I went to a conference in Chicago last week, and I had the best time! Seeing my writer friends, this time not being a speaker or workshop...

Sainted Mother is hosting a family picnic at the end of August. Well, it’s at Sainted Mother’s house, but she was happy to pass the...

Being a real estate voyeur (sounds more genteel than ho, doesn’t it?), I go to Zillow a few times a week. Just in case. Since I was...

Oh, the glamour, dear readers! The travel! The fame! The, um…wardrobe! Yeah, I’m lying. I mean, sure, I’ve met Nora Roberts, and she is...

A LITTLE RAY OF SUNSHINE is the story of two mothers—Harlow Smith, who, at seventeen, placed her newborn for adoption; and Monica Patel,...

When I was growing up, my mom was the prettiest, funniest, smartest mother around. Full stop, yo! That being said (here it comes, Mom),...

I have always loved little old men. A LITTLE RAY OF SUNSHINE features a character who is destined to become everyone’s favorite—Grandpop....

My trash TV jewel is Love Is Blind on Netflix. The show where you have long, intense conversations without seeing the other person, which...

I have very vivid dreams. Freakishly long, detailed dreams in which I often remember other dreams I’ve had. Remember that movie,...

There are certain décor trends I never understood. Some trends are classic—midcentury modern, Craftsman bungalows, a home library. And...

The other evening, McIrish called me from the firehouse to inform me he was on the way to the ER. “What happened?” I asked calmly. “I...

Oh, how I love a Christmas house! I have a collection of Santas—some antique, some gifts, some deliciously tacky. I love our Christmas...

No one trusts me to make Thanksgiving dinner. Sainted Mother, who called Thanksgiving “mine,” took pride in slaving over a massive bird,...

I hate gratitude journals. I hate the signs that say “Grateful” and “Blessed,” because I think it cheapens the sentiment to see it on...

I'm no Anglophile (though a SussexSquaddie), but there are some things that just sound classier when said by a British tongue. Yes, I’ve...

When a grizzly bear attacks me, I will be prepared. I’ve been thinking about this my whole life. My grandparents subscribed to Readers...

As a long-married couple, McIrish and I have discussed death quite often. Our number one choice: die simultaneously whilst holding hands....

Hi, I’m Kristan, and I’m a house-aholic. It’s true. I’m addicted to houses. My favorite thing to do is scroll through Zillow and imagine...

The other day, we went to the beach—McIrish, the Princess, the Firefighter, the Peeper and yours truly. Oh, it was a glorious day! The...

Since I wrote about Sainted Mother last week, I thought I’d tell you a little bit about my dad, gone these many years. He was tall and...