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Penny O’Neill isn’t a stranger here. You know her as Life on the Cutoff. Her comments are thoughtful delights.

When several Chicago area groups tapped my publicist for appearances, I must confess something embarrassing: I didn’t land enough gigs to justify the trip. Two committed groups fell through with no explanation. And from my expanded speaking experience, I knew what remained wouldn’t cover my expenses, even if every soul in attendance bought both books.

That never, ever happens.Continue Reading

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I haven’t talked about my novel in months. Because, HELLO? New bright, shiny objects obliterate old, tired tomes. Promoting Not Without My Father is all-consuming. The first ninety days of a book are make-or-break.

So why am I wasting an entry to mention To Live Forever: An Afterlife Journey of Meriwether Lewis? My sad, lonely little novel virtually nobody is reading?

Well.

I got this e-mail message.Continue Reading

just like me

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When my friend Josie Abrams messaged me on Facebook, she made an unusual request. “My daughter wants to be like you.”

?

??

How could a child I’ve never met want to be like me???

Josie and I graduated from Leadership Charleston in 1999. I didn’t see her much in the years between then and now. When I saw her on Facebook, I friended her, because she was one of those people.

You know those people.
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