Medicine in mid-19th century America was barbaric—especially when a woman was delivering a baby. Mary Boland resolved to save lives of poor women as a midwife. Physicians then were often barbers with little medical training. The “doctor” would deliver a baby using instruments from a surgery recently completed on a sick person, or even […]
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Do You Believe in Psychics?
Do you believe in psychics? I never did, but several years ago, I had two female friends whose intelligence I greatly respected. And they both swore by a woman in Schenectady, NY, for their life guidance. They called the woman a spiritual life guide, not a psychic. Curious, I made an appointment. She wasn’t showy. […]
Who Was Mary Boland?
I’ve told you that Mary Boland, my heroine in Shanty Gold, came to me in childhood dreams. And she did—flaming hair streaming behind her as she rode bareback along the dazzling Irish Sea coast. In fact, Mary Boland was the name of my great grandmother. I yearned to know more about her, but […]
The Bear and the Cross
I always wear the same jewelry. It’s simple and saves time dressing. I wear my wedding ring, for sure. But also, there are two silver chains around my neck. Add a pair of silver hoop earrings and I’m good to go. But there’s more to what’s on those chains than efficiency. One chain carries […]
Racism Revisited
I just finished watching yet again the video of Eric Garner’s death by “choke hold.” How can we think America has eliminated the scourge of racism when such a travesty can happen within her borders? I grew up in a town in Ohio where racism didn’t seem to exist. At least not to me. My […]
The Power of Unconditional Love Redux
Earlier this month, I posted this picture and asked my readers to help me track down the painter, an old, dear friend called Sue Eveland. I had been trying to find Sue for the past 30 years, to no avail. We had been close friends when I lived in New Jersey and I […]
So Where Do You Start?
So, where do you start? That’s the question that plagues anyone who attempts to write a novel. Where to start? In my first iteration of Shanty Gold, I started with Mary Boland sitting on a hillside looking out at the Irish Sea and grieving the fact that she would have to leave it. […]
So You Want to Write a novel (Part Two)
So, You Want to Write a Novel? Are you sure? Are you very, very sure? If you answer yes to those questions, let’s proceed. First thing…sit your backside down in that computer chair and leave it there for two to three hours every day…six days each week. When inspiration fails to hit, write anyway. Much […]
The Power of Unconditional Love
The painting you see was a gift from a dear friend many years ago. Her name is Sue Eveland, and she lived in Florham Park, New Jersey. I can’t find her anywhere. If you know Sue, please direct her to my website. Thanks so much. When she painted this, she told me my daughter Caroline’s […]
For Thanksgiving, from Sr. Joyce Rupp “Open the Door a Crack”
Open the door a crack. I’ve returned constantly to that graced remark. Memory after memory has arisen of people in my past who re-directed or re-affirmed my approach to what I believe and how I treat others. Here are a few of the many I recently recalled who brought me what I needed to help shape […]
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