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This book was incredible! If you're interested in the settlement of the American West it's a must read.

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Bluebird Addendum: Message Received!

This morning at 6:08 a.m. the tapping on the window resumed. Mr. Bluebird has still not given up. And perhaps the reason is that it wasn’t until this morning that his true message was received, literally with the dawn. It takes me awhile to think things through. Yesterday I was taken by his persistence. In applying that to myself, it didn’t really fit. If anything, I tend to be too driven to…

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One Determined Bluebird

You can learn a lot about a person, including yourself, by looking at your thumb. Yes, that side-mounted digit that enables humans and primates to do things other animals can’t. According to palmistry, the upper joint represents will and the lower joint, logic. Ideally, they’re the same size. If so, you’ll have the will to put forth the effort to see your ideas to completion. If the top joint…

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The Fascinating World We Cannot See

If you’ve read any books in the Dead Horse Canyon trilogy you’ve encountered numerous instances where Charlie received a message from something other than another human being. In the Cheyenne culture these messengers are known as the maiyun, or spirit helpers. When I was writing these stories and Charlie would come across one, I always wondered if it was a stretch, my imagination getting out of…

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Thoughts on Occam's Razor

Stop for a moment and make a list of your daily annoyances. Now give them some thought. Can you talk yourself out of being bothered by them? Is there something you can do to eliminate them? Or are they just a part of life you have to live with? Since merging households with my youngest daughter, her husband, and their three teens I’ve had a lot of adjustments to make after living on my own for…

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More Action and Laughs in Twinkle, Texas Await!

Review of The Pact (Katz’s Cat Twinkle Texas  Cozy Mystery Series, Book 4) by Dawn Greenfield Ireland If you’re looking for a book to chill out with when everything else about this insane planet is just too much, I highly recommend this latest book in the Katz’s Cat Twinkle Texas Cozy Mystery Series. It doesn’t take long to get hooked on these charming characters and feel as if you life in the…

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Co-Author Matchmaking

Have you ever wondered how Pete Risingsun, a Northern Cheyenne elder living on the tribe’s reservation in southeastern Montana, and Marcha Fox, a science fiction author living in Texas, became coauthors? If so, you’ll want to read the article published by the staff of Soaring Eagle, the charitable organization that supports the Heritage Living Center for Northern Cheyenne elders where Pete…

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Did I Channel this Trilogy?

Okay, folks. Here’s the deal. Pete Risingsun, my coauthor, and I did a vast amount of research when we wrote “The Curse of Dead Horse Canyon” trilogy. The depiction of the Cheyenne culture is accurate. The history referred to in the stories really happened, save that which was clearly made-up, though even that was feasible. Abandoned mines definitely are a pollution issue. The astrology is…

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May 5, 2025 is MMIWG Awareness Day

Join me in standing with Native communities in their grief and anger over theirstolen sisters and children. This MMIW Awareness Day, we remember all thosewho were never found and those who live with trauma and without the peace that justice can bring. I stand with Native communities in calling for reform and actionfrom local and national governments and law enforcement so we can all worktogether…

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Awareness is Key

Missing and murdered indigenous women and girls (MMIWG) is but another critical issue that never makes it to the news. This is even more likely if you don’t live in one of the states most highly affected such as Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Montana, and various others. Major highways known for drug and human trafficking often cross remote areas of Indian reservations, conditions that make the…

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How Much Do You Know About MMIWG?

What is MMIW Awareness Day? May 5th is MMIW Day, a day to raise awareness for the widespread anger andsadness in First Nation communities because of the missing and murdered womenand children in their communities. A red hand over the mouth has become thesymbol of a growing movement toward awareness, accountability, and advocacy.The red hand represents the silence of the media, law enforcement…

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Navigating the Review from Hell

I believe that most artists, like myself, are basically insecure. Especially those of us who are perfectionists. We’re acutely aware of any flaws in our work and cringe at their discovery. Nonetheless, authors look forward to readers’ reviews, albeit with fingers crossed, that they’ll be good. Imagine my horror when my latest release got an abysmal 2-star nasty review! Not only had I made a…

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What's in a Name?

Wednesday this week was “Name Yourself Day.” That reminded me of naming conventions among various Native American cultures. With all the research I’ve done with the “Curse of Dead Horse Canyon” trilogy, I’ve become familiar with numerous unusual names and often wondered at their origin, for example Starving Elk, Sleeping Rabbit, and White Frog, to name a few. Co-author, Pete Risingsun, chose…

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I Placed a $30 ad on Facebook. Then my PayPal balance started to disappear.

This is what my ad looked like. I’m usually pretty good at catching phishing schemes. The dead-giveaway? Usually a gmail address. But be warned, professional scammers are experts at social engineering. They know how to push you buttons. I’m sharing this to maybe prevent some other person from a similar experience, which was far from pleasant. I have never had much luck with advertising but…

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Do You Hate Cliffhangers?

Are you a reader like my daughter who avoids serials* until all volumes have been released? Like the Curse of Dead Horse Canyon trilogy? Sorry about the wait, folks. Two factors slowed down the saga’s completion: Disruptions to both authors’ lives and research. Especially research! If you’ve been waiting, (even though book 3 came out awhile back), your patience is about to pay off. All three…

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Sci-Fi and Fantasy Freebies Galore!

If you’re a science fiction or fantasy fan, be sure to download some freebies this month! You have a dozen ebooks to choose from, including “The Terra Debacle: Prisoners at Area 51,” which is an independent side-story to the Star Trails Tetralogy. The Terra Debacle is the story of what happens when a rogue UFO lands at Hill Air Force Base in Ogden, Utah. An adolescent girl, robot, and flora peda…

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Pruning a rosebush with a Chainsaw

Waste, fraud, and abuse of federal funds is being exposed like never before. However, if you’ll forgive the cliche, they need to stop throwing the baby out with the bath water. I worked as a NASA contractor for twenty-one years. I saw a lot of sketchy activities that showed that agency was not immune to corruption. One example I encountered personally was the scheme where someone would come up…