It’s black cat season. I’ve owned lots of black cats (or they’ve owned me), but one of my favorites was a community cat, a guy whose name was Biff. Many years ago I worked for a small town in Southern California. I was assigned to the Public Works Department, aka “the swamp.” Why, you say, … Read more

A history professor once told me, “go back to your roots, write about your local community, find fascinating stories in your family’s past.” In those days I was more interested in women’s rights and wrote my senior thesis about early pioneers in the women’s movement. But when I began working as a reporter and feature … Read more

The older I get, the less patient I am. Tiny inconveniences drive me up the wall. My life is good, I have no complaints, so where did my patience go? Frustration number one: slow internet. I have wifi. It’s usually good. I’m spoiled. When it’s not good, or nonexistent, my body tightens and I feel … Read more

Four years ago, I eagerly awaited the publication of my first book. The cover for A Kiss of Cabernet was sweet and appropriate—the hero and the heroine sat on a bed of golden leaves kissing. It was a Love in Wine Country book. What could be better? I loved the cover, the only thing making … Read more

Today our house goes on the market. Part of me was astonished at how good it looks now with all of our stuff out of it, the walls freshly painted, the yard raked and clipped, the backyard pool sparkling. The other part wilted as I thought about how thrilled I was when we first bought … Read more