Hi, I’m Laura. And I hate gardening. At least, I did. This one I can pretty much blame on my parents. Back in the day when their yard was bigger than their grocery budget, they planted a humongous garden every spring. And of course, my siblings and I were the […]
Travel blog!
MFW = Master of Freelance Writing
It’s long bothered me that of the six adults in my immediate family, I am the only one without an advanced degree. Both of my parents have their master’s degrees (at least one apiece) and all three of my siblings have gone on to graduate school in their respective fields. […]
One day at a time
This spring, should it ever arrive, is going to be insanely busy for my household. First off, both of my girls are in rec soccer, which will keep us running four nights per week, and they are both taking piano lessons with a big recital coming up next month. Additionally, […]
‘Maybe this isn’t for me’
I had a moment of real weakness last week, when I wondered whether my desired career as a fiction writer was just a bit out of my grasp. I’ve been struggling as of late to put pen to paper (or, more literally, sit down with my manuscripts) and really delve […]
The best ships? Friendships
My husband and I were recently fortunate enough to go on a weeklong Caribbean cruise with a large group of “his” people. His friends are real estate friends — the type of people you want in your corner if you are negotiating a complex mortgage or tricky land contract. Also, […]
‘Book’ does not equal ‘baby’
Earlier this month, I finished the first draft of my second novel and posted this photo on social media. A friend commented that “THE END” are the sweetest words in the English language. Are they? When my husband and I were expecting our first daughter, I put a lot of […]
Where are all the Christmas letters?
My parents started writing and sending Christmas card letters back in the late 1970s. Coming up with a new, creative idea and selecting a photo of our family of six was only half of the annual challenge. The other half came when it was time to print, stuff, seal, address […]
Just a small-town editor
Working as a copy editor for a newspaper again feels a lot like reconnecting with an old friend. I’ve worked for dailies, big and small, and there were definitely some perks and attributes I loved about those jobs. Walking through an airport and seeing a front-page I’d edited or a […]
Copy editing: Back in STYLE!
Full disclaimer: I haven’t worked for a daily newspaper since 2003. But back in the day, I lived and dreamed in AP style. Spellcheck was a hindrance tool that only slowed me down. I knew which cities could stand alone in a dateline, and I knew the abbreviations for the […]
Just bring us all the authors!
I have to give a shout-out to the organizers of the Fox Cities Book Festival. You guys really know what you’re doing. A weeklong series of literary events? Book talks and presentations by actual, real-life authors? And it’s all FREE?!? (*picking jaw up from floor and grinning like a fool*) […]