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Tales from the Kitchen: Melted Chocolate Heart Brownies
One of the scenes in the YA novel I’m currently working on features a batch of warm, melt-in-your-mouth brownies fresh from the oven. Writing that scene made me crave them, so naturally, I had to make a batch in real life. Valentine’s Day seemed like the perfect excuse. After all, what novel involving growing teens…
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Angels on the Ceiling
A Christmas Bonus Excerpt from my novel Misty Dreams, Chapter 4. 🎄✨ Manhattan, Christmas Eve Richard Kelly had never been a believer. At least, not since he was five years old and still believed Santa Claus was a kindhearted old man from the North Pole who traveled the world bringing gifts to children. Angels, to…
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Tales from the Kitchen: Blueberry and Raspberry Cake
Nothing says October like pumpkin, apples, and spices, right? Wrong. Well, at least not for everyone. If you’re like me, who prefers a little tanginess to cakes, blueberries and raspberries are your go-to fresh ingredients. There’s no right or wrong season for baking with fresh berries—or frozen ones, for that matter. With the long summer…
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WINDBLOWN IN LIVORNO: A short story
(A short story loosely inspired by real-life events) Glimpsing her distorted reflection in the polished brass railing, Bianca wanted to cry. Or scream. Preferably both. Out on the Europa’s main deck, surrounded by crowds of passengers, she felt painfully conspicuous, convinced almost every eye was trained on her horrendous hair. She resisted the urge to…
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THE FORGOTTEN LETTER: A Short Story
Image from Unsplash Summers are always busy for me, and writing often takes a back seat. But every now and then, a memory or feeling surfaces, and I find myself racing to the keyboard. This story is purely fictional, though inspired by memories of my mother. I lingered in the entryway, clutching the ring of…
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WRITING LIFE: Excerpt
I’m excited to share another excerpt of my work-in-progress, the Misty Dreams prequel. This scene is written from the perspective of twelve- and thirteen-year-old Richard and Tony. I hope you enjoy this glimpse into their world! Shards of golden light from the low-hanging sun burst between the tall buildings, casting a warm orange glow over…
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Tales from the Kitchen: Pecan Butter Balls
Pecan balls are my go-to cookie when I need something quick, easy, and delicious, especially when I’m short on time and want to show up with something homemade. They’re buttery, nutty, and basically melt in your mouth. Plus, they only take a handful of ingredients. I made a batch recently to take to a friend…
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THE MEMORY KEEPER – A Short Story
My short story, The Memory Keeper, received an Honorable Mention in the Writers Weekly Spring 2025 short story contest. I hope you enjoy it! The breeze carried a sweetness that hit Marianne before the fairgrounds came into view, bringing back a rush of memories. She paused at the edge of the gravel lot and pulled…
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Tales From the Kitchen: In search of the lost Costco muffin
I’m dealing with a domestic crisis over here. Someone in my household (name withheld to protect the muffin-obsessed) developed an all-out love affair with Costco’s famous jumbo chocolate muffins—the kind where you paid for one pack and got two boxes of eight. Yup, past tense, because they’ve recently been discontinued. Cue full-blown panic. The replacements…
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From Notebooks to Keyboard: How I Wrote My Way Into the Digital Age
As a child I was fascinated by anything associated with the writing craft, from notebooks and pens, to keyboards. Even before I could identify it as my passion, I was enamored with writing. Back then, the personal computer was the stuff of science fiction. Typewriters were the real deal—bulky, mechanical beasts like the one in…
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