Rich: The good publisher

In today’s newspaper world, one person works for two or three.They sleep less, drink much coffee, and rarely have time to fellowship with co-workers.I used to say that I believed one of the hardest jobs is that of a manicurist -- slumping over a small, white table and working relentlessly.

Rich: A Thanksgiving review

Something someone said about all the Thanksgiving that her eyes have seen made me think about a couple of holidays.In the mountains, it was always the tradition to kill a fattened hog after the first hard freeze so people could store the meat cold in their smoke houses.

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: 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: My David (part two)

David Ford, a Wall Street billionaire, and I, a simple Southern girl who can’t always pronounce words correctly, formed an unlikely friendship.It began when my husband, Tink, and David’s wife, Pamela, worked on a television project.

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 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.

Rich: George Harrison

Tink and I have had a disagreement a couple of times. Not an argument, mind you. But a half-joking, half-serious disagreement.Upfront, know that it concerns former Beatle George Harrison and his only child, Dhani.