Dear Kids and All Readers, I set a goal for January 2023: On New Year’s Day, I would begin writing Book 5 in my Botanic Hill Detectives Mysteries series. The day came and went. For various reasons–still in a holiday mood; more research needed; hot chocolate is ready?–I had not written one word of Chapter…
Dear Kids and All Readers, This is the time of year when many of us pause and reflect on the end of another year. The joys and sorrows of 2022 have been washing over me the last two weeks as I holiday shop, send cards, and wrap gifts. Mainly, I am filled with abundant gratitude…
Dear Readers, You know the scene: You attend a holiday gathering and find children you see only this time of year or who are new to you. What do you say to break the ice with the younger set? In Katherine’s article “Beyond ‘You’re So Cute’: Thirty Questions to Ask Little Girls This Holiday Season”…
Hello, Readers, As we get ready for Thanksgiving in the USA, our thoughts increasingly turn to FOOD as we plan the feast: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, and . . . Spam? This week, I have found myself thinking about Hawaiian food, including Spam, no doubt in light of Saffron Street: Island Danger, recently released and set…
Dear Readers, Did you see the news today about the “2022 Word of the Year”? It’s been chosen by the U.K.-based Collins Dictionary. In fact, its top ten words of the year have a definite theme: “the ongoing crisis the world is facing.” Some don’t pay much attention to these yearly “contests,” but this year’s…
Dear Kids and All Other Halloween Revelers, Some people do or do not celebrate Halloween for religious reasons. Regardless, many people love Halloween, and I am no exception. Did you know that there are important scientific reasons to celebrate Halloween? Embracing and celebrating scary things in life could compel us to make some beneficial changes…
Hi, All Readers, and Happy October! This month, culminating in Halloween, seems perfect for discussing creepy feelings! One, in particular . . . Have you ever experienced deja vu? That’s French for “already seen”–a perhaps paranormal sensation that you’ve experienced the same exact situation before, even though that’s impossible? If you have, you’re in good company.…
Hello, Kids, Readers, and Tennis Fans, I am saddened by the news that my favorite tennis player Roger Federer is retiring from competitive tennis tomorrow, September 23, following his last match in the Laver Cup, which is happening in London this weekend. Roger started his professional career in 1998 at the age of 17 and…
Dear Readers, Horse Lovers, and/or Admirers of the late Queen Elizabeth II, Here is a heartwarming story from the New York Times by Jenny Gross, dated September 12, 2022, that I thought might be as interesting to you as it was to me. Mr. Monty Roberts, an eighty-seven-year-old legendary horse trainer from California, has special reasons to…
Dear Kids and All Readers, I think it’s safe to say that all kids love birthdays. I mean, cake and presents! What’s not to like? My attitude is that birthdays are important because they beat the alternative, so light those candles and enjoy that cake. Did you know that certain birthdates occur much more frequently…
