The Heart of the Matter

My friend Deb left me a voicemail.  Deb’s college-aged daughter, Sam, was sad. Sam's roommate, Morgan, had just lost her dad. (l to r: Morgan, MC, KatBart and Sam)  Sam and her friends wanted to let Morgan know how much they cared about her and didn’t know exactly how to do that. “Will you mail Sam a copy of your Gift of a Memory book?” Deb asked me on voicemail.   I mailed Sam my book. And Sam, a typical teen who loves Instagram and SnapChat, carried the book around and asked people write notes to Morgan.   And they did.  Things like,...

I was scheduled for a pre-mother's day book event at The Book Passage, an amazing and popular bookstore just over the Golden Gate Bridge. This beautiful and vibrant bookstore did everything right. They made flyers. Promoted me on their website.  Shared me online. Readied the room with chairs and a microphone and a book display.   I did everything right, too. I gathered my supplies. Set aside the time. Drove the 90 minutes from my house, ready to read and create and connect. Then, no one showed up. Not one person. Not one mother, dad or cute kid. Johanna, the event host, and I waited in...

Hello and welcome to The Great Giveaway Day!  Today I’m celebrating 20 years of authorship, 20 years of making my way in the world through my words and creativity. In the beginning, it was me creating in a spare bedroom and the knee-knocking courage to put my ideas into the marketplace. For the next 16 years, it was co-running with my husband a multi-million dollar publishing company with 12 employees and ALL the ups and downs included. And now, for the past couple years, I'm back to solo as an independent author in partnership with Sourcebooks, my book publisher and Shade Tree Greetings, my...

Hello friends! It’s been 20 years since I self-published my first book, The Gift of an Angel for parents welcoming a new child. To honor this milestone, I’m hosting a giveaway — cards, signed books, jewelry ... and I’d love for you to join in!   Check back here on April 24, 2017 for all the details! 

I was tired and crabby yesterday and knew I needed to go the store for wrapping paper. Turning into the Rite Aid parking lot, I was stopped mid-turn by a teenage boy in his cute little sports car in front of me. My van and I stuck out into oncoming traffic. But honestly, I had time.  I honked my horn. He turned around to see who beeped at him, and sat an extra 2 seconds to really annoy me. He succeeded and we both pulled in, of course going to the same place. It’s easier to be a jerk from the anonymity of one’s car. I got out. He got out. We looked at each other. “You can’t just sit...