May is more than half over, but it’s “Get Caught Reading Month!” The question is: are you a reader? Have you got caught reading? Do you read?

For eleven years, I’ve been in the self-publishing business. At first, I had no plans on continuing, but I had such a great response to my first book, This Tumbleweed Landed, I continued.

Now eleven years later, I have written nine books, I have another one to my editor and several in the queue. I have recorded three audiobooks and published three cookbooks. It feels like a lot done, but I wonder—are you a reader? Do you like memoirs, stories of rural American, poetry and Christmas memories? Can you relate to a square dance caller who volunteered for the Navy at seventeen and then saw the world calling squares?

Have you read one or any of my books?

Here’s the list if you’re not familiar:

• This Tumbleweed Landed – Where dust settles, stories rise: A poetic journey through Colorado’s forgotten frontier.
• When Will Papa Get Home? – Dive into a heartwarming tale of resilience, hope, and the power of family bonds in the face of prejudice.
• Let Me Tell You a Story – One Family’s Triumph: Building a Ranch While Others Lost Theirs in the Great Depression.
• A Time to Grow Up: A Daughter’s Grief Memoir – Through tears, memories bloom: A poetic journey from loss to legacy.
• Just Another Square Dance Caller: Authorized Biography of Marshall Flippo – His voice moved feet, his story will move hearts.
• Coronavirus Reflections: Bitter or Better? – When the world paused, wisdom emerged: Choose your path forward.
• Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir – When perfect plans go up in flames, real holiday magic begins.
• Was It a Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry – First book in four-book poetry series – Where memory meets meaning: The poetry of a life fully lived.
• Is My Truth Universal?: A Woman’s Poetic Odyssey – FREE Chapbook – One woman’s verses, every woman’s voice: The poetry of being heard.

I’m excited to continue my four-book poetry series. My editor has my second book now, editing it: Time Measure Out!: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry.

I’m a Reader!

But are you a reader? My reading adventure goes back to early childhood memories of reading and rereading Nancy Drew mysteries on the front porch sitting on a swing. Reading always came easy for me. Did it for you? I know some people struggle with reading.

Both of my parents read, but I followed my mother’s reading choices in junior high. I’ll never forget reading Margaret Mitchell’s book, Gone with the Wind. I have such a vivid imagination, I easily pictured the whole book. Then when I saw the three hour and fifty-eight minute movie, I got lost in the scenes of Rhett and Scarlett and didn’t want it to end.

When I went to Colorado State University, I majored in English and read the classics. Shakespeare, Milton and Dickens became my new favorite authors. Before this, I had little exposure to the classics, but this gave me a great opportunity to not only read but study them. What a treat!

I have continued reading my whole life. When Tony Hillerman mysteries came out, I read every one starting with The Blessing Way. Mom and I also enjoyed Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone alphavet mystery series—starting with A is for Alibi.

Mom and I also enjoyed the Don Coldsmith series, starting with The Trail of the Spanish Bit.

One summer while traveling in California, my ex-husband and I read some of John Steinbeck’s books—Grapes of Wrath is a must read!

Then I found Jodi Piccoult, an author who has dealt with many social issues we have in her novels like My Sister’s Keeper. She now has written twenty-five books and is my heroine!

During the pandemic, my husband, Lin, and I read some of C. S. Lewis’ books. On Lin’s suggestion, I reread the Narnia Tales in chronological order. Those books ignite my childlike imagination for sure and Aslan says it all! We also read A Grief Observed about the loss of his wife—a gripping tale.

In the last several years, I’ve focused on recovery and the spiritual writings of Fr. Richard Rohr and N. T. Wright.

So are you a reader?

So you can see a pattern here—I chose an author then read everything they wrote. Through this method of reading, I became familiar with that author and they became a personal friend. That’s what I’m suggesting to you today—get caught reading one of my books this month or any month! Then read more and sample the variety I write. If you do, send me the picture and I’ll post it on my website!

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My Newest Books

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Buy My Audio Books:

This Tumbleweed Landed

Let Me Tell You a Story 

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Memoir Audiobook

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