I’m posting on my writing blog after a long break, which I took to focus on family. My mother, Denise Jewell, died in 2024 after a long illness. I’m grateful for all the support my family and friends have given to me during this time, and I’m starting to emerge from my publishing sabbatical. I should have more publications and blog posts to share coming soon. In the meantime, enjoy this photo of my mom (taken by my sister Laura) from a visit to see the cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C. about 15 years ago.