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

Today, we have another great article by our financial guru, Sasha Moody. She shares some great ideas that I hope you'll enjoy. For busy parents juggling rent or a mortgage, groceries, and childcare, a recession can make every decision feel heavier. The economic downturn impact shows up fast, hours get cut, prices rise, and savings that once felt “fine” suddenly look fragile. Those recession challenges can push even careful households into constant worry, but they can also be

Here in my corner of Missouri, it's supposed to get down to 16 degrees tonight. While this is par for the course around here during the winter, I thought I might share a few seeds of wisdom for the new people who haven't dealt with temperatures like this before. It's important to drip your water in the house when the temperature drops into the 20s and below. You don't have to run it; just a steady drip will do the trick. The reason for dripping water is to keep water moving t

This week, Sasha Moody is generously sharing another thoughtful article. I hope you enjoy her seeds of wisdom as much as I did. For busy parents juggling work, bills, and family goals, money can feel like it disappears faster than it’s earned. The challenge often isn’t math, it’s negative money mindsets and financial biases that quietly steer everyday financial decision making, especially the pull of immediate gratification. Those patterns can sabotage savings, create guilt a

The holidays are over, and now the bills are coming due. Did you overspend this past holiday season? Many people did. It's the norm these days. With the new year, maybe it's time try a new approach to paying those bills. I'm actually pleasantly surprised with my totals. I did spend more than I intended, but most of my holiday shopping was done with cash or my debit card this year. I do have some credit card debt due to online purchases, but I'm happy to say I should be able t

2025 is quickly coming to an end, and 2026 is right around the bend. See what I did there? Every once in a while, I embrace my inner poet. As I contemplate all that 2025 has brought, I am struck by how many big changes occurred in a short twelve months. Some were good, some were bad, and some were devastating. Let's talk about the good things first. I try to focus on the positive things in life, so it's a great place to start. I was honored to have my novel, Sally's Secret Le

I have shared this Christmas memory a few times, but it bears sharing again. Dad loved Christmas, he played an amazing Santa. I wasn’t the only child he made feel special on Christmas. Christmas was a very big deal when I was a little girl. My family celebrated with all of our extended family back then. We travelled half the state to attend at least four gatherings every year. Dad was always Santa at every party. One year, it almost came crashing down around him. We were cele

It's amazing how life changes so quickly. One decision can change everything. I have posted this story before, but I feel the need to...