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video: what are you grateful for?

I am lucky in a thousand ways this summer.  And one of them is that I get to help host a Secret Mission for the Dream Lab at Mondo Beyondo. Here’s what it is:  My friends at Mondo Beyondo want to inspire folks to create guerilla goodness in the world–acts of kindness or love that help […]

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how to make a comfort list

In Get Lucky, the main character makes a “comfort list” of things that are soothing.  Here it is: “Things that are comforting: Tea. Warm water on your skin. Thick socks. Humming. Laughter. Fireplaces. Having someone arrange your fruit in a smiley face. Having someone refuse to examine your imaginary tumors. Watching old movies with Mackie.” […]

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interview: a day in the life

(This is a post from 2010.  Glad to say I’m getting MUCH more rest nowadays!) •  •  • Kristina at the blog Owning Kristina just sent an email and asked me to describe a day in my writing life for her.  She wants to know what it’s like to spend your days doing what you love […]

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the barbecue capital of Texas

I kind of lean in a vegetarian direction.  But when you go to the Bar-B-Q capital of Texas, you just HAVE to be a carnivore. And last week, when my mom and I drove out to Lockhart, Texas, for a book event, we asked around for the best BBQ and got many different opinions.  Finally, […]

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the Lockhart Library

Last week, I drove out to Lockhart, Texas, with my mom for a book event.  The library in my new book, Get Lucky, is based on the historic library in Lockhart–the oldest library in Texas. It was so amazing to get to stand in the library that had sparked so many ideas in my head […]

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How NOT To Write: passive constructions

Why are they called “constructions”? Because a sentence is something you build, right?  You assemble it with words.  And those words can be active or passive.  But they should be active.  What’s the difference?  This: PASSIVE:  Mistakes were made by me. vs. ACTIVE:  I made mistakes. PASSIVE:  A good time was had by all. vs. ACTIVE:  We […]

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all my exes live in Marfa

Did I say “all”?  I actually meant “none.” But an old friend of one of my exes — who apparently bought his car — does. Here’s what I’m saying:  There is no way to describe how bizarre it is to drive into a tiny town that’s 3 hours into the desert from El Paso and […]

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video: make your own luck

I’ve just made a new trailer for Get Lucky that tries to feel a little bit like the book. I was super-lucky to get to use photos taken by my beautiful pal Andrea Jenkins of Hula Seventy, who is an amazing photographer, artist, blogger, and mama.  Beyond amazing, actually. I’ve been trying to make this video […]

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spoiled goats, fresh cheese: Blue Heron Farm

Over winter break, we went out to the country to visit my childhood friend Christian and his wife Lisa at their farm.  They make  the yummiest goat cheese ever, and I’m completely enchanted by their life.  I’m totally amazed by Lisa, who is always so warm and sweet to us, and who writes a very lovely blog […]

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praise for Get Lucky

“[A] thoroughly enjoyable girlish romp.” – Library Journal “Center delivers an original, engaging, and touching novel populated with quirky and lovable characters, and ripe for discovery by readers looking for a cheering read.” – Booklist “Center has hit a home run with Get Lucky . . . There is no other author out there who does women’s fiction better.” – Wendy Robards, book […]

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