Daring to Love Across the Color Line
I never set out to be a rebel, to shatter the social norms of 1960s Kentucky, but despite myself, that’s what I became: an accidental rebel. And I did so …
Escaping the Good Girl Trap
When I was young, my adoptive mom once announced in her Southern Mississippi drawl—and with lots of love—that she had one “store bought baby” (me) and one “homegrown baby” (Heather). …
Top Three Tips for Gifting the Perfect Book
Books have a unique way of touching our lives. They go beyond entertainment, often becoming trusted companions, thoughtful teachers, or even sources of solace during life’s toughest moments. For the …
Resiliency Yields Big Returns
Losing Control of Life’s Steering Wheel When you lose control of life’s steering wheel, you must stay resilient and trust you’ll come out whole on the other side. Sometimes you …
Chicago Style Guide’s 18th Edition Shows How Language Evolves
If you’re writing a book, you should know The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) is the standard editorial guide in book publishing. All professional editors refer to it as they …
Hunting for True Wealth
When I was younger, I thought money was freedom and happiness. The assumption that more money will make us happier is etched into our collective consciousness. It’s so basic that …
Your Home for the Holidays
Despite our poverty, my mother made Christmas special in our childhood home in North Carolina. She would scour the local Wal-Mart and dollar stores to create magnolia-themed Christmas trees and …
What Being Nonbinary Means to Me
The topic of gender identity has always fascinated me, but it’s become a thorny subject in our current social climate. Emotions are high, disinformation is everywhere, and real human lives …
The Importance of Show and Tell in Memoir
You’ve probably heard the writing advice “show don’t tell,” but both showing and telling are necessary. If you’re writing a memoir, you’ll need to determine when to inform readers (tell …
How Ambitious Women Can Have Successful Careers and Happy Families
As a child absorbing the rules of the patriarchal society and coming to understand what the derogatory term “bitch” meant, I learned as a girl that I should never be …