cold shoulder to the sun's cheery face and my home state of Michigan is bathed in wintery darkness. We rise to an artificial alarm nearly two hours before it will be light enough to bother opening the curtains. By the time we sit down for dinner, … Continue reading Christmas Thoughts + New Interviews
On Being a Writer Mom
My heart sinks as the whining coming from my son's room works its way into a full-blown wail. The little guy, who turns two next week, has a croupy cough—his second cold this month—and between the cough, the snotty nose, and being awake half the night, he’s apparently not interested in a nap either. I … Continue reading On Being a Writer Mom
‘Tis the Season for…
What jumped into your mind first? Harried holiday shoppers and annoyingly long lines? Endless renditions of Christmas songs on the radio? Overindulging on treats? Office parties and vacation days? Trying to squeeze one more activity into an already bulging schedule? It seems far too easy these days to let this special time of year devolve … Continue reading ‘Tis the Season for…
Giving Thanks, Plus NaNo Updates
My daughter came home from Sunday school last week with a paper she was excited to share. "Mom," she said, "we talked about being thankful at church." Then she read me the questions on her sheet, plus her answers: Think about your closet. How many shirts do you have? Sixty. (Just a wee bit high...but she … Continue reading Giving Thanks, Plus NaNo Updates
Late Summer Reflections
August can be a rough month. The heat reaches its peak, and here in Michigan, where people tenaciously cling to the false belief that it doesn't get hot enough to need an air conditioner, we sweat. Humidity rolls in off the lake, bringing along intermittent rain showers that manage to miss our yard entirely. The … Continue reading Late Summer Reflections
Pressing On
Remember how I said in an earlier post that the only to develop a thick skin is by experiencing rejection? Let's keep it real--it hurts, friends. And I'm not just talking to my fellow writers. We've all experienced failure and rejection in some form, haven't we? That special someone who turned you down. That time … Continue reading Pressing On
Kellie Michelle Parker 