My Life Has Been a Tapestry

Do you remember that line from Carole King's song? "My life has been a tapestry of rich and royal hue..." It rings so true, through every day of my life. I can hardly believe it's been fifty-five years since the Tapestry album was released. Fifty-five years of growing and changing, sorrow and rejoicing, learning andContinue reading "My Life Has Been a Tapestry"

Not Standing in the Way

Nope. Not standing in the way of a good thing. That would be counterproductive. Also, you might ask why I have cookies at the top of this post. Well, cookies are something I like to share with others. Same with good news. I performed a search for photos related to news, but they were all,Continue reading "Not Standing in the Way"

Substack, Anyone?

Hi, there. I have recently--very recently--as in this morning, recently--started a Substack account. Well, this morning was my first post. I actually started the darned thing a few weeks ago and have been checking and rechecking my settings, my About page, etc. Some of those might change as I learn more. Anyhoo, this is myContinue reading "Substack, Anyone?"

Review-Hangabout: Far from Home

Of course, after all my good intentions to start posting book reviews, I sort of let that fall to the wayside. However, I have been (and plan to continue) posting review shorts on my Jo Allen Ash YouTube channel. Still, those are shorts, and most books require more than a fifteen to thirty second review.Continue reading "Review-Hangabout: Far from Home"

What a Day

The daytime wind chills yesterday were negative seventeen. The inches and inches deep snow layer still on the ground found itself scoured by the winds into drifts across the roads wherever open fields exist. There are many around here, fields filled with corn or soybeans in more temperate weather. When not drifting, the blowing snowContinue reading "What a Day"

Another Year Over

A new one just begun. We put such faith in the start of a new year. We count on new beginnings, on making changes, on hope. It's a funny old tradition, celebrating the New Year, but makes sense, right? At least according to the calendar, it's a brand-new start. Really, though, every day is aContinue reading "Another Year Over"

News for 2026

The Anniversary Edition of Faith and Honor (written as Robin Maderich) is coming in 2026 to celebrate America's 250th! Originally released in 1989, my debut novel as a published author with Warner Books has been updated for re-release. The story is set in Boston during the early days of the Revolution. She's a patriot, he'sContinue reading "News for 2026"

Books, readers, life, joy

I can't say enough about readers. I had another book signing yesterday (with Autumn Jordon) at the Barnes and Noble at the Lehigh Valley Mall. The people who came up to our table were entertaining, gracious, funny, interesting, respectful, just absolutely wonderful. It has been the same everywhere we (or she or I--depending on whetherContinue reading "Books, readers, life, joy"