Twenty years ago, I awoke from a coma in the I.C.U. For a week, I had relied on a respirator to support my life as heavy doses of antibiotics were pumped into my body. An open incision ran vertically across my stomach, they never closed it for fear that they might have to operate again. While in a coma, I missed my husband’s 40th birthday. … Continue reading A Mountain Climbed
The tightrope walker gingerly takes one step at a time, Below him, cities are bombed by missiles launched from far and wide, The children cry for their fathers who were left behind, The mothers clutch their children and wonder where their futures lie. The tightrope walker takes another step as the rope beneath him shakes, His divided country judges every step and for him to … Continue reading Ukraine
Ideas spill into my brain like rain. Some take seed, while others are blown in the wind. Sometimes I write a page or two before metaphorically putting away the pen. Others are captured as a title on a note in my phone. But the only ones that become novels, are the ones I can’t let go. Finding those gems are rare. I wrestle with my … Continue reading All The Books I Did Not Write
As I try to declutter my house once again, I think of how much I’ve collected over the years. They are mementos of my life. Photographs, handmade cards, baby items, antiques I’ve collected, an array of jewelry, etc. And then there are the boxes that sit in my closet and basement. They are filled with mementos of my mother’s life and my mother-in-law’s life. My … Continue reading A Life in a Box
1. What were some of the most emotional parts of the book for you? 2. What did you take away from this book that is relevant to our world/society today? 3. Were you interested right from the start of the novel or was it a slow burn? 4. Were there any standout words of wisdom that made you pause and think about your own life? … Continue reading Discussion Questions for The Bayman’s Daughter
We are taught that humans have basic physical needs in order to sustain life: air, water, food, shelter, and warmth. It has been my experience that there are also basic emotional needs that are necessary in order to sustain a healthy relationship. As an author when I am developing characters for my novels, relationships have to be explored, developed, and, in some cases, sustained. The … Continue reading Basic Needs
Have you ever walked down a road early in the morning when the fog from the night before is just lifting? You can see clearly behind you and even for a the few feet ahead of you. But beyond that, is shrouded in fog. You can make out some shapes ahead of you, but the shapes aren’t defined. That’s what it’s like for me when … Continue reading First Draft
As he walked back through the doctor’s waiting room, he smiled at the patients who were about to be seen. Each of them silently wondered why the others were there and sat slightly apart. They remembered seeing the old man shuffle painfully into the doctor’s office just an hour ago. But now he was smiling at them and the fear they had seen on his … Continue reading Scones & A Kiss
It’s so easy to stay within your comfort zone. To not take chances, to not reach for your dreams, to not risk failure. So when you decide to take that first step out of your comfort zone, you feel exposed and vulnerable. It is highly likely that you will face criticism and setbacks. You then have the choice to run back to your comfort zone … Continue reading Comfort Zone
Outlining the plot of a novel is an interesting idea. A Literary Agent has asked me to send her the first 25 pages of my next novel and an outline of the story. Well, what I have found is that it takes about 25 pages to find your voice and the voices of your characters. It takes about 25 pages to know if the idea … Continue reading Outlining a Story
Theresa Dodaro (Author) 