Ha!
Back to Work
Writer footgear
Thanksgiving’s over. Over, I say. No more turkey. No more lounging on the couch. No more crossword puzzles with pie. It’s time to get back to work.
Good thing I like work.
I suppose it’s been said before, but one of the nice perks of being a writer is the footgear.
Rainbow with Flying Saucers
Rainbow with 3 Flying Saucers
Having snapped this photo of a rainbow, I was delighted to discover afterward that the picture includes three flying saucers as well. What a fortunate coincidence that they happened to be orbiting in range. Enjoy!
Summer Family Reunion
Log-rolling nieces.
We meet every July on a lake in northern Minnesota to pass the sunscreen and rediscover how we are a family. We played volleyball (10 vs 10), barefoot soccer and Ping Pong, swam, canoed, log-rolled, paddle boarded, water-skied, water-tubed, jigsaw puzzled, ate scrumptiously, read books, wrote in the log, sang around the piano, and played ukulele, guitar, and chess. The kids organized the annual harrumph, which in our family is not an expression of disapproval, but rather a show featuring magic tricks and musical performances. Families took turns… Continue reading
Pokemon Going
I have captured 8 Pokémon, you’ll be pleased to know.
Surely by now you’ve seen troops of people wandering around with their phones, flicking their fingers on the screens and chortling. I have yet to master any subtleties of Pokémon Go, but no matter.
It’s a charming experience to see yourself as a character walking in a landscape that matches your own, especially when goofy cartoon creatures magically appear for you to lobby with Pokémon balls. 
My whole family’s playing, naturally. It’s kind of like we’ve all agreed to… Continue reading
Happy Trails
I distinctly recall sitting at my desk in my 5th grade classroom, looking out the window past the pencil sharpener to the green of the playground and longing for summer vacation. Soon, I thought. Soon I’ll be free.
June freedom still calls to me, and I luxuriate in the long sunny evenings and weekends of adventure. I hope you soon find yourself on a hammock with a book, on a screen porch with a frosty glass of lemonade, or in a canoe with a dog. Embrace the kid in your heart heart. Happy trails.
The Rule of Mirrors Is Out!
The Rule of Mirrors in the wild. From left: Laura Smith, Nancy O’Brien Wagner, Caragh O’Brien, and Tomy O’Brien III. The Red Balloon Bookshop, St. Paul, MN February 16, 2016.
Yay! The Rule of Mirrors is out!
My sisters Laura and Nancy and my nephew Tomy accompanied me to the Red Balloon Bookshop in St. Paul today to seek out copies of my new novel and rejoice. I am so happy about this book!
To all of my friends and family who have been so supportive while… Continue reading