The man I remember as my great grandfather was a fit, bespectacled man with thinning white hair and a kind smile. Wearing a starched white shirt, black pants, and a dark tie, he sat on the grass in a lawn chair one hot, muggy, Wisconsin afternoon, proudly watching his children and grandchildren enjoy spending time together. Even over-dressed for a…
Braha
More Childhood Photos
I’ve spent months going through my late father’s boxes and boxes of photos, slides, and negatives. There were so many that it was overwhelming to even consider trying to scan them and convert to digital media myself. We sent them out in groups of about 1000 each to be professionally scanned and, in some cases, restored. I found a few…
Radio Waves
Recently I had the pleasure of doing an interview with Greg Thomas S., Public Affairs Host of “Conversations” which airs Sunday mornings at 6:00 a.m. on KNDD, KISW, KKWF, KHTP in the Seattle, Washington area. We talked about one of my favorite subjects, genealogy, and how it impacted the story line in Braha. Greg was so delightful to speak with, and…
Braha Book Trailer
The book trailer for Braha is here! Click on the link below to go directly to the trailer on YouTube. Braha Book Trailer
Balm for the Soul
I was very excited to receive two, new, very positive reviews for Braha over the last couple of weeks. Positive reviews never get old and are always encouraging for authors. If you’ve ever read a book you’ve loved, I strongly urge you to send the author a note on Twitter, Facebook or via the author’s website, letting him or her…
New Cover, Just in Time for the Holidays
I’ve been busy working on a new cover for Braha, just in time for the holiday season. The design is more literal than figurative and definitely conveys an air of mystery and intrigue. Take a look and see what you think. I hope you’ll consider buying a copy for your friends who like to read and enjoy a good tale.…
Where in the World
I recently had a DNA testing done through Ancestry.com. As an avid genealogist and the family historian, it seemed like something I should do to validate my research, proving—as much as that’s possible—my roots. When I first thought about it, it didn’t seem seem like there would be much variety in the results. I am half German from my mom’s side of the…
Lisette’s Writer’s Chateau
I was invited to be a part of Lisette Brodey’s Writer’s Chateau this week! We talked about Braha and some of the methods to my madness when it comes to writing. I even revealed a few secrets. I hope you will stop by a visit us. If you have other questions I haven’t answered yet, you can always post them here. Click…
Photos from the Past
Fresh from our family archives is a photo of the village of Grimm, Russia, taken from the side view of a typical home. I suspect the home belongs to a relative of ours, although I cannot confirm that detail. In the foreground, the roof of the home is in disrepair, with part of it actually missing. A small mud and…
Harmony Grove
It’s no secret that the fictional town of Somerville in Braha is based on the town of Escondido, California. I have a strong connection to Escondido, for I spent much time there as a child at my grandparents’ ranch. My grandparents named their farm Ranchito Vida Nueva, or the ranch of new life. For them, it represented the new life they would live…