I've moved the blog to http://www.amyloverley.com/blog/ Please stop by and check out the new digs! Amy Continue reading

My fellow anthology authors are spilling their guts today, figuratively of course, regarding two hellacious memories meals and bug bites from hell. Truly, both of Colin's stories will keep me awake deep into the night worrying about dead rats in fast food and spiders...well, just keep reading. *shiver* (and he swears he's telling the truth!) Colin Barnes: A birthday meal at McDonalds when I was about nine. It was in a real shady part of town and a kid found a dead rat in his not-so-happy meal in place of a toy. One girl freaked out and barfed on my... Continue reading

My latest writing project is a short story called THE NURSERY, a contribution to THE CHRONICLES OF HELL vol. 1. I'm lucky to be included in a wonderful company of authors including Colin Barnes, who is also the editor and publisher of the anthology, Anne Michaud, Belinda Frisch, Kendall Grey, Victoria Griesdoorn, and Ren Warom. As I wrote and rewrote and edited my story, I couldn't help pinching myself over and over again. I'm thrilled to be a part of this writing crowd. My fellow contributors are super-talented, published writers. There's the Coffin Hop blog tour winding its way through... Continue reading

Moving further south has not been without its challenges, one of them being the weather. I prefer a steady change of seasons that correspond with the page turns of the calendar. When I flip the page to September, I want the feeling of chilly September nights and the red-gold of changing leaves. Little did I know I'd have to wait until close to the end of October to have a night approaching "cool." (we're talking in the low 70's!) So I've stuffed Little Bear into sweaters and jackets while she stares at me with a mutinous look and says, "Mommy.... Continue reading

Technically it wasn't an emergency. I stepped out onto the porch and was greeted by a brisk breeze and fairly comfortable temperatures. I thought, Holy Carp it might actually be autumn! I took the Hound on his morning constitutional and didn't sweat. At all. What madness was this? Oh, in northern parts they call it "the change of seasons." (Say that with awe in your voice and a gong sounding in the background.) It might actually be happening. Here! I did what every self-respecting person does when faced with the mere thought of using a quilt in the very near... Continue reading

Some days it just doesn't do to write a blog post. There have been times recently when I couldn't sit down at the computer and write a single positive word. All that came out was angst and general snittiness. Yes, that's an actual word. Those of us who are capable of epic snits know that word well, thank you very much. During one of these emotional days of dark clouds and impending storm fronts, I found myself at the grocery store eyeing the lemons. I don't buy bags of them, you see. Their yellow skin was so cheery, so bright... Continue reading

"Remember, Tommy, this next serve is mine. Muss my tennis vest with your wild swing again, and I'll lock you in the basement. Now who's mommy's little minion?" (This is proof that exercising in sweaters will only lead to heatstroke and cheerful madness.) Ah yes, who doesn't love a minion or need one? One could argue that children would make ideal minions, but no, as a responsible parent you must raise them to be independent and differentiated from you. Minions need to be subservient and useful, not filled with their own opinions and agenda. They need to be able to... Continue reading

My mother tells me that I loved the custard my Great-Grandma Viola used to cook. I don't remember the custard specifically like I do her soft boiled eggs and roasted squash, or how she kept a steady supply of Honeycomb cereal stashed in the tin pail that used to carry her girlhood lunches. That was the first sugared cereal I ever tasted, and my cousins and I raided that tin pail every chance we got. Not only did she supply us with forbidden sugar, but Great-Grandma also had CABLE TELEVISION. Not that we had a chance to watch anything remotely... Continue reading