My Newest Article: Chisholm Trail Heritage Center

Oklahoma Living Magazine just published my article on Chisholm Trail Heritage Center. You can read the article on their website (pg. 14-15).

Published Dec. 2013

Going Back to School

My article, Going Back to School With My Kids, was featured in the Old Schoolhouse Magazine this month. You can read it for free online.

This is the last article I have written for this magazine. I have one more article coming out in December for another magazine; then I am taking a writing break. With some much of my time devoted to teaching at Cornerstone, I just can't find the time to write. Once I get my curriculum "perfected," I'll start writing for publication again.

Latest Article - Three Ways to Mentor an Entrepreneur

If you have kids who are interested in starting a business, you won't want to miss the September-October issue of Old Schoolhouse Magazine. It's filled with helpful  information AND I have an article in there! I hope you will check it out.

Another Article Published-Girl Power

My article, Power and Wisdom, was published in the August issue of Oklahoma Living Magazine.

For this article, I traveled down to Chandler, OK, where they held the Girl Power/Wise Guys Conference, a one-day workshop for 5th graders in Lincoln County. It was a lot of fun watching the kids learn about all types of occupations as well as getting tips on safety.

You can read the whole story on page 20 of the August 2013 issue.

Article Published - God's Big Blue Supermarket

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine just published my article, God's Big Blue Supermarket (June 2013). This was a fun article to write as I directed it more to students. My goal was to help them see the value of our ocean and its inhabitants.

You can read the article in its entirety on The Old Schoolhouse Magazine website, along with other excellent articles written especially for home educators.

I hope yo enjoy it!

Life Changes Things

Life changes. Every year that I get older, it seems as if I have a new adjustment to make. Now that I'm working and being Bill's chauffeur, it seems I am having to adjust my writing schedule to accommodate it. For the past two years, I've enjoyed writing for Oklahoma Living Magazine, but, unfortunately, this type of writing requires me to travel and interview people. I don't have the time to do that now that I'm tutoring, except for in the summer. Because of that, I was forced to give up some of the assignments that I had for the upcoming year - a big disappointment.

However, as I sat thinking about it and feeling sorry for myself, I said, "Self, what other kind of writing could you do at home in the middle of the night and in between your other responsibilities?" I realized that I could write on spec about topics that I can research at home - no travel or interviewing. I could also work on my mystery and/or children's books that have been sitting in my files. So, that's what I've decided to do.

First, I sent off some queries for magazine articles I could write at home in the middle of the night. I got four assignments!

Next, I pitched an idea to the kids in my writing class about an extra assignment - writing the novel. If any of them take me up on it, we'll form an online critique group and work on our stories together. We're going to use the book, "Seize the Story: A Handbook for Teens Who Like to Write" by Victoria Hanley. We'll work through this chapter by chapter throughout the school year. We'll critique each other and I'll help them learn about the publishing business (as much as I know) and maybe even take them to some writer's workshops.

So, the bottom line is this:

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” -Maria Robinson

Rob's Ranch is online!

You can read my latest article about Rob's Ranch on the Oklahoma Living magazine website.

Click on the digital magazine and scroll to page 12: Rob's Ranch: Where Hope Begins.   

Exchange Students

This month, I'm working on an article about exchange students in Oklahoma. I loved this assignment! I got to interview students from China, Italy, Spain and Montenegro. It was so fun hearing about their adventures in the United States and learning something about their culture at the same time.

They shared some of the fun things they did, what they learned here and how they interacted with their host families. You won't want to miss this one! 

Look for Exchanging Cultures in Oklahoma Living Magazine in August 2012. I made the cover!

April Writing Project

In April, I traveled to Purcell, Oklahoma, to interview the staff and residents of Rob's Ranch for an article that will be published in June issue of Oklahoma Living Magazine.

I was really impressed with this organization. They provide a long-term treatment program for men with alcohol and drug addiction. If you know someone who needs help, I highly recommend this organization.

I'll post a link to the article when it's available.

New Article-Retirement: Time to Ham it Up!

My latest article, Retirement: Time to Ham it Up, was published in the May 2012 issue of Oklahoma Living Magazine.

You can read the entire issue on the company's website (May 2012 issue, page 30-31) or just my story on my website. 

Interviewing Billie Letts

Billie Letts

Yesterday, I had the privilege of interviewing Billie Letts, author of Where the Heart Is, The Honk and Holler Opening Soon, Shoot the Moon, and Made in the U.S.A. For those of you not familiar with her work, Where the Heart Is was selected for Oprah Winfrey's Book Club, and it was made into a movie starring Natalie Portman and Stockard Channing. 

Billie is as gracious as she is talented. I must admit I was a bit nervous interviewing someone so famous! In fact, I got halfway there, stopped at Barnes and Nobles to pick up my own copy of Where the Heart Is (I read a library copy.) and then realized I left all my interviewing notes at home! I ended up being 15 minutes late. I was mortified! I had no number to reach her other than her publicist, so I called that number and left a message; but I was sure when I got there, she would refuse to see me. But she didn’t. Instead, she graciously welcomed me in.
  
Interviewing Billie Letts is like going to a good movie. She’s adventurous, compassionate, and funny. She entertained me with stories about her own life and the lives of others who provide the inspiration behind her novels. She talked about her most treasured moments of being a famous author as being when she reads all the letters she receives from young girls who quit school but go back after reading her books. And, just when I thought she was getting serious, she'd pop out a sassy joke about herself. It was delightful. 

If you ever get a chance to interview Billie Letts, watch out! She will interview you back. Before I left, she found out as much about me as I did about her. I think she's looking for new characters for her next book!

NOTE: The article, "Best Author-Billie Letts," was published in the January 2011 edition of Oklahoma Living Magazine. It also including my review of Lake Tenkiller.