Some of what I’m to share here may upset some readers and for that I apologize. First of all, let me say George Washington was a great leader and perhaps the most important founding father. There is little question about that. But, I leaned from the extensive research into the American Revolution I did for my new novel, ABIGAIL TRENCH, George Washington was not the myth he's been made out to be. He was truly human, vulnerable, full of faults and contradictions. First, the un

"Fake news,” has become a common refrain of President Trump and other politicians lately. Sometimes what is tagged in the media as possible fake news is a story or misinformation plot planted by Russia or some other adversary and even a bot. But often, what politicians refer to as “fake news” today is a news story with a slant or opinion they believe is wrong, though seldom is the news completely fake or made up. The same could not be said of “reporting” in the time of our

History is written by the victors…most of the time by men. So it is hardly surprising that women are given little mention in the telling of the founding of our nation. If students are taught about any women famous for this time, they may have learned about Betsy Ross, who’s given credit for sewing the first flag for the new country. Or if they had a particularly insightful American History teacher, they may have learned how Abigail Adams, devoted wife of John Adams, became th

A few weeks ago, I met an aspiring writer who asked, “Do you plot your stories out so you know where you going or do you wing it and see where it takes you?” she asked. “I’ve heard both can work.” My answer was, “Of course both can work. I know writers who succeed using either method.” The young lady persisted, “But what about you?” I explained, “Basically , I’m part plotter and part pantser.” For my Haunted Shores Mysteries, I do an exte

“There are more people in slavery now than at any time in human history.” At my latest visit to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio, I was chilled by what I learned about the history of slavery in this country. The curated exhibits with the actual shackles, the cramped slave pen where 12 bodies struggled to find space on the floor and the detailed blueprint of a slave ship complete with an illustration of slaves shov

A few years ago, when I was still active in my work in schools, several of my talented primary teachers had their students write letters to Santa. From time to time, these teachers would share a few, especially when the messages made you bend over with laughter or rip your heart out. Sometimes it takes children to remind us about the meaning and fun in Christmas…and perhaps put a mirror up to ourselves. I wish I’d kept some of those dandies but I wasn’t that smart or prescien

Each October, I offer a blog about the world of ghosts. For 2025, I thought I’d go Native, Native American, that is. As I’ve shared my ghost talks with more than 150 groups and organizations across the country, I discuss how the belief in ghosts is integral to every religion in the world. Whether believers are Christian or Jewish, Hindu or Muslim, one part of the dogma of every faith is the belief in ghosts. The same is true of ghosts in Native American religions. Since my n