Coming April 2024: A New Novel, Fire Music
Some things are years in the making, and that’s especially true of books. My novel Fire Music has been one of those long projects, and I used to wonder how I’d ever finish it. But now I’m delighted to announce that this huge labor of love is not only finished but has...After Many Years, a Return to the Midwest–With Books
When I was a kid and an early adolescent, I lived in one of the plainer and more modest houses in the upscale community of Wilmette, Illinois. I moved away from the Midwest at age 14 and had never been back since — until this month. When the opportunity arose to...Machu Picchu: Visiting It Again As I Scroll Through Photos
It’s a wet, cold March in Tacoma, and I’m thinking back on January, when I was in Peru, loving every moment of the equatorial sunshine. Rory and I went to Peru to visit my son Brendan and his family. This was our sixth trip to Peru, but on previous trips...A New Life, New Joy in Peru
Our family has expanded again! On November 9, 2016 Joel Archer Connally was born in Curahuasi, Peru. Our new grandson weighed eight-and-a-half pounds at birth and has been growing exponentially since then. He is strong and happy, with beautiful resemblances to both...
Welcome!
I am a writer who loves good music and good stories. It’s been my privilege to combine these loves by writing fiction that honors the creation of beauty, even in the bleakest of circumstances, through the creation of music. Writing has also led me to a deep interest in the recent history of central and eastern Europe.
Come and explore with me!