Hello friends! Here is a link to the most recent episode of Shadows on the Sound, a podcast hosted by authors Camela Thompson and Z.D. Gladstone. (They're a lot of fun!) I visited their show and discussed the dark-yet-beautiful film Pan's Labyrinth. Warning: There are many spoilers for the movie's plot, as we discuss the film in details! There might also be a bit of adult…
Here it is! This is the glorious, beautiful cover design that will grace the front of my newest novel, which will be available in both print and ebook on October 15, 2015! Isn't it beautiful? My cover designer, Amalia Chitulescu is a very talented woman. There are many elements of the story woven into this cover design, but if I were to tell them to you,…
My Lebanese grandparents taught me to play Likha, a card game similar to Hearts, but with more ways to accidentally earn unwanted points, and no means to shoot the moon. They taught me to love Greek-style yogurt and spices with olive oil on pita bread for my breakfast. They taught me what lavish generosity looked like. They also taught my mother Middle Eastern hospitality, and she…
Blasts from the past have something to tell us, even when that something is embarrassing. I stumbled across at a photo taken at a party of mine from a few years ago. After bypassing the outrageous costumes we all were wearing, my current self cringed at the decorating choices of my past self as I studied the backdrop of the photo. To be fair, this particular…
Quick! Get as busy as you can! It will fix things! (This is a sure-fire sign that something is off) After almost nine months, I think the gloom has hit me again. I remember being depressed the first three or so months of George’s life because it was such a hard adjustment in lifestyle. And then, when I started to learn the ropes, I was so…
This week, I'm reviving the Friday Five where I briefly detail five things I've learned about life this week. 1. We learn to laugh in stages. I didn't know this was part of human development, but we actually don't laugh all at once! Right now, when I tickle George's belly, he gives off a couple grunts. He's not at the "peals of laughter" stage. It's hilarious…
After a long day at work, my husband was greeted by me: a vomiting machine crossed with an emotional basket case. You might think I’m exaggerating, but there are just some embarrassing scenes that are too awful to make up. At one point, my physical distress of morning sickness had peaked to such a humiliating level, I wept hysterically on the floor of our bathroom. As…
Dear Little One, I write this letter early in the morning light. It’s the day when I’ll find out a huge part of you. In the moments before I learn whether you’re a little boy or a little girl, I cradle my tummy and feel the warmth there. You’ve been keeping me up at night. Perhaps you get restless when I am restless. Can you feel…
There are about 8 zillion wonderful things my mom has done, and that's if I actually count them all. It's more than 8 zillion. Although I don't like Hallmark holidays, I do like reminders to say "thank you." And since I won't be able to see you in person for this Mother's Day, I want to thank you in front of everyone today, Mom. Surprise! I…
I met Marni Mann via twitter. You may have seen her guest post here a few weeks ago in the Because I Knew You series. Marni invited me over to her blog for an unusual interview-- she invented the funnest, most off-the-wall questions she could think of for my interview and sent them over. I laughed and got to work. If you're interested in learning a thing…