Why I Write and What I Write

I wrote the article below for the Southern Writer’s Magazine’s Blog a few months ago. It is still very relevant now. Why I Write and What I Write At this point in my life by all rights I should be retired. I’ve just turned seventy-nine, and no where does it say I need to keep sitting at my computer every day and write. But I do sit there – usually from ten in the morning until about two in the afternoon. Sometimes I’ll even go back for more later in the day. I got into this habit in the early 2000s when I started writing my memoir, Leaving the Hall Light On (Dream  of Things). That expanded to writing poetry, essays for my blog and other people’s websites, and journaling. By the time my memoir was published in 2011, I was already working on my historical novel, Papa’s Shoes, which has just been released by Aberdeen Bay publishers. And that’s not the end of it. I still write poetry – I write at least one poem a week except in November and April when I write a poem a day to … [Read more...]

Southern Writers Magazine Suite T Blog

I was honored to be asked to write a post for the Southern Writers Magazine Suite T blog this week. For those of you who haven't seen it, I've reblogged it here. Please go over and read some other blog posts - actually explore the whole site. It's a wonderful place to promote your book. You even have an opportunity to post an audio excerpt from your book and showcase your book trailer. My audio excerpt is at Take Five and my book trailer is at Must Read TV. Also find out about guest posting here.   Writing to Heal and Save Lives   By Madeline Sharples   I aspired to be a writer since grade school, and by the time, I was in high school I was determined to be a journalist. Working on the high school newspaper made me even more determined. As it turned out, I attended the University of Wisconsin School of Journalism and took all the courses necessary for the degree. However, I transferred to the University of California at Los Angeles for my senior year because of … [Read more...]