Piper Punches's Blog, page 3
December 27, 2019
Publish Your Manuscript this Year!
Do you have a finished or almost finished manuscript you want to publish? Why not make 2020 the year you become a published writer?
Taking that first step toward publishing your work is terrifying. I know because I did it in 2013 when I released my first book, The Waiting Room. Since then, I’ve released 12 more works of fiction and have learned so much along the way. With the knowledge I’ve gained, I started working one-on-one with writers to help them publish their first books with less...
October 7, 2019
Why We Need to Talk to Strangers
CTA Clark/Lake Station | Photo by Piper Punches
I met a man on the train today.
No, not like that. It’s not what you think. It wasn’t a romantic connection, but it was a tangible human connection; something that’s missing more and more from our daily lives.
On this train, the Blue Line running out of downtown Chicago to the suburbs, I sat quietly. Every once in a while, I took out my phone to scroll through Instagram or find out what was happening in the world of Yahoo! News, but it was borin...
July 1, 2019
One Happy Year
Photo Credit: https://www.pexels.com/@jplenio
She shut the overhead door to the storage unit and didn’t wince even a little when the metal hit the concrete floor. She liked that sound. It sounded final and that was fine by her.
She climbed into Frank’s truck, pointed it west, and headed out onto Nevada’s Highway 50. They call it America’s Loneliest Road, which meant she’d feel right at home behind the wheel surrounded by solitude and nothingness. She’s gotten used to the quiet.
Somewhere al...
March 4, 2019
Where Do You Find Your Childhood?
Where do you find your childhood? Is it weaved into a colorful afghan that you’ve had since you were little, and you can’t part with it? Maybe it’s in yellowed photo albums with those sticky pages or boxes in your basement that hold knick-knacks and treasures from a time not too long ago, it seems. Although, if you’re being honest, it really has been a long time.
How is it possible for decades to pass by without noticing?
Perhaps your childhood is buried in the sand and washed away by years o...
January 3, 2019
Can I Tell You a Story?
Can I tell you a story?
Thirteen years ago, I left a job that shaped my 20s and gave me a deeper understanding of the human struggle. I left a group of multi-generational women who were more than co-workers. They were my sisters, my mothers, and my grandmothers.
When I finished my job as a legal advocate and resource specialist at a local domestic violence shelter, I was excited about what the future held but had no idea what the future looked like. I was 28 years old with eight and one-year-...
November 27, 2018
Live with Intention to Manifest All Good Things
This was my intention for 2018. The direction I wanted my life to take to move me closer to the big goals, the greatest aspirations, and those grandiose dreams. Well, we’re creeping closer to 2019, and I guess it’s time to check in. There’s still a few weeks for magic to happen, but that doesn’t mean reflection can’t happen right now.
When I wrote out my intention for 2018, I saw twelve months spread out ahead of me full of possibilities. I wanted to capture as much goodness in life as I pos...
September 3, 2018
Lattes & Lit Coffee Crawl – St. Charles County
Join us for the first ever Lattes & Lit Coffee Crawl, organized by local author, Piper Punches.
SIPTry out various coffee, tea, or alternative drink blends
at 4 different St. Charles County coffee shop locations.
Don’t get overly caffeinated.
Pace yourself and grab some chocolate-covered espresso beans,
a bakery item, or a light lunch.
Meet local authors at some of our stops. Get photos.
Ask questions. Enter raffles. Pick up a book.
Find your fav...
Lattes & Lit Coffee Crawl – St. Louis, MO
Join us for the first ever Lattes & Lit Coffee Crawl in St. Louis County/City
SIPTry out various coffee, tea, or alternative drink blends
at 4 different St. Charles County coffee shop locations.
Don’t get overly caffeinated.
Pace yourself and grab some chocolate-covered espresso beans,
a bakery item, or a light lunch.
Meet local authors at some of our stops. Get photos.
Ask questions. Enter raffles. Pick up a book.
Find your favorite new author!
August 1, 2018
How The Lavender Fairies Series Started
When I started this writing and publishing journey five years ago, I didn’t know a lot. I only knew that I wanted to tell stories that spoke to me, and that I would never write a children’s book. Well, I’m still writing those stories that speak to me, but you know what they say about never saying never? You say never and – POOF – it happens!
Today I’d like to tell you the story of how The Lavender Fairies series came to be. Let me start by saying that it took me by surprise. After my holiday...
How The Lavender Series Started
When I started this writing and publishing journey five years ago, I didn’t know a lot. I only knew that I wanted to tell stories that spoke to me, and that I would never write a children’s book. Well, I’m still writing those stories that speak to me, but you know what they say about never saying never? You say never and – POOF – it happens!
Today I’d like to tell you the story of how The Lavender Fairies series came to be. Let me start by saying that it took me by surprise. After my holiday...
