Over the years, I have bought various tools for playing with words—such as magnetic poetry kits and Haikubes. One year, I made my own kit by writing words on the back of tickets from a ticket roll. This week, I took out the Haikubes and left them on a counter in my office. My daughter had fun making...Read More

I’ve always been jealous of my friends who are visual artists. How I wish I could sketch and paint and collage my way through the day. I’m especially intrigued by those who create using found objects. They collect unique items and leftover junk and use it to create amazing art. How I wish I could...Read More

Yesterday I took a writer’s mini-retreat. Unfortunately, it was a 5-hour visit to the ER with my daughter. She’s fine. I’m tired. But I did learn something yesterday (aside from the fact that all of the doctors at the ER seemed to be 16 years old). As we left home, I grabbed the only new...Read More

A few years ago, a bookseller at Boswell Book Company told me about The Fruit Bowl Project: 50 ways to tell a story by Sarah Durkee. In this novel, rock superstar Nick Thompson visits an eighth-grade writing class to talk about writing. Here’s what Nick tells the class about writing: My theory is that for...Read More

Metaphor Brainstorm by Rochelle Melander Metaphors. According to my Merriam-Webster‘s Collegiate Dictionary (11th edition), a metaphor is: “a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them.” Their example: drowning in money. Have...Read More

When I write fiction, I tend to give characters the jobs that I’d like to have. As an author, I often think about working as a professor, librarian or bookseller. But lately, I’ve been thinking it would be fun to give a character one of my fantasy jobs—you know, the stuff you could never-in-a-million-years do...Read More

Congratulations to my husband, Harold Eppley, on the publication of his first novel, Ash Wednesday. One of Harold’s funniest characters is the librarian, Dorothy Moyers. She’s the head librarian of Dustin Public Library. As such, she’s taken it upon herself to talk about Harold’s novel at the Dustin Public Library Facebook page. Here’s what she...Read More

Yesterday morning, I returned home from the Y and found this note from my husband on the kitchen counter. Don’t forget, dear reader, yesterday was Valentine’s Day. “Fresh stool?” I wondered, “What does that have to do with celebrating Valentine’s Day?” I could not make the connection. Then, since the note was on the kitchen...Read More

I still remember the moment. My husband and I were in the checkout line at the grocery store. I was reading the headlines on the magazines when I saw this one, “Constipation Killed the Dinosaurs.” Until then, I don’t think I realized how amazingly creative tabloid writers need to be. Here’s your assignment: Write a...Read More

Last week, I happened upon artist Jane Mount’s Ideal Bookshelf series of paintings and fell in love! I lusted after this print of middle grade books that had already sold out and purchased another bookshelf of childhood favorites for now. I might just commission a painting of my own idea bookshelf. But what would I...Read More