Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
A No-Time-To-Cook Recipe to Say Thanks
I can’t tell you how grateful I am for all of you
who’ve reached out to let me know you’ve been buying my books for your friends
& family for the holidays.
Here is a picture I took yesterday of my rock star realtor
(from seven years ago). She swung by to have me sign copies of The Disappearing Key she bought as gifts for her dear friends. So meaningful to visit with her!
As a way of saying thanks, I’m giving you one of my
favorite in-a-hurry, life’s-too-crazy,
hardly-have-a-minute-to-breathe-nonetheless-cook recipes. I forget where it
originally came from, but I hope your family enjoys it as much as mine does!
Yum Pasta
12
oz. linguine pasta
1
15 oz. can of diced tomatoes
1
med. sweet onion (cut in ¼ strips)
4
cloves of garlic (or I use tablespoons of the wet in a jar)
¼
tsp. dried oregano leaves
4
½ c. vegetable broth
2
tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
Fresh
basil leaves (10-12)
Parmesan
cheese (as much as desired)
Place
pasta, tomato, and sliced onion in large pot (with herbs + garlic). Pour in
veggie broth. Sprinkle on red pepper flakes & oil. Cover & bring to a
boil. Keep covered for 10 min. or until pasta is cooked. Stir in basil and
parmesan. Yum!
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Raising Imaginations
I’m passionate about encouraging my children to imagine possibilities. Even Albert Einstein knew the value of using your imagination. “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.”
As parents we can find specific and creative ways to ignite
the imaginative sparks in our children. I love the idea of cutting out a
portion of an image from a magazine and letting my girls fill in the rest.
I just so happened to read the following quote from Flannery
O’Connor yesterday as well.
“A good story is literal in the same sense that a child’s
drawing is literal. When a child draws, he doesn’t intend to distort but to set
down exactly what he sees, and as his gaze is direct, he sees the lines that
create motion.”
Let’s get out there and create motion, people!
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
6 Things Writing Has Taught Me about Life
I always find it a little crazy when life imitates my art.
An event will play out and I’ll think, Hey,
I wrote about that years ago.
There you have it. Six ways being a writer has seeped into my non-writing life.
Do you feel the overflow of your career spilling into who you are outside of work?
Know what else is crazy in the coolest of ways? How I’ve
learned things in my career as a writer that have spilled valuable insights
over into the rest of my life.
Here are just a few…
Edit as I go
I used to be a yeller. Yep, catch me in the midst of a fight
fifteen years ago and I had no qualms about slinging shouts. Not anymore. I’ve
grown to see how ineffective yelling is. And as with writing and understanding
the importance of editing, I like how I’m able to change as I grow.
Help with letting go
I have three girls. They started out as babies. Sort of how
it works, doesn’t it? But they’re rapidly aging. And there’s nothing I can do
to slow down the process.
When I publish a book I feel like I hand the story baton to
my readers. Or as though I send the novel off like pushing a toy boat on a
windy day across rippling waters. I let go.
I’ve tapped into this same mindset at certain moments as a
parent. Thanks writing. I owe you for your help with this one.
Remaining open to
learning & change
In case you’ve been asleep for the past ten years, a lot has
changed in the publishing industry. Independent publishing no longer has the
reek of Limburger cheese. In fact, it’s widely respected when done
with great consideration, knowledge, and planning.
Newsflash: I’m not always going to be right as a parent.
Truth be told, I get it wrong about 78% of the time. You’re thinking why on
earth would I share this, aren’t you? Well, I’ll tell you why. Because I’m
passionate about learning, about paying attention, and about riding the waves
as a mom and member of society. I want to make a great impact with the little
time I have here. In order to do that, I must be receptive to what works. And
what doesn’t.
Managing expectations
I used to think every holiday had to materialize like a
Normal Rockwell painting. In other words I wanted the perfect life.
Somewhere along the way I realized that’s a farce. (My kids would laugh if I
read that word out loud. Oh, language.) Things get messy. Feelings get hurt.
Clothes live on my bedroom floor. Instead of promising myself every morning
I’ll clean the entire house, tackle 50 pages of my novel, and write Congress letters
about everything that’s troubling me, I get real.
As a writer I know how much time it takes to build an
audience—to find my peeps. I’ve learned how to apply this throughout the rest
of my life, mindful not to set myself up for disappointment unnecessarily.
Be brave & Take
risks
Sneaking two in one, eh? Why yes, yes I am. Takes a certain
kind of bravery to do that. Anyway, rejection is the Mr. Miyagi of publishing.
It keeps you humble, and challenges your degree of determination. After I
endure a humbling event related to my writing, I have a tendency to wax on,
then wax off. I jump back up with hands raised, ready to fight.
I can’t take credit for why I’m so stubbornly committed.
Part of my wiring perhaps.
Love when that wiring is connected to other areas of passion
in my life like my marriage, and parenting.
Spread the love
I used to think writing had to be a solitary act. Well, in a
way it is. But in so many beautiful ways it’s fanned out for me. I’m in touch
with hundreds of other writers who are devoted to encouraging one another. I
meet these writers at conferences and online and I can’t tell you how deep my
gratitude goes for them.
Contrasting what I thought my path would be as a writer hunkered
in, startled by sounds, and on the edge of agoraphobia to instead readily enjoying
the many blessings of connecting with fellow writers, reminds me to express
gratitude in every area of my life. I’m thankful for my friends who are vastly
different than me. I’m challenged to exude love even when it’s difficult
because so very much love has been given to me.There you have it. Six ways being a writer has seeped into my non-writing life.
Do you feel the overflow of your career spilling into who you are outside of work?
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Unveiling My New Cover
Guess you could call me a fertile novelist. I’m so excited
to reveal the cover of a new book I have coming out in February called, THE
DELICATE NATURE OF LOVE.
Another nod to Sarah Thompson who did a magnificent
job creating this cover.
Continue to visit here and my Facebook page for more details
(especially some major promotions I’m having fun planning)…
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Winners of the Key Book Clubs from Coast to Coast...
Congratulations to
the Keller book club!
You won the Key Book Clubs from Coast to Coast Contest.
Out of twenty-three
(that I knew about) groups who met to discuss The Disappearing Key, over the
course of this past year, this is the winning group. Each member will receive
an individual key-related gift from me.
Here’s a glimpse at
the basket of goodies…
And again, Congratulations to the winning crew!
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
The Dresser Project
I had a blast taking on this beauty recently. I bought it for five bucks at a yard sale.
I sanded it down and slapped on two coats of Annie Sloan Old White paint, after staining the top Ebony and coating it with a clear glossy wax.
(Streaks of pink kept bleeding through in small areas, which I learned often happens with furniture from the 30s & 40s. I coated those areas with clear wax & then painted over it as soon as it dried.)
Then I got down to business distressing. I sanded the edges and worked it over good. In certain areas I used a pencil eraser to add in a darker stain (the same Ebony stain as I used for the top).
And here's the end result...
And one with a very curious dog...
Many of you know me as a writer and a mom. But this is a whole other side of me.
I love working with furniture.
Do you have a hobby not many people know about?
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Delighting in the Imaginary
I’m reading Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks.
It’s books like this that make me insanely appreciative that I’m able to read.
And it’s books like this that bring me back to Laura and Gin Gin—my pretend
friends from childhood. A witch and a ghost respectively. (I was born on
Halloween.) Even though I had three older sisters, I still delighted in and
sought out the company of Laura and Gin Gin.
Imagination was encouraged in our house growing up. I hope
to pass this love of the possible on to my girls. There’s something electric,
beautiful, and freeing when the mind is uncaged. Potential has a heartbeat of
its own. I want to hear the pulse of that beat in my house always.
The imaginary keeps finding a way to reinvent itself in my
life. To the point it often hopes to be mistaken for what’s real. I’m now
referring to my characters. They can be feisty and stubbornly present. They
interrupt during conversations, set up camp in my yard, and infiltrate my
dreams. But I admit this with a smile on my face. Because stirred up from the
dust are electric and beautiful beings my mind has figured out how to free.
So whether I’m daydreaming about shapes in the clouds with
my children, characters on a mission in my WIP, or skipping amidst questions that
begin with the infamous “what if,” I say long live it all. Long live the
imaginary.
“It's true that writing is a solitary occupation, but you
would be surprised at how much companionship a group of imaginary characters
can offer once you get to know them.” Anne Tyler
Did you have pretend
friends growing up? Do your children?
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
What Is It about Book Clubs . . .
that I love so much?
I won’t be bashful. I’ll come right out and give you ten
things that get me jazzed about book clubs.
1.
They’re breeding grounds for laughter.
2.
Book clubs provide mental stimulation. It’s like
Lumosity for literature lovers (say that 10 times fast).
3.
I’m able to reflect upon a book once I’ve read
it, exploring concepts and characters at a more felt level.
4.
I discuss topics and characters in ways I’d
never have the opportunity to do in other circumstances.
5.
When I’m visiting a group that’s read one of my
books, I’m always amazed what readers teach me about my characters and stories.
It’s insanely rewarding to hear the takeaways.
6.
Book clubs conjure an appreciation for
literature and books that have rocked my world in the past. There’s this
magical invisible weave that strings from one mind-blowing book to the next.
7.
Book groups are wonderful settings to receive
and sift through diverse opinions.
8.
They make me feel less alone, as women come
together and open up in refreshingly honest conversations.
9.
They introduce me to new authors.
10.
Okay I’ll admit it, I’m a sucker for the food
& wine, too.
If your book club is interested in reading THE DISAPPEARING
KEY or THE FLOWER GIRLS, I’d love know. Please send me an email with the
details. If you’re local, I’ll make the effort to visit in person. I’ve also
Skyped and spoken on the phone with clubs before, too.
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Facing the Inevitable Hard Decision
There are times in life when we all have to make difficult
decisions. They can feel like someone cracking open our chest with a crowbar or
these moments can feel more subtle, like scratching off a scab.
No matter how it
feels, I happen to believe it matters how we take on times of decision.
Here are a few things that I’ve gleaned from going through challenging
times of resolution. . .
Confront the Situation
Honestly
No use pretending conflict away. It’s not going anywhere. In
fact, hear that? It’s your conscience knocking, telling you it’s time. I know
it’s tempting to blow something off when you don’t want to deal with it. Or to
sugarcoat and twist it to be something more innocuous than it really is. Take
off the rose-colored glasses and face it for the ugly green monster it is.
Recognize Patterns
Pattern behavior can serve as a wonderful guide when you’re
wondering whether or not you think someone will change. Can people change? I
absolutely believe they can, but I also believe if they’re demonstrating
similar behavior repeatedly, it’s time to pay attention. Which leads me to. . .
Be Realistic about
Expectations
It’s helpful to take a good hard look at your role in the
situation. Are you the one who needs to make some adjustments? Have you done
anything to make the decision more challenging than it has to be? Let your
emotions take over? Lacked empathy? Demonstrated apathy? It’s important to have
realistic expectations of how things will play out after your decision is imparted.
Consult Trusted
Mentors & Friends
It’s wise to receive valuable insight from people who’ve
made smart choices in the past. Reach out. You might be surprised by what you
learn. It also provides comfort and accountability, so you can be reminded that you’re not alone.
Take Care of Yourself
in the Process
Stress can wreak havoc on the body. Think Space Invaders on
your healthy cells. Be mindful of this. Get plenty of rest. Take walks.
Breathe. I still appreciate the scene in My
Best Friend’s Wedding when Julia Roberts is on the floor of the hotel,
crushed, and the concierge bends down and tells her, “This too shall pass.”
It’s a great thing to say to yourself during times like these.
Maintain Integrity
Because emotions are generally inflamed when you endure trials,
it would be easy to whip up some pies like those found in the pages of The Help. Yep, you know what I’m
referring to. But don’t. Don’t go pooping in your pies. Keep focused. Remember
who you want to be in times like this. Cling to character and class no matter how
hurt you feel. It’ll speak volumes.
Hope in the Future
Life’s pretty cool in that it keeps on going. You don’t
enter a comatose state once you’ve followed through with your decision. You go
on. Life goes on. So Obladi. Oblada . . . make it count.
Ever have to make a
hard decision? What helped you in the process?
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Five Surprising Ways You Could Be Unintentionally Hurting Yourself
I admit, I write this with five sites open, from my glass
house. But I feel it. When I’ve spent too much time online and not playing
fetch with my dog or getting outside I miss fresh air. My chest gets that
cobwebby feeling and my legs cramp up after I’ve spent too much cross-legged
time at my desk.
I’ve written about this before, but an overabundance of time
online can also complicate things in regards to comparing with others, planting
unrealistic impressions, and creating a false sense of security.
The Glorification of
Busy
Yep, this is me again. Writing and watching as the words
appear behind my glass computer
screen. There’s something to be said for unencumbered simplicity. Let’s get
back there. Let’s find it again. Even if it means having to get creative with
carpools and letting the laundry go another day. (However, one of my favorite
Pinterest pins says, ‘Laundry today or Naked tomorrow.’)
Processing Something
to Death
I’m a processor. Don’t believe me? I used to call the woman
I coached soccer with to discuss how our recreational soccer games went.
Believe me now?
But I’m not really referring to kid soccer games here. I’m
talking about a deep hurt or a bitterness that you stroke again and again,
thinking it’s helping you sort it out and get over it. When really, it’s not.
It’s just a way for you to remember the hurt. To massage it as a validation the
scar went deep and you are entitled to your pain. You are entitled to your pain. So feel it and get through it. Don’t
fall into the trap of mistaking processing for coddling.
Refusing to Admit When
You’re Stuck
Eh hem. Me again. Writing from the pit. Got a hand?
The only reason I can speak to any of these points is
because I’ve lived them or I’m still living them. And I’ve encountered
firsthand evidence of the damage they cause. This one gets tricky because we
can be really skilled at calling stuck something other than what it is. I’m
“granting grace” or I’m getting older and no one expects as much from me as
they used to. How about just plain being unwilling to try something new or
getting a little too comfortable with your pit surroundings.
Being stuck is not a crime. Once we acknowledge that we’re
having difficulty moving, we’re a lot more likely to seek out the reasons why.
And then maybe we’ll even do something about it.
Mistaking
Impulsiveness for Calculated Risks
I’m a risk taker so I’m quite familiar with this one. It
comes down to discerning whether I’m basing my decision on feelings, experience,
or something else. One of the best ways you can tell if you’re simply being
impulsive is when you’re unwilling or hesitant to consider the potential
consequences that could result from your dive. This is exceedingly important
when you look down and discover there’s no water in the pool.
I like to pass on what I’ve learned and what I’m learning.
Hope these thoughts help you today as they’ve helped me.
Can you think of any other ways we might be hurting
ourselves without knowing it?
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Don’t Let ‘Em Fool You (& some song lyrics)
A lot of exciting things have been happening in my life
lately. Book signings. Just read a great write-up in the local paper about me
entitled, “The Sweet Taste of Success.” Reviews for both of my books are
strong. My husband and I are about to celebrate our fifteenth anniversary. My
girls are back in school and I’m working hard on another story I can’t wait to
share with you. I post some of this on social media. And some day-to-day
happenings I keep to myself. To stroke and play with like a soft little bunny.
When I thought about what I wanted to blog about today my
mind kept snagging on the word image. Particularly image on Facebook.
Life has a tendency to appear quite rosy on Facebook. For
you. For me. For all of us. It’s only natural we want to put our best out
there, but I wanted to share in this post how life isn’t a status update. It
isn’t the best picture of twenty. It’s more than just the images we put out
there of us when we’re in public or laughing with friends.
Life is a mixed bag. And while I respect that it’s wise not
to dump our emotional baggage online at anyone who will click it open, I also
think it’s good to remind ourselves that life isn’t a snapshot on Facebook.
Social media is only a glimpse, and a glimpse we choose to share at that.
So in light of what I just wrote, I’m going to be candid.
There’s a lot more going on in my life than book signings and articles that dub
me a success. I often fight feelings of failure. I grieve friendships and find
myself singing the following Bob Marley lyrics every so often. “Good friends we
have. Good friends we’ve lost along the way.” Even though we have an adorable
new pup, I still miss our old dog a lot. I get sad about family members
battling sicknesses. I get frustrated with middle school girls who act rude. I
have trouble acting normal when I’m nervous (nod to Counting Crows lyrics).
“And I’m gonna be forty.” (In a little over a year, but
still Meg Ryan understands.)
So I write all this to remind you…
We’re in this together, people. And it’s never as real as it
seems online. Don’t let ‘em fool you. (Hey, I do believe that’s Bob, too.)
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Where in the World is Wendy?
Where in the World is Wendy?
Apparently at all the local coffee shops. As you know, books
and coffee go together. I know this, too. That’s why I’ve made the rounds at
all our fantastic local coffee shops.
Here I am at a Q&A book discussion for my book, The Disappearing Key
at Daybreak Coffee
Roasters in November.
Me again doing a spontaneous “superstar” move at
Down to Earth Coffee House last month.
Where will Wendy go next?
So. G Coffee Roasters. I’ll be selling & signing copies
of The Disappearing Key & The Flower Girls there
THIS SATURDAY, August 30th
from Noon-3pm
“There's not enough coffee in the world to fuel all the books I want to write.” Chris Stocking
(In other words, my coffee tour very well might just be at its beginning.)
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
The School of Life: Seven Powerful Lessons I Hope to Impress Upon My Girls
School is back in session next week. My girls will get their
heads jammed full of all kinds of knowledge. However, there are some lessons I
hope I’m instilling in each of them on a day-to-day basis. I thought I’d share
seven with you today.
The Value in
Investing in Something Greater than Yourself
Whether it’s by signing up for a Love 146 walk, collecting
winter wear for the homeless, or making regular trips to Goodwill, I want my kids
to see me making sacrifices for
others.
Resiliency is
Character-Building
Life knocks us down. People knock us down. We do well enough
knocking ourselves down. The key is getting back up. It’s during the process of
shaking off the dust that we begin to understand what we’re made of.
Creativity during
Life’s Waits
I’m fairly certain 94.279387594375 % of life is spent waiting
for something. Case in point, here is a little play-by-play of my “wait” list.
Grow up. Get my period (yeah, what was I excited about on that one?), first
kiss, boyfriend (wait, isn’t that backwards?), graduate, college, first place,
job that suits me, marry, have babies, discover my calling (my life seems a tad
out of order), see the fruit of that discovery grow to its full potential
(still waiting). See where I’m coming from? And I didn’t even mention lines at
the grocery store or Marshalls.
I do something earthshattering while I’m waiting in line with
my girls. I ask them questions…we talk.
Kindness Trumps
Argumentativeness, Hubris, or Inaction
Trust me, there are times I feel like Venus Flytrapping some
people. When I witness road rage. Entitlement. Flat out ignorance or
selfishness. Yep, want to swallow those suckers whole only to spit them out in
a sewage plant. However, it’s a good practice, when tempted to practice
kindness. Not fakeness. Not flattery. But a moment of slipping out of my own
thoughts and attempting to enter theirs. Then doing something (albeit
oftentimes small) about it.
Discipline
I’ve written eleven novels in less than seven years. That
alone is enough to send the message I’m serious. That I’m invested. My girls
see what I give up in order to devote time to writing. Little spies…they see
everything.
Tenacity
Where passion lives, get tenacious. That’s the message I
hope computes. Also, don’t give up easily. Become resourceful. When the time
calls, speak up. Be a voice that’s not only heard, it’s heeded.
The Beauty of Empathy
I’m one of those people who has a horrible time remaining in
my chair if I see someone crying across the room. Could be a complete stranger
in tears. I have to fight not to leap toward them and smother them in a hug.
Backing off from this a tad, I hope I’m teaching my girls to take risks with
this one. To ask someone who’s crying if they’re okay. To stick up for a kid being
picked on during recess. To go out of their way to the point where it feels a
little uncomfortable in order to let someone else know they matter.
There are many other messages I’d love to know my kids are
receiving, that are becoming a part of how they perceive their role in this
world. But these are the biggies I wanted to share with you today.
Have you ever given
thought to what your kids are learning outside of school?
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Restored Buoyancy
“Writing and reading decrease our
sense of isolation. They deepen and widen and expand our sense of life: they
feed the soul. When writers make us shake our heads with the exactness of their
prose and their truths, and even make us laugh about ourselves or life, our
buoyancy is restored. We are given a shot at dancing with, or at least clapping
along with, the absurdity of life, instead of being squashed by it over and
over again. It's like singing on a boat during a terrible storm at sea. You
can't stop the raging storm, but singing can change the hearts and spirits of
the people who are together on that ship.”
~ Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Cheers to My Endorsers and Their Recent Releases
I seriously considered who I wanted to ask to
potentially endorse my latest work. I was so grateful the four women I’m
highlighting in this post today responded to The Flower Girls with such praise
(read their reactions below).
Here’s what these talented authors had to say about my
recent release, The Flower Girls:
Each of the authors who endorsed The Flower Girls has
somewhat recently released a book of their own.
Today I wanted to shine the
spotlight on them.
Susan Schoenberger ~
The Virtues of Oxygen
Susan’s first published novel, "A Watershed Year,"
won the 2006 gold medal for novel in the William Faulkner William Wisdom
Creative Writing Competition. She’s agented by Jessica Regel with Foundry
Literary + Media.
Her second novel, "The Virtues of Oxygen," released
by Lake Union in July. Susan works as a communications director and teaches
writing.
Michelle DeRusha ~
Spiritual Misfit
A Massachusetts native, Michelle DeRusha moved to Nebraska
in 2001, where she discovered the Great Plains, grasshoppers the size of
Cornish hens ... and God. She writes about finding and keeping faith in the
everyday at http://michellederusha.com,
as well as for the Lincoln Journal Star, Prodigal Magazine and The High
Calling.
She's mom to two bug-loving boys, Noah and Rowan, and is married to Brad, an English professor who reads Moby Dick for fun.
She's mom to two bug-loving boys, Noah and Rowan, and is married to Brad, an English professor who reads Moby Dick for fun.
Katie Ganshert ~ A Broken Kind of Beautiful
Christy Award finalist and Carol Award winner, Katie
Ganshert, graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison with a degree
in education, and worked as a fifth grade teacher for several years before
staying home to write full-time. She was born and raised in the Midwest, where
she lives with her husband, their young son, and their goofy black lab, Bubba.
When she’s not busy writing or playing or reading or snuggling, she is
obsessing over the paperwork and the waiting that comes with adoption.
Lisa Verge Higgins ~
Random Acts of Kindness
Lisa Verge Higgins
is the RITA-nominated author of sixteen novels that have been published
worldwide and translated into as many languages--quite a switch for this former
PhD candidate in chemistry. Now this opera loving mother of three is creating
heartwarming new stories revolving around women's lives and women's friendship.
THE PROPER CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF FRIENDSHIP,
her first foray into mainstream women's fiction, won the 2011 Golden Leaf Award
for Best Single Title, and was chosen as one of the top twenty novels of the
year by the Barnes & Noble General Fiction Book Club. Her second book, ONE GOOD FRIEND DESERVES ANOTHER,
cracked the same list in 2012. Find out more about Lisa--and peruse the first
few chapters of her books-- at www.lisavergehiggins.com. If you'd like to hear about her
"life with three teenage daughters," she'd love for you to join her
at www.facebook.com/lisavergehiggins.
Lisa currently lives in New Jersey with her husband and their three teenage daughters, who never fail to make life interesting.
Lisa currently lives in New Jersey with her husband and their three teenage daughters, who never fail to make life interesting.
Cheers Susan, Michelle,
Katie, & Lisa!
May you continue to
find joy in writing, may your readership grow, and may characters and ideas meet
you in your dreams until you make a home for them on the page.
“Alternating between
identical twin narrators with tragic secrets between them, Wendy Paine Miller’s
THE FLOWER GIRLS examines what it means to recognize -- or not recognize --
ourselves in others. It’s a moving contemporary tale of blame, jealousy,
longing, and how old scars can finally mend.”
–Susan Schoenberger,
award-winning author of A WATERSHED YEAR and THE VIRTUES OF OXYGEN
“An expertly woven tale of drama, mystery,
suspense and romance, THE FLOWER GIRLS is, at its core, a deeply moving story
about the intricacies of sisterhood, the unshakable bonds of family loyalty and
the power of forgiveness, healing and above all, love. Thanks to Wendy Paine Miller’s unique gift
for creating approachable, compelling, intriguing characters, you’ll find yourself
pondering her two narrators – identical twins Daisy and Poppy – as well as your
own familial relationships – long after you turn the last page of this riveting
read.”
–Michelle DeRusha, author of SPIRITUAL MISFIT:
A MEMOIR OF UNEASY FAITH
“Deftly told and beautifully written, THE FLOWER
GIRLS is a story about the bonds of sisterhood, the power of forgiveness, and
the pain and the freedom that comes with letting go. Add in some long-buried
secrets, intriguing family lore, a splash of romance and readers are in for a
real treat!”
–Katie Ganshert, award-winning author of A BROKEN KIND OF
BEAUTIFUL
“Wendy Paine Miller writes with gentle wisdom
about the complexities of family relationships burdened with blame, secrets and
loss. A poignant, emotional story about guilt, love, family, and the indestructible
ties of sisterhood. Fans of Kristin Hannah will love THE FLOWER GIRLS!”
–Lisa
Verge Higgins, author of RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS
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Taking Time
college applications homecoming flag football basketball SATs ...
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Several months ago, after a doctor visit I discovered I’m vitamin B12 deficient. There were signs something was off. I’m glad I got to the...
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Armadillos are unique creatures. Recently I decided I share a lot in common with the armadillo (leave it to me to make a connection like thi...