Rich: The homemade dress

One of the privileges of our blessed life is the interesting people we meet, from carpenters to old-timey moonshiners to movie stars and country music legends.A beautiful woman who recently crossed our path is the daughter of Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman. Notice that I listed Ms. Woodward first.

Rich: Taking chances and learning

Every family leaves a legacy of some worth that lasts three or four generations. Sometimes, one good man rises to see the need and wisely chooses his cases. If the man is strong enough in his teaching, then it most likely carries on for a few generations.

Rich: Brian’s tears

That evening, I remember distinctly.Mama, worn out from a day of sewing to make extra money for bills, had gone to bed. Daddy had gone to a funeral home to visit a church member who had left this mortal coil to meet his just reward.

Rich: All the upset

In 23 years of writing books, I have never encountered such a situation. The new book in my Stella Bankwell series will be released on Oct. 29th.It’s a light-hearted, blue-skies mystery.The problem? Life’s not very light-hearted lately.Mercer University Press and I set the release date months ago.

Rich: The possum

Of all the animals on the Rondarosa, perhaps the most unusual is a possum I raised from a baby. His name is Pokey.Tink was out of town that summer, shooting a television series.

Rich: My David (part one)

Over the bathroom tub hangs a small painting of a turn-of-the-20th-century high society woman in an orange silk off-the-shoulder dress, which matches the room's orange accents.Tink came out of the bathroom recently, shaking his head. “Every time I see that painting, I have to laugh.

Rich: The once incredible friend

There was once a friend I had who was incredible.Remarkable. Exciting.It's too splendid for any adjective in the English language.She is still my friend.But she no longer fits any description above.What she is now is what most of us are – ordinary.Normal. And, too often, downright ho-hum.But once?

Rich: The post card

When Tink walked in with the mail, I was working at the kitchen table, where I often write if I’m not on the back porch.Normally, he only opens “green” envelopes, which hold residuals from television shows he has written. Sometimes, the checks are for as much as $2.34.

Rich: The art of cursive

It happens frequently. A young person will ask me to sign a book I’ve written and then look at it in awe for a few seconds before saying, “Wow. You know calligraphy!”No. Although I did it once rather well, I addressed wedding invitations for friends.Perhaps I’ll take it back up again.

Rich: The non-nomination

Perhaps it was two years into our marriage when my reality sank in. I, a country girl born of the purest of Appalachian folks, had married into one of America’s most admired, most well-known television families.