5/25/26 My Author Life

Dear Friend, 

Happy Memorial Day! And to the veterans out there, thank you for your service and for keeping this great country of ours safe. You are appreciated more than you are sometimes shown. 

Safe travels on the way home from your holiday weekend adventure. Stop along the way and enjoy the small things; they are what matter the most. 

On a more somber note, my almost 92-year-old mother suffered a mini-stroke over the weekend. As of yesterday, she seems to be improving (color back in her face and talking more clearly), although she’s still tired. My youngest brother Mark, was surprised when I told him that she called me because when he left her, she had gone to sleep. I am taking this as a good sign, but please keep our family in your prayers. With me living in another state (1000+ miles away), I rely on my younger brothers to keep me informed, and they are fabulous at doing so. 

The weather seems to have calmed down here in Oklahoma. We have been getting rain, which is needed so much, but the severe weather (i.e., tornadoes and hail) looks to be done for the season. It is nice to wake up to sunshine and blue skies. 

Last Tuesday was the monthly Friends of the Library meeting, of which I’m a paying member; not on the Board, just a member. Lots of good things are in store for our community in support of the library and its programs, including the Dolly PartonImagination Library, summer programs, author signings, and other events supporting the library and promoting reading. 

That’s about it for the past week, and time for me to get back to writing. I can never thank you enough for continuing to read these snippets into my life as an author. I hope I have not bored you too much with them. 😊 After all, other people's lives are never as glamorous as we may think.  

May your ereader or bookshelf overflow with delightful books to read! 

Maxine

5/18/26 My Author Life

Dear Friend, 

You’ve heard one of these, haven’t you? The air is so thick you can cut it with a knife. It’s like pea soup out there! Well, take your pick because that’s exactly what it was like this morning when I went to the store. There is so much moisture in the air that I’m sure Mother Nature could wring it out and get an ocean of water from it. Which is exactly why Oklahoma is under yet another red alert day through Tuesday. Storms. Hail. Wind. Possible tornadoes. I’ll be glad when May 2026 is over, that’s for sure. 

Saturday was the CROW monthly meeting in Edmond, which is approximately 60 miles north of me. My two friends, who are also writers, that I go with each month, arrived at 9:30am, and we piled into EmBee (my car) for her maiden OKC voyage. We headed out on I44 and drove straight to The Icehouse Project for lunch, where we met several other members of this group. I shared the best pizza with AliciaDean. The group then drove over to CROW’s new meeting place, The Studio at PaperArts, which is 100% geared for the creative minds. 

We had a full house with four new possible members to hear Mel Odom speak on dialogue and “AI: Enemy or Friend”. It was really interesting to hear everyone’s perspective on the use of AI. A few authors did say they use it for inspiration or research. Many were of the opinion that AI isn’t going away and has probably been around for a while if you think about it. A few things in a writer’s toolbox, like Grammarly and/or ProWritingAid, could be considered AI. But the thing is that even before there was this controversy about AI, authors used em-dashes, lists, semi-colons, all the things that some say are sure signs that an author used AI to write their story. Everyone has their own opinion of how and when to use AI for creating. 

The NEST book/writing contest is winding down, and I’ll finally be able to get back to writing again. I’ve judged in two contests over the past several months, with reading 3 books for one and 6 for another. All good books, with a few being great stories. 

If you are in the path of storms over the next week, stay safe. 

That’s about it for the past week. I can never thank you enough for continuing to read these snippets into my life as an author. I hope I haven't bored you with them. 😊 After all, other people's lives are never as glamorous as we may think.  

May your ereader or bookshelf overflow with delightful books to read! 

Maxine

  

5/11/26 My Author Life

Dear Friend, 

Can you say, “holy hail”? We were pelted by hail of various sizes Friday evening. And the wind! Holy moly I the rain came down in sheets, and it looked like a raging river on my street with the wind pushing the water down it. 

Oklahoma desperately needs the rain, but not the hail. I’m sitting here waiting for my roofers to come and check my roof to make sure my shingles are still in tacked. With all the calls I’m sure they got over the weekend, I’m hoping I’m high on their list as I called Friday after the storm blew through. 

It’s supposed to be nice all week and then storms again on the weekend. There’s a CROW writer’s meeting in Edmond on Saturday, but I won’t be driving up there if it’s raining. Driving around the OKC area is crazy enough without having to do it in a rain storm. 

Thursday evening I conducted a discussion on writing through grief for Literary Conversations at the Chickasha Public Library. I’m not one who writes out speeches, etc., as I give talks like I write – by the seat of my pants. I knew my talking points and then went from there. Those in attendance were very interactive and the discussion was good. I was happy and pleased with it. 

Reading the final two entries for the CROW Nest contest. These were the only two on available in KU, so I’m having to read the .pdf file. That’s okay, just limits the device I can read them on. 

That’s about it for the past week. I can never thank you enough for continuing to read these snippets into my life as an author. I hope I have not bored you too much with them. 😊 After all, other people's lives are never as glamorous as we may think.  

May your ereader or bookshelf overflow with delightful books to read! 

Maxine

5/6/26 BookQW = DRY

Placing one foot in front of the other, Elizabeth strolled slowly along the path. She paused for a moment in front of the small church she and Steven attended often. Her gaze travelled up to the cross hanging above the door, and she closed her eyes.

How could a God she worshipped take her husband and those of her friends? One day she may find enough forgiveness to walk through those doors again, but she’d never forget. She’d never forget the pain the loss of her precious love caused.

Turning her back on the church door, Elizabeth continued on her way to Smith’s Dry Goods. She would need to purchase thread in several colors and needles of different sizes if she was to return to work as a seamstress. She’d once been very handy with a needle and thread—before Steven had swept her off her feet, married her, and brought her to Blessings Valley where they started to build their life together. That was five years ago when the mine first opened.

Those days were long gone, and that life a ghost of her past. The reality of being alone was a bitterness she now was learning to live with, like it or not.

“Elizabeth!” Willa Alexander called from her front porch, a broom in her hand.

Why can’t I just go to town without seeing anyone? Elizabeth put on her well-practiced brave smile and waved.

~ ~ ~ ~

READ

Chapter 1: https://tinyurl.com/yc86c3sx

Chapter 2: https://tinyurl.com/4uxd469n

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