Thank you to everyone in the Midwest who came to see me during the first leg of my book tour. I was overwhelmed by the joy, good wishes, and love for Her Dying Day.It was scary at first to speak about Her Dying Day, especially in front of my past teachers who had seen me … Continue reading Book Tour Part 1
Tag: The Swiss Family Carlson
How Following My Dream Made Me a Better Parent
As many of you know, I not only write mysteries, I also write parenting advice articles. I guess it was a natural journey. What bigger mystery is there than parenting?Deciding to write a book--really write a book and get an agent and get it published--was one of the scariest things I'd ever done. But I … Continue reading How Following My Dream Made Me a Better Parent
Y’all March Did Not Go Like I Hoped
Y'all, March did not go like I hoped. I had intended to send out a newsletter last week and do a blog post, but here we are. In the last days of the month as March continues to make up its mind as to whether or not it’s going to let spring arrive. I, for … Continue reading Y’all March Did Not Go Like I Hoped
Back to School After a Pandemic
I received the back-to-school supply list email this week. My youngest child was quietly resigned at this first sign of the end of summer. My oldest child told me to delete the email. I was sorely tempted. It's been since March 2020 since my kids have been inside a school building. They're returning to school … Continue reading Back to School After a Pandemic
Transforming the House into Our Home (with Chandelier Update!)
The move has happened!! It was weeks of taking small loads in our minivan and then a long and hard 4 days of "real" moving with a moving truck (and a few very excellent friends), but we managed to clear out our rental house and move to our new home. Our house looks like Boxlandia … Continue reading Transforming the House into Our Home (with Chandelier Update!)
OY! My LIFE!
Things are crazy here. Spring break was a disaster. We were supposed to fly back to Iowa and Minnesota and got caught in that whole Delta Flight-Canceling Fiesta that was going on. We were there. Ready to go. Bag checked. Mickey-D's food choked down. And then .... Flight canceled. We were alerted to this fact … Continue reading OY! My LIFE!
Oh My Actual God! We Bought A House!
As you may recall, we had put an offer on a house and had it accepted. It was like my boyfriend and I deciding to go steady. Well, today we got engaged! I know, I know. We actually bought the house so shouldn't it be the wedding? I'm waiting to declare nuptuals until after we … Continue reading Oh My Actual God! We Bought A House!
House Hunters: Maryland Edition
One year ago this week we were skiing in Kandersteg as a part of a typical day in our Swiss lives. Now we are almost 8 months into our lives back on the east coast of the United States. And it seems we are likely to remain here. Because we're buying a house. We originally … Continue reading House Hunters: Maryland Edition
6 Months Back
I can't believe it, but we've been back for 6 months. In a lot of ways it seems like we just left. In other ways it seems like we've been here forever. Life is filled with the mundane right now. The boys need to go to school. The laundry needs to washed, folded, and put … Continue reading 6 Months Back
Settling Into a Target Christmas
It’s hard to believe, but we’ve been back in the states for 5 months now. In some ways it feels like we just got here and in others we’ve been here forever. I still dream about Basel, you know. I still dream through bizarre conversations with my friends Barbara, Kate, Rachel, and Sunrita. I close … Continue reading Settling Into a Target Christmas