Bird Counting: A Christmas Tradition That Saves Lives (Really)
And a metaphor for counting your blessings instead of your losses and disappointments.
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The Special Joys of Sisterhood Weekends
There never seemed enough time at family gatherings for the three of us to have the “chick-chats” we had once dearly loved.
A Remembrance, in the Grand Canyon of the East
Our main objective was to hike the Gorge Trail in Letchworth State Park, to the three major waterfalls that are the highlight of this stunning place.
Reliving Our European Dream—in Buffalo, New York?
Where would you rather spend the month of August? In Europe or Buffalo?
Why Chautauqua is the Summer Camp that Soothes the Soul
The people who visit the Chautauqua Institution are there to seek solace, and turn their minds away from a troubled world.
Experiencing the Magic of an Appalachian Bog
I’m not sure I can remember a time when I felt more attuned to the natural world than I did in that bog.
Finding Inspiration on the Shores of Lake Erie
This summer, I will find a comfortable piece of driftwood and sit and stare at the water for a while.
Do People Still Read Physical Books? You Betcha!
This was my first street festival where books, and the readers who love them, were the main attraction.
The Hidden Beauty of Spring Ephemerals in the Appalachians
Why is finding these small, delicate flowers so satisfying that I go looking for them every year?
After Fifty Years, a Different Vietnam
When I was developing the character of Joey, a despondent Army veteran for my novel Virgin Snow, I found it necessary to research and reflect upon the sad time in American history when we were engaged in a war with North Vietnam. The conflict had long-term and debilitating effects on many American military members who served there in support of South Vietnam in the […]
For the Buffalo Bills, It’s Like Groundhog Day
The morning after the Buffalo Bills lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game, I saw the “Agony of Defeat” on many faces.