As promised, we’re starting something new today! One of the great things about the publication process is how many other authors I get to “meet.” We all hear about the big, flashy books by big-name authors, but there are a host of gems we as readers may never even hear of. I’m seeing a lot…
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I am a write-at-home mom, composer, choir director, natural family planning teacher and budding disability rights activist--why yes, in fact I do have my hands full.
A little fun for Epiphany week
Normally, my husband’s and my choir does a “Farewell to Christmas” concert on Epiphany Sunday. Of course, in COVID era, we haven’t had choir, so our family decided to do the concert ourselves via the church’s live stream so the tradition would remain unbroken. My parents watched the concert and when I talked to them…
Read MoreFive on a Friday
Here’s a heads-up for your early January: I’m starting something new! I’m going to start a new series called “Five on a Friday,” in which I’ll interview women’s fiction authors in five questions. Stay tuned–our first goes live on Friday, January 8th, when I’ll welcome Cara Sue Achterberg, whose new release, Blind Turn, releases that…
Read Morethe care and feeding of the soul in a time of pandemic
For years, I have endeavored to make December—Advent—all about the soul. It’s going to be busy, but that doesn’t mean it has to be harried. Advent is a time to turn inward and till and fertilize and basically make my heart fertile ground for the presence of God. This search for stillness has been part…
Read MoreCarpool Karaoke, Elementary School Style
The scene: the after-school carpool, yesterday. The characters: A second grade girl and a third grade boy who are totally inseparable, except when they’re screaming at each other. Today they’re not screaming, so they’re inseparable. Oh yes, and me. All of us masked, because COVID. Girl: “Ooh, Mrs. Basi, you CAN play Story of My…
Read MoreGifts for Readers
2020 has been a reading year for me–more great books than I could possibly share. But I thought, since it’s gift-giving season, I’d share six of the books that have really stuck with me from my reading this year. How To Walk Away (Katherine Center) is a gorgeous, hope-filled, uplifting story that follows a woman…
Read MoreCOVID dreams
I’ve been having COVID dreams lately. This didn’t happen to me for the first six or seven months. I often laid awake feeling great anxiety, but I didn’t dream about it. But I am now. The first time, I dreamed that the church choir I lead all got together on Wednesday night as usual, no…
Read MoreTaking On The Emotional Baggage Of My Children
When I stopped blogging frequently a few years ago, it was for two reasons. The first was that it took a lot of time, and I couldn’t justify it any longer. The kids were getting older, having more activities, and more directly professional commitments needed to take priority in what time I had for writing.…
Read MoreThe fulfillment of dreams and the start of the next adventure
I have been writing fiction since I was in the second or third grade. I began by writing fan fiction in the back of the school bus with my second cousin. I wrote about Annie. She wrote about E.T. We wrote poetry, too. Mine was bad. I started writing original stories not long after that.…
Read MorePandemics, Special Ed, and Rolling With the Punches
Generally, I would say I’m pretty good at rolling with the punches. Fifteen-plus years of parenthood has taught me to make good plans. It’s also taught me to be flexible, because plans usually get shredded. But simply having one allows me to know the parameters and priorities, which, when plans do get shredded, leaves me…
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