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(Source: Magnolia Dynamic Solutions, Corinth, MS last year) The second the meteorologist on Channel 6 starts pointing at those jagged blue lines over the Gulf, my internal "Dixie Preparedness" alarm starts screaming. But let’s be real. My kids are grown and gone, so I’m no longer worried about entertaining bored toddlers or making sure there are enough chicken nuggets to survive a forty-eight-hour freeze. No, my concerns have shifted to the much more terrifying reality of mid

He wrote more songs than Cash. He made a guitar weep (and have orgasms). He loved his Minneapolis. Oh, yes, who else? It's time for a PRINCE BLOG! Where were you when you heard the news that Prince had died? On April 21, 2016, the world stopped for so many of us. I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing. I had been out of town that day and was driving home to Griffin, Georgia, on I-75. I was hitting Forsyth when the report came over the airwaves. I felt gutted. The

The young man speaks of light and grace, A smile across his unlined face. "I think all men are good," he cries, With Anne Frank’s hope within his eyes. The skeptic feels the winter chill, And keeps his weathered spirit still. "You claim to know the inner soul, To see the part and grasp the whole. But acatalepsy is the truth, A lesson hidden from your youth. The human heart is never clear, It’s masked by pride and veiled by fear. You cannot grasp the hidden mind, Or know the

After decades in classrooms and libraries, I’ve learned one unshakable truth about poetry: students don’t hate poetry—they hate being told there’s only one right way into it. Poetry is not a locked room with a single key. It’s a house with many doors, and when we teach students the variety of poetic forms available to them, something remarkable happens. Fear gives way to curiosity. Resistance turns into play. Even the most reluctant writer eventually finds a form that fits t

Yes, I used AI to generate a graphic for the blog. Get over it! Today, the third anniversary of Pop’s death, I am quiet. I am reflecting on a journey that took me from a hospital room in Corinth to the depths of a broken heart, and finally, to a place of reclaimed grace. I have fought to be a phoenix rising from the ashes, and today I stand on solid ground. . The First Year: The Battle and the Break The first year was defined by a brutal fight for Pop’s dignity. I had failed

When a son chooses no contact, it can feel like a sudden, painful silence in a mother’s life. The absence is not just physical but emotional, leaving questions and wounds that seem impossible to heal. Yet, this difficult season can also become a powerful turning point. It is a moment when a mother can decide: I am worthy — and claim this as my season of growth and self-discovery. This post explores how mothers of adult sons who have chosen no contact can navigate their feel

Time travel stories have fascinated readers for decades. They offer a unique way to explore history, imagine futures, and challenge the limits of reality. Writing a good time travel or time slip story requires more than just moving characters through different eras. It demands careful thought about the rules of time, the impact of change, and the characters' emotional journey. This guide will help you create engaging science fiction adventures that capture readers' imaginatio

We all love a good Victorian romance. We imagine the sweeping gowns, the brooding dukes, and the tension of a stolen glance in a candlelit ballroom. But let’s be honest: those novels are heavily filtered. While we imagine our protagonists smelling like lavender and living in pristine marble halls, the actual Victorian era was a lot messier, smellier, and frankly, more hazardous than fiction suggests. If you’re ready to ruin the magic just a little bit, here are the top ten un

My husband kidnapped me from my bad day! You have to admit, a man who does that while his wife is breathing fire, crying sideways, and throwing full Southern hissy fits because her dish ate her plate (still can't find it), she has writer's block, and her teenager sassed her. To do so, a man must be brave, stupid, or deeply committed to marriage. Probably all three. So, what do you do when your wife has officially lost it? You feed her chocolate and Mountain Dew like she’s a r

Bartholomew "Barty" Butterfield adjusted his phone, trying to get the perfect angle for his profile picture. His reflection in the cracked screen showed a man-child with a perpetual deer-in-headlights expression, clutching a slightly deflated inflatable flamingo. "Needs more… enigma tic allure," he muttered, tilting his head. "Like I'm deep, but also ready for a spontaneous pool party. With... this flamingo." His bio, carefully crafted after an hour of intense self-reflection

“ERROR ERROR” BASED ON A TRUE STORY! It was warm weather in 1976, and I was being my usual mischievous self, or as to quote my MeeMaw, “Fanny is being bad (again).” My mother cleaned me up for the third time that morning. Hair in pigtails with green bows, she put me down with a pop on the tush to stay put. My brother, Robert, who is two years older, snickered. The minute she left the room; I showed him what my front teeth could do. “Mom, Fanny bit me… AGAIN!” he cried, biting

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton holds a special place in the hearts of many, especially today as we honor her feast day. As America’s first native-born saint, her story is one of faith, resilience, and dedication to education and charity. This blog explores her remarkable life, her contributions to the Catholic Church in the United States, and the lasting impact she has made as a patron saint. Early Life and Conversion Elizabeth Ann Bayley was born in 1774 in New York City into a w

My newest story, a novelette that will be online soon, focuses on the relationship of two amazing men during the early twentieth century: Lovecraft and Howard! #Lovecraft #RobertEHoward #Fantasy #WeirdStories In the golden age of the pulp magazines, two of the most influential minds in speculative fiction built a bridge across the American landscape, spanning the distance between the ancient, cobblestoned streets of Providence and the rugged, dusty plains of Cross Plains, Tex

For the last twelve months, the new year was a distant silhouette on the horizon. Throughout 2025, I lived in a state of becoming. I returned to Ole Miss, diving deep into the evolution of the library learning commons and the modern nuances of special education. I took a rigorous professional inventory of more than twenty years in the classroom, dusting off old skills and replacing them with the fresh trends of today’s public education. I spent a year studying, preparing, and

As the final hours of 2025 slip away, many focus on fireworks, celebrations, and resolutions. Yet, the Church invites us to begin the new year differently—by turning our attention to Mary, the Mother of God. January 1 holds a special place in the liturgical calendar as the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God , a day that connects the joy of Christmas with the promise of a fresh start. This feast offers more than tradition; it provides a spiritual foundation for the year ahead. B

Every year, millions of people set New Year's resolutions with high hopes of transforming their lives. Yet, by February, many have abandoned these promises. The tradition of making sweeping resolutions often leads to frustration and disappointment. The real key to meaningful change lies in setting a few clear, achievable goals—both short-term and long-term—that challenge you and support growth in all areas of life: mental, spiritual, financial, and physical . A journal with h

2026 arrives with a brand-new light, To set my creative path just right. No longer bound by a tiny space, I’ll find a much more rhythmic pace. A short story ends just as it starts, Leaving no room for beating hearts. But novelettes let the vision grow, With enough time for the plot to flow. A novel is a mountain steep and tall, Where many weary writers start to fall. The middle ground is where I’ll truly shine, With "just enough" words to make it mine. In twenty-six, the sto

The General’s Gamble: "Boy" Browning and the Road to Arnhem While his wife, Daphne du Maurier, was busy crafting some of the greatest psychological thrillers in English literature, Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick "Boy" Browning was living a drama far more dangerous. Known as the "Father of the British Airborne Forces," Browning’s legacy is defined by a single, daring, and ultimately tragic operation in the fields of Holland. The Man Behind the Maroon Beret Frederick Browning

Christmas Poem To Ian/by Anne Hendricks The lights are bright, the carols play, As Christmas finds us miles apart. Though silence fills our second year, You hold your place within my heart. I send my love on winter’s breath, And lift a prayer to skies above, That you are safe, and warm, and held Within the circle of His love. No matter where your path may lead, Or how the seasons drift away, You’re cherished more than words can tell, This holy, quiet Christmas Day. #ianbrowni

For Margaret Anne, in memory of your many New York City Christmases. I miss you. _____________________________________________________________ The sky over Manhattan had the bruised, purple weight of fruit left too long in the cold. Snow threatened, and there was no coal to answer it. December 1931 settled into the body. At the excavation that would one day be Rockefeller Center, the ground lay torn open and frozen, mud locked tight around slabs of stone. Men stood along the