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I won’t take much front page space talking about myself, but here are THREE words that might help you know me better:

1. Observer. I’m fascinated by what’s happening around me. And I often have an opinion! It’s this aspect that motivates my blog, Brain Bubbles, where I share whatever is “bubbling up" in my brain at any given time—personal insights, life lessons, current events, writing techniques, answers to questions from folks on my Facebook page, silly stuff, random ramblings and serious matters.

2. Writer.  My writing flows out of what I’ve experienced, and who I am. (Plus extensive research!) I’m the author of four novels. I also maintain an active social media life on my Facebook Author page.

3. Survivor! I feel fortunate to have survived my harsh background in Fundamental Christianity. Because of the rigid teaching of my faith, I spent years seeking to change my sexual orientation. I’m grateful to have survived that experience; I have dear friends who did not, and took their own life as an escape.
   Also, I’m a cancer survivor who is once again confronted with the disease.

These days, I’m retired, living outside Dallas with my husband and our skittish rescue mutt, Brody.

That’s me…in a nutshell.
(Those who know me will affirm that the operative word is...nut!)

By the way, if you’re interested, there’s an expanded version of my bio.

Sow the Wind, Reap the Whirlwind was my first novel.
It was published nearly 20 years ago, and I’m proud of it.

It holds a special place because it takes place in my home town of Birmingham, Alabama, during a turbulent, transitional period of history, when I was also a Youth Minister at a Southern Baptist Church.
I love this story, and the people who inhabit it.

When my publisher went out of business a few years ago, and the manuscript was turned over to me, I saw it as an opportunity to do some “tweaking.”
Not change the story itself, just make some…modifications.

When I began the updates, I was intrigued…and saddened…that so much of what was happening back in 1975—the setting of this story—is still prevalent today. Racism. Poverty. Church scandals. Police shootings of innocent black people. Homophobia.

I’m also still convinced that only love and light can overcome these persistent expressions of hate of darkness.

Revised. Expanded. Extra!

Regarding the “alterations,” I polished some scenes for clarity and impact, and a few nonessential ones were removed. In selected instances, the presence and participation of characters was increased.
Again, the primary story was not changed!

Finally, I also re-worked the ending.
More precisely, I put in the original final scene I’d written.

When the book was published, the ending that was included was not a cliffhanger, but it was more…open-ended.
I thought it was satisfying, especially since I had in mind a follow-up book that would include more about our main characters.
That didn’t happen.
With this revised edition, my original ending has been integrated.
While it doesn’t change the primary story, it gives the reader (and the main character) a conclusive depiction of what happened next.

I like to think these revisions make the story better.
(Though I don’t claim objectivity.)

I’m proud of the Second Edition of Sow the Wind, Reap the Whirlwind, which is now available for purchase on my Amazon Author page

For a more detailed description of Sow the Wind, Reap the Whirlwind, use the link on the Books tab.

Click HERE to read the first three chapters

BTW, if you’d like to know more about this revised, expanded edition, I direct you to my Brain Bubble blog post where I address the motivation, the process, and the results I hoped to accomplish.