When Life Gets Busy

This author enjoys a busy life outside of writing. When you have several irons in the fire, it’s important to keep priorities straight. Eat right, sleep well, and keep things organized.

Chickadee Words - Author Biz

  • I’m researching the 1890s historical events, women of the period, fashion, the railroad, dairy farming advances, and more. Emeline’s next story is still percolating.

  • I’m setting up Zoom interviews for the year. I have a middle-grade/young adult author coming soon for the third Tuesday this month, and for March, I have scheduled a teacher who teaches English as a second language. Would you like to share your experiences with others like yourself? Contact me.

  • I’m looking forward to meeting homeschool families at my book table in April at the Midwest Parent Educators Conference.

  • Education knows no end. Reading blogs, reading books, listening to webinars, and registered for a writer conference.


Van’s Fence

Still working as an administrative assistant at this premier fence company, it’s exciting for me to see how the company has grown in my six years! Because I’m working on other things, however, I’m limiting my time there to two days per week for now.


Perry Residential

Ed and I sold a house and bought a house in December, 2021. :)

We enjoy working together to restore and update homes for rental properties. This home will be the third home we’ve restored. This poor little home needed updating and TLC as someone vandalized it. I’ll post updated pictures next time, but there’s so much construction mess right now, it’s hard to see progress. But it’s there! Here’s some BEFORE images:


Friends & Family

One of my goals this year is spending more time with friends and family — even if it’s just over the phone. I’ve done a little better this month, but will try harder next month. One of my close writer friends had shoulder surgery last week and is recovering now. Some friends have lost loved ones. Others have made career moves.

His foot/ankle challenges my husband with construction thanks to his fall last year. It works, but is painful, so his workdays are shorter than they were for previous houses. Still, he does amazingly well.

As my oldest daughter recovers from some physical ailments, she works as a product photographer and The Arise Box curator. She is the founder of this themed quarterly box, which features ethically made products from companies that give back. She works so hard to give the recipient a great themed experience with useful items. Part of the profits provide encouraging gift boxes for survivors of human trafficking every year.

My youngest daughter is applying to Hanover College’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Hopefully, she will be accepted. In the meantime, she’s working hard on prerequisites alongside two other jobs: physical therapy assistant and personal trainer.


February Winner ~

Congratulations to __(email address)__. You are the winner of February’s gift from Chickadee Words. I’d love to send you a free copy of the journal of your choice: My Bandana Acres Journal (ages 8-12), or My Journey (ages 13+). I don’t know your name, but I’ll email you. As you use the journal, I’d highly value your review for the website page for the book of your choice. Your review will enlighten others about it. (These journals are currently only available on my website.)

Click below to read more about each.


Happy Valentine’s Day ~ Love on your family and friends.