It is a gift to have someone help you along a journey to improve, such as a coach or a counselor. But in writing, a published author who takes you under their wing, gives you critical, helpful commentary on your manuscript and provides guidance on revision is invaluable. The SCBWI Nevada Mentorship program does exactly that. 12 published writers and…
I received assignments for two articles for the January 2018 issue of FACES Magazine's Great Cities of the World: Tokyo. The articles are from my heart. I've worked in Tokyo on work assignments in the video game industry. There I met a colleague who became a life-long friend and business partner. He and I introduced Talking Mickey Mouse Watches to…
Sometimes the best thing for your writing is to take a break, give your brain a break, and enjoy something that takes your breath away. That's why I like running. Fresh approach.
My mum and sisters migrated to Australia over 35 years ago, so I've been to Australia several times to visit and tour. When it came time to query FACES magazine for the Sydney issue, I asked my neighbor from Melbourne, Australia with two children what she thought would be a good topic -- and she said, "Why the Taronga Zoo!"…
I've been scaling away from full marathons and just doing a bunch of Half's. So the first Half for 2017 is March 26, 2017 at the Livermore Wine County Marathon - running and wine - works for me. Then onto the Armed Forces Half Marathon in May at the Todos Santos Naval Weapons Station in Concord (Got our red, white…
After writing earlier articles on Cambodia, I learned how the Mekong River is the life and livelihood of millions of Southeast Asians. I received the assignment to write "The Mekong River: Who Owns the Water?" as one of the greatest rivers in the world and examine how the countries along the Mekong all seek to harness its power and resulting…
Morocco is a beautiful, bustling, mystical country. One of the lovely traditions is the making and sharing of sweet Moroccan mint tea. It is a sign of welcome, respect and calm. Read "The Power and Beauty of Moroccan Mint Tea." Moroccan life revolves around their Muslim faith and family. The family includes the extended family and decisions are made as…
Cambodia is a new democracy struggling to make its way in the modern world. After years of brutal wars, its resilient people fight to lift themselves to compete and improve the daily lives of their people. In "Recovering From Wars" I take a close look at how the country is making strides in it efforts to recover from horrific wars…
My three articles in The World of Dogs were so much fun! I loved writing about honoring dogs and showing what heroes they are in all they do. In Crime Fighting Dogs, we learn how the dogs train to help and protect. The dog and their handler are an inseparable team to fight crime. What could be better than a…
I have been very honored to have received assignments in several issues of FACES magazine for children in 2016 and 2017. I loved writing each article, but haven't had a chance to post them and hope to soon. Each one brought me into a new journey of learning and talking with new people. Writing is team sport! September 2016 issue…