Moments that make me realize I should make a bigger deal of the books I've published. Incident Number One In the staff room at school, two colleagues—part of our school’s mental health initiative for youth and staff—were chatting about which books to choose for a staff book club. I was filling my water bottle at... Continue Reading →
Team Building in the Mornings
David and I are committed to the time we’ve set aside and we meet most mornings—barring the occasional event. For example, I recently had parent-teacher interviews and had to leave for school at the time I would normally be meeting with David. We always start with a “hello” and “good morning,” then ask how the... Continue Reading →
Let Me Explain
When I first started blogging, I had no idea what my focus would be. I read all the advice — endless lists of what I should do: find a niche, choose a category, define a purpose. Travel blog, wellness blog, creative blog — the suggestions blurred together. I didn’t know how that focus would find... Continue Reading →
A Note on the Risk Vs. Reward of Honesty
I have readers overseas. My cousin is one of them. She got a copy of My List, My Rules last year (tap the title to check it out), and this year while I was visiting, we chatted about it. She loved it—I’m glad. But she also asked a very interesting question that no one else... Continue Reading →
Look Up
I was leaving school. It had been a long day. There was a lot of cleanup and correcting to do in the art studio at this old school. The burden of my backpack reminded me I still had work to finish. I pushed open the door, having spent the entire day inside. A warm breeze... Continue Reading →
Coming Back Again and Again
I’ve lived a life full of pauses—gaps between experiences. Friends scattered across the world I wouldn’t see for years. Weeks away from home, then returning to my people. Long breaks from work—the nature of teaching means stepping away from the building, the students, the rhythm. And every time, I’d feel a bit nervous about the... Continue Reading →
The Midwife of Venice
I found The Midwife of Venice by Roberta Rich in a free little library at a nearby lake. Inside, I discovered it was an official book for BookCrossing.com—something I didn’t even know existed until that moment. For anyone new to the term, BookCrossing is a community of book lovers who leave books in public places... Continue Reading →
A Well Loved Book
Taking care I loved books so dearly that I read them while keeping them in pristine condition. I was careful about where I read, and if a book ventured out into the world with me, it traveled safely in a Ziploc bag. They often looked untouched. To me, they were tender storytellers, and I treated... Continue Reading →
Save the Bees
I have a peony bush in my backyard with about fifteen giant, soft-pink blooms. Every morning on my way to the car, I stop to sniff them—because really, isn’t that the best way to start the day? It's the small things in life One morning, I leaned in toward the biggest blossom. Peonies aren’t just... Continue Reading →
April 23rd is World Book Day
Did you know that?Well, now you do. I came across a post from Mikro Karavaki Bookstore (Little Ship Bookstore) today on Facebook. I follow them—they’re based in Greece and always manage to stop me in my scroll with their thoughtful posts and beautifully curated images. There's something intentional and eye-catching about their aesthetic. I’m drawn... Continue Reading →