When I homeschooled our four children, teaching the youngest spelling was a challenge. He would sound out a word and, more frequently than not, I said, "That's an exception to the rule." It reached a point where I would hesitate, and he would say, "An exception to the rule, right?" I don't know who ended up more frustrated. No wonder I was so frustrated learning to spell as a kid. Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/shorts/iIWYEEqR5r4

Watching things push through the ground after months of cold and quiet — it reaches right into my chest. Because I know that feeling. I’ve lived it. Not in a garden. In a manuscript. My debut novel, The Colors of Home , releases this spring. And if you know my story, you know that sentence didn’t come easily. That book lived in me for more than a decade. I carried it through seasons of doubt. Through life interruptions. Through moments when I genuinely wondered if it would ever find its place...

Have you ever attended a book fair or festival? If not, you're missing out on something incredible! Readers love book fairs, and writers should too. After all, writers are readers first! WritersDigest.com  has a treasure trove of book fairs, festivals, and literary events you can attend. These are excellent opportunities to connect with fellow readers and writers, discover new voices, and immerse yourself in the book-loving community you're part of. And if you're not already a Writer's Digest...