I am not a child, wife, sister, or mother of a veteran. My dad was too young for active duty during the Korean Police Action. My husband carried a draft card after his eighteenth birthday, but missed the Vietnam War draft. The honors, troubles, and stories did not live in my home. However, Great uncles… Continue reading The True Spirit of Veterans Day: More Than Thank You
Category: Becoming America’s Stories
Why the Ginger and Bright Eyes
I'm a few days late in posting, but November 5th is Love Your Red Hair Day—a perfect moment to celebrate the copper hues and blue eyes that shimmer through my family’s story, even though 23andMe says I’m 96% Southern Italian Sicilian. As expected I had the stereotypical dark hair and deep brown eyes, but the… Continue reading Why the Ginger and Bright Eyes
From St. Patrick’s Day to St. Joseph’s Day
Now that St. Patrick’s Day green is celebrated and the bagpipes exhausted, it is time to focus on St. Joseph Day, March 19th. St. Joseph’s Day is the patron saint of home, family, hard work and carpentry. The day honors Jesus’ foster father, Joseph. In Sicily, my ancestors' homeland, a bountiful table of bread, fruit… Continue reading From St. Patrick’s Day to St. Joseph’s Day
March Weekend Coffee Share
Good morning Everyone. Happy March. It feels a little Lion-y here on the south shore of Long Island, but there are crocuses blooming on the lawn- a Spring sign. It's time to shake off the winter blues and come out of hibernation. Pour your brew. Let's catch up. If we were having coffee together, I… Continue reading March Weekend Coffee Share
Illustrator Extraordinaire
A magical part of children lit are the pictures. Although the words tell a magical story, the illustrations capture the magic. Pairing a writer with the right illustrator is essential to a children’s picture book's success. I believe illustrating children’s books well is an extraordinary talent. Way back some thirty-plus years ago, the Albert Whitman… Continue reading Illustrator Extraordinaire







