One Year Later. One More Book.
One Year Later: Meet Snugsquash June 18, 2026 A year ago, I sat in a meeting that changed my life. After more than five years with the company, I was told my position was being outsourced. I remember hearing the words “it’s not because of your performance,” but that...🌿Somewhere Between Sticks, Squirrels, and a Book Release
🌿 Lately, life has looked less like “children’s author” and more like “Granny versus yard debris.” I swear I picked up sticks for hours. I’d clear one area, turn around, and somehow it looked like I had never even been there. At...Finishing Book 3 Between Painting Pots & Backyard Chaos
Trying to finish Book 3… While preparing for the barbecue/car show… While working on the yard… While cleaning the house… While organizing life… All while my brain runs around like a group of squirrels holding tiny clipboards shouting: 🐿️“DON’T FORGET THE ISBN PAGE!”...The Messy Middle…and Magic Moments in Maui
My blog today comes from a place of gratitude, reflection, and~ if I’m being honest, a foggy head from a cold that decided to tag along after I got home.(🐿️ She’s dramatic. It’s a cold, not the plague.) My daughter and Paul’s wedding in Maui was everything I hoped it...When Memories Turn Into Stories
Some of the best stories don’t start on paper. They start in real life. This week brought back one of those moments that makes me smile every single time I think about it. 🦨 The Spring Skunk Made Another Visit The Spring Skunk made his second appearance, sneaking...🌧️ Modo and Jiblet Update, April Fools’ Shenanigans, Kid’s Creativity, and Squirrel Renovations 🐿️
It’s been a full week over here ~ books, brownies-that-aren’t-brownies, coloring pages, and a home improvement project for the squirrels. So let’s jump in. Modo and Jiblet: The Stormy Day ~ Paperback is Here! I’m excited to share that the paperback edition of Modo...The Squirrel Committee Had Other Plans Today 🐿️
I started today with a simple plan: yard work.Clean things up. Fix a few things. Maybe even feel a little productive for once. (🐿️ If she doesn’t lift her head from that iPad soon, we’re installing a posture alarm. Don’t test us.) There’s an old wooden martin...
Challenge Accepted… and the Art of Paying Attention
(🐿️A Book, Some Boundaries, and the Squirrel Committee) There’s a moment when you realize you may have said something a little too confidently. For me, that moment sounded like: “Challenge accepted.” My husband casually suggested, “Why don’t you do another book before...Sometimes the Loudest Anger Starts as Quiet Hurt There’s something I’ve learned about people, especially in families. Sometimes the anger people see today didn’t start today. Sometimes it started years ago ~ when someone felt left out, pushed aside, or forgotten, and...
The Messy Middle: When Life Reminds You to Be Prepared Some lessons don’t come from books ~ they come from the moments that catch us off guard. This week has been one of those reminders that life doesn’t wait until we feel ready. The paperback version of Modo and...
When the Launch Doesn’t Go As Planned
(🐿️ Parentheses = us. The Squirrel Committee. We comment on everything.) So here’s the funny little twist I didn’t expect. After fixing files, resizing pages, arguing with the KDP previewer, questioning my life choices, and clicking buttons that looked like they...🐿️ A Small Interruption from the Squirrel Committee
Hear ye, hear ye! Gather round, humans ~ the squirrels have something to say. We noticed she’s been trying very hard to figure out how to introduce us properly in the blog. Apparently, readers are supposed to understand why random squirrels keep showing up in...Book Chaos Update
Welcome to the inside of my head ~ Please keep your hands inside the ride! Well hello. Yes, I am alive. Yes, I still have a book. Yes, it has been quiet since February 18th. (🐿️This blog was supposed to be posted days ago!) In my defense, I’ve been...The Illustrator Saga, the Closet Studio, and My Questionable Sanity
I’ve officially finished the illustrations ~ yes, my illustrations ~ and I’m moving on to the next step. A small part of me feels guilty because I’ve been laser‑focused on getting this book across the finish line as fast as humanly possible. But honestly, every time I...