Welcome to the front of my refrigerator!

Transparency.

When I asked on Facebook what readers really wanted from a blog, one of the answers, "Transparency," caught me a little off guard. But it made sense. Some of the blogs I love the most tackle all sorts of things, but they also feature personal asides and honest opinions, even when the authors know they may not be popular.

So as I start this new blog, I want to keep that in mind. As the name suggests, I intend the blog to be a lot like the front of my fridge (which you can see in the background). In so many homes, the refrigerator has replaced the bulletin board. That's where we stick magnets, homework, art projects, concert tickets, articles, postcards. Bits and pieces that are important to us.

So that's my goal. Posting stuff that's important to me. Transparent and honest. In the future, you'll find:

Articles and advice for writers. Some original. Some not.
Interesting bits of research that may appeal to just about everyone.
Reflections on things going on and around my life.
Self-promotion (It IS my blog...).
Book reviews.
Fun stuff. Maybe even the occasional cat video. Maybe.
Devotionals.
Guests posts.
Pictures I take. Sometimes with inspiration, funny, or sappy sayings.

A note on the book reviews. I am not, nor will I be, a part of a book review circuit. I won't take submissions. These will be honest thoughts on books I buy and/or choose to read. They may or may not be from the Christian marketplace, but I won't write about anything racy or overly offensive. I may recommend without reviewing. They won't be Abingdon books (for a lot of reasons), although I MAY post a list of AP's upcoming publications.

So...here we go. Be aware that I'm sometimes caustic and snide. Other times, so sentimental you'll think I'm a total sap. Life is, as we all know, full of mountains and valleys. Smart and dumb. But I hope to approach this blog in the same way that Rachel and I approach life. Eyes wide, ready for whatever appears next to us.

Hope you come along for the ride.