People think writing is sexy. Lazing around in pjs. Sipping bourbon-spiked tea. Imagining fake people to life. Untold hours of bliss and leisure.

Well.

Writing is a dirty business. It takes a lot of meeting real people. Shaking hands and sharing germs. Giving book stump speeches. Being unflappable when people look you in the eye and lie.

Part of the Life of a Writer is signing up for showcase events over which I have no control.Continue Reading

Readers make writing worthwhile. While it would be great to be Neil Gaiman or Joyce Carol Oates, I’ll take MY readers.

Especially when they reach out and share what reading Not Without My Father meant to them.

Butte, Montana’s Sabrina Laitinen is one of those readers. She won my book in a Goodreads contest, but she got so much more.

Thank you, Sabrina, for reaching out to me! Notes like yours make this crazy life worth it.

How to Make a Memory, in Sabrina’s words:Continue Reading

darren hardy

Darren Hardy is more successful than I’ll ever be. Bestselling author. Founder of SUCCESS Magazine. The go-to guide for CEO’s and motivated entrepreneurs everywhere.

When casting around for Make a Memory ideas, I stumbled upon Darren. His tips are tailored toward family holiday gatherings, but they’re good year-round. Watch his short video to enhance your memory-making abilities.Continue Reading