Guest blog by Anne Reeder Heck  Healing from trauma is a gutsy endeavor. It cannot be approached with logic, nor with expectations about a quick fix. Healing requires us to dive in, to be fully present with the discomfort and ugliness, to show compassion for ourselves, and to listen intently. [...]

Guest blog by Sande Boritz Berger I grew up in the 1950’s and early 60’s suburbia, which for many required certain adjustments depending on your roots and past environment. For me, moving away from the busy streets of Brooklyn and my beloved grandparents at the age of seven catapulted me [...]

As I described in Blog #8, Back in Time, I enjoy books that that transport me to times past or that have historical backgrounds. This is especially true when they have a connection to my own life, whether as a life event I’ve experienced, or an interest or fascination I’ve [...]

Guest blog by Shelley Blanton-Stroud I’ve always been drawn to the topic of resilience—it’s the heart of my family’s origin story. I grew up in Bakersfield, California, surrounded by grannies, grandpas, aunts, uncles, and cousins, whose shared history was a Route 66 migration out of Texas and Oklahoma during the [...]

Guest blog by Cindy Rasicot My life has been a spiritual journey since I was a small child. At four I asked my older brother (who was five at the time): “Where is God?” His answer: “Everywhere.” Puzzled, I looked all around, but didn’t find evidence. I kept my brother’s [...]

The path to publication of my novel, Better Than This, had a challenging, steep learning curve. I couldn’t have done it without the incredibly supportive community that my publisher, Brooke Warner, has created at She Writes Press (SWP.) I have made wonderful friends and am awed by the talented women [...]

Guest Blog by Linda Ulleseit My husband’s mother and grandmother were born in Hawaii. He has dozens of relatives there, and we attended our first family reunion in Honolulu this past February. The outpouring of ohana and aloha was amazing! Maybe it’s this connection to family that has always driven [...]

Guest blog by Kathryn Taylor The beauty of memoir is that it offers insight and understanding by the sharing of personal experiences. A memoir can be filled with hope and inspiration, guiding the reader along a path which often overcomes adversity. It transcends time, race, education, socio economic status, religion [...]

Guest blog by Laura Nicole Diamond My favorite novels are those pull the reader into the character's mind and heart, and experiences the world through their eyes and ears. A good story well told seeps into your skin, breathes into your lungs, creates images so rich the mind incorporates them [...]

I love the holiday season. The lights bring a welcome respite from the darkness of winter’s cold and short days. The messages of hope and goodwill are uplifting. It’s a time of year to cherish your seasonal traditions, whatever they may be. One treasured ritual for me has been attending [...]