Last weekend was amazing. I attended the Between the Pages Writers Conference in Springfield, Missouri. It's a three-day conference held at the Double Tree by Hilton. I love that conference, and it didn't disappoint this year. Bestselling Author Steven James was our keynote speaker. This was the fourth time I've heard him speak, and he was as interesting and engaging as the first time I heard him. He told stories about his kids, his past experiences, and how he finds his idea

Kids have the funniest notions. I spent some time with my older grandson last Friday, and he kept me thoroughly entertained and on my toes. My husband and I agreed to split the time with him because we each had separate things we needed to do that day. I took the morning shift. My grandson and I began our day with breakfast. I was just beginning to cook mine when his mommy dropped him off at my house. When I asked if he was hungry, he assured me that he was not because he had

Last Saturday, I participated in a three-author book signing with my good friends, Author Susan Keene and Author Jen Kenning at Tech N Tales in Ava, Missouri. The signing was a lot of fun. In addition to spending time with my friends, I sold several books, including two to Tech N Tales' owner who will sell them in her shop. If they sell quickly, she'll contact me for more. How cool is that? Tech N Tales is an adorable shop that not only sells books, games, and handmade jewel

I have to brag on Webb City, Missouri, for a moment. While it's no utopia, Webb City seems to actually care about its citizens. They aren't just saying that, either. When their senior citizens were faced with losing their senior center, Webb City stepped in to save it. To locals, this is old news, but I was inspired to write about this when I drove by the Webb City Senior Citizens Center a few days ago and noticed the full parking lot. Knowing how close the community came to

Our friend, Sasha Moody, has written another great article of wisdom and joy for us. I plan to try some of these great calming techniques this week. Thanks, Sasha! Busy parents juggling work and wellness often carry stress all day without being able to name what’s driving it. The tension usually isn’t one big crisis, it’s a steady mix of everyday stress triggers like work-related stress, financial stress sources, and health and wellness stressors that pile up until everything

There is an elderly man who lives on a corner I pass by every morning on my way to work. Most mornings, I see him sitting in his lawn chair with his loyal dog by his side. While his pooch pal soaks up the early morning sun, the gent waves at every car that passes. I don’t know this man, but he makes me smile every time I see him. Yes, I wave back. I look forward to waving at him. Monday mornings are especially rough for me, as they are for most people. Both my husband and I

Last weekend was the 2026 Ozarks Writers League (OWL) Spring Conference. I enjoy our OWL conferences so much because they give me a chance to network and socialize with other authors as well as learn new skills to improve my writing, marketing, and editing. We enjoyed words of wisdom from great professionals in their fields. David Harrison, Greg Stout, and Lia Wu offered insights into marketing and the publication process. They are all accomplished in their fields and shared

I lost a wonderful friend last week. Author Shirley King McCann, a driving force in my writing community, passed away on April 22, 2026. Her passing was a shock and great loss to everyone who knew her. Shirley was the epitome of light and joy. She was always smiling, laughing, and offering to help with whatever task needed to be completed. She inspired other authors not only by her own wonderful writing, but with words of encouragement and affirmations, as well. If there was

As most of you know, I am a writer. One of the things I do to help me improve my craft is attend writing conferences. Today, I’d like to tell you about one of my upcoming conferences. It’s the most economical conference I attend, and I always learn a great deal from it. I may be partial as I do serve on the board of directors, but I think OWL offers one of the best conferences in the region. If you are interested in writing, I would like to invite you to check out our confere

Last week was my birthday. I'm firmly in my mid-fifties, which doesn't seem possible. Time has flown by extremely quickly the last few years. It's difficult to wrap my mind around the fact that my body is aging while my spirit still feels young. As I grow older, I find myself becoming what my husband calls a delicate desert rose. I have a few health conditions, allergies, wrestle with social anxiety and general awkwardness, and my knee has a mind of its own. Easter was a coup

Today was my semi-annual doctor's appointment. Due to a chronic illness, I see my doctor for a checkup twice a year to be certain I'm as healthy as possible. I don't mind seeing her at all. I actually like her very much, which I can't say about many of the doctors I've had in the past. My appointment started like always. I stepped up on the scale. The nurse took my blood pressure. I breathed deeply while she listened to my heart and lungs. I held still while she checked my no

Ozarks Maven's friend, Sasha Moody, has written another great article. After I read it, I knew I had to share it with you, my fabulous readers. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Thank you for sharing another great article, Sasha! For busy professionals, students, and caregivers who identify as introverts, most wellness advice can feel oddly exhausting. The core tension is simple: self-care is often framed as doing more, more social time, more stimulation, more pushing thr

I am an Amazon Associate. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. #ad Last weekend was my semiannual writers' retreat where I get together with approximately a dozen other ladies who share my passion for the written word and spinning a compelling tale. We spent four days tucked away at a campground in rolling hills of Newton County, Missouri, with the focus of writing. Many fine novels have been written at the retreat. I accomplish more during retreat week

Our friend, Sasha Moody, has shared another great article with Ozarks Maven. I thoroughly enjoyed it and found great wisdom in her words. I think we could all benefit from setting our priorities. Thanks for another fabulous article, Sasha! Independent creatives building a living through creative entrepreneurship often hit the same wall: the work itself feels alive, but the business side feels heavy. Artistic pricing struggles can trigger anxiety, admin piles up until it steal

Today, I am spotlighting my friend, Author Terry McDermid. Terry recently released a new nonfiction book, Monday Musings . This book is based on a blog she wrote a few years ago, which I very much enjoyed reading each week. She will be having a book signing for Monday Musings at our favorite local bookstore, Always Buying Books in Joplin, Missouri, on March 14, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. When I heard about her new release, I knew I wanted to interview her. I posed so

Today, we have more seeds of wisdom from our friend, Sasha Moody. Please enjoy her seeds of wisdom. For midlife adults who feel stuck in a familiar routine, steady on the outside, restless on the inside, the hardest part is admitting that the life that once fit no longer does. When work feels flat, relationships feel cramped, or the daily schedule leaves no room to breathe, a career change or fresh start can seem risky, unrealistic, or overdue. A purposeful move can shift mor

I am humbled by gratitude today. I haven't sat down and counted my blessings in a while. I think this is a fine time to do so. Don't get me wrong, it's been a difficult day. I've been awake since 2:00 a.m. due to early morning stomach issues and was busier than a cranberry merchant at work today. However, I was thinking about my life on my drive home this evening. While it's far from perfect, it's pretty darned good. I have a great husband, family and friends who love me, ste

As I sat sipping my afternoon decaf coffee today, it occurred to me that I don't remember ever seeing a coffee shop when I was a kid. The first one I remember was at the mall when I was in college, and it was more known for Italian cream sodas than fancy coffee. Now, I pass at least four coffee shops on my way to work every morning, no matter which route I take. Americans have embraced coffee like never before. What started as a simple morning ritual has transformed into a

The weather has been crazy lately. It was in the seventies today, but I was wearing my heaviest coat and two pairs of gloves last week. My husband and I eat a great deal of soup on a regular basis, but we eat a ton of it when the weather turns cold. We enjoy warm comfort food when the snow blows and ice forms. I've had several requests for my soup, chili, and ham & beans recipes lately. Since I've shared my chili and ham & beans recipes with you before, I decided to share my

My best friend's birthday was last weekend. I took her to lunch at a local restaurant and was giddy to watch her open her birthday present. I went a completely different direction than the sweet things such as candles and candy we usually give each other. She had mentioned to me a month or so ago that she wished she knew how to can. She grows a plentiful garden every summer, and she's been freezing everything. It's a fine way to preserve food, but freezer space is limited. H