It's difficult when you recognize your former self in your students, but it's helped me identify perfectionist, self-sabotaging, and even arrogant behaviors that keep me from writing and improving my writing skills.

Woolf said writers need a room of one's own, but sometimes that room is a laundry room, a walk in closet, or even a car.

Writers sometimes need to make space wherever they can.

This week, I'm telling stories about how it is possible to get in trouble for reading.

Also, Cowgirl Bookworms has received it's first piece of listener mail!

If you have a question for the Cowgirl Bookworm, be sure to go to brandibradley.com/cowgirlbookworms and fill out the form. I will read your question on the air.

An intimate look at what motivates a writer.

On Saturday mornings, we didn't open the store, we had to build the store.

This week I am telling the story of how my mother and I brought in the dough every weekend at flea markets all over the tri-state area.

Be sure to check out more stories like this at brandibradley.com/blog or brandibradley.com/shortstories.

This week I'm reading a true story about old cowboys.

Years after my parents died, I wrote a pair of companion pieces about them. One was about flea markets and getting ahead by telling lies. The other -- the one featured today -- is about the dilemma of not knowing what to do when good ole boys fall apart.

This essay was originally published in the Winter 2019 issue of Carve magazine.

When I was too shy to celebrate myself, Behr stepped in for me. Who needs a publicity team when my kid is happy to do the work.

Also, I am celebrating my Book-iversary this month. One year since the release of Mothers of the Missing Mermaid.

Learn more at brandibradley.com/newrelease

Or check out my other posts at brandibradley.com/blog

My BFF is opening a flower shop and it is triggering a lot of childhood drama. A flower shop is not an easy breezy business to run!