Top reads for 2024

With 2024 coming to a swift close, I thought now would be a good time to talk about the top books I read this past year. As a side note, if you’re interested in these books, I always recommend getting them from your local library, second hand, or your local independent bookstore. *** “One Perfect […]

29 moments of love, laughter, joy and community

By the time you read this column, I will officially be 29 years old. Last year I talked about 28 lessons in 28 years, and while I’m sure I can come up with another 29 lessons, I thought I’d prefer to reflect on the past year and mention the 29 best moments for me in […]

Finding community through book clubs

With the holidays (and my birthday) fast approaching, I was tasked with making a wish list to give to family, and like many people, my list contained books. I love to read, and I know I’m not alone in wanting to discuss what I read with people, so I decided to look into how to […]

Self-publishing and self-marketing

This week I finished the first draft of my next book, which is the good and bad news. It’s good news because I’m one step closer to publishing my next book, but it’s bad news because now I have to edit and market my own work. Now, listen, I edit and market my work all […]

Shop local in your community

Summer has officially come to an end, and with it ends vendor-event season. That’s not to say there aren’t events all year, but outdoor farmers markets and artisan markets are primarily summer happenings. Since I’m a self-published author, I love attending these types of events as a vendor. One of my favorite things about the […]

Brandon Distinguished Alumni Class of 2024

On September 26, two Brandon graduates will be inducted into the Ed and Diane Donaldson Distinguished Alumni Wall of Fame. In 2015, the Brandon School District introduced the wall of fame, named after Ed and Diane Donaldson, who were both educators in the district for many years. The project honors alumni for their exemplary service […]

Be kind to your local writers and editors

I was surprised the other day when my husband Kyle walked into the living room with his phone in his hand and said, “September is ‘Be Kind to Writers and Editors’ month.” He then got me a drink from the kitchen and let me pick what to watch on TV, which I thought was very […]

The Miracle of giving back to our troops

This week I got an email from the Ortonville Historical Society about an upcoming farmers market and the packing of Miracle Boxes for overseas troops. For anyone who doesn’t know, Miracle Boxes are named for Brandon graduate PFC Joseph Miracle. He was part of the 173rd Airborne, and at 22 years old, he gave his […]

What it means to be a Citizen

Over the seven years I’ve been at The Citizen, I have had the honor of meeting many incredible people who give back to their community in many different ways. And every year around this time, those same people get talked about for prestigious community awards. Not only is The Citizen seeking nominations for our Citizen […]

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