Sydney Avey's Blog

Sydney Avey Dynamic Women — Changing Times Home About Books Publications Blog Events Contact

Making changes requires adjustments. Ten years ago, I radically altered my life to write a novel. By abandoning the domestic arts (gardening, cooking, sewing), curtailing volunteer activities, and reducing social life, I was able to create space in my head and time in my day for this demanding work. After publishing three novels, it’s time to prune activities that have gr...

Sydney Avey Dynamic Women — Changing Times Home About Books Publications Blog Events Contact

My rummage sale find — a critter for my Christmas tree

I avoid stopping by rummage sales ever since I spent two years clearing sixty years of stuff out of my parents’ house. To my surprise, I enjoyed volunteering at our recent church rummage sale.

An annual event, the sale raises funds for mission projects. From my assigned vantage point near the door, I had the opportuni...

Sydney Avey Dynamic Women — Changing Times Home About Books Publications Blog Events Contact

One of the creative joys of being a writer is repurposing a work. In a Hymnology class at Christ Church in Goodyear, AZ, Dr. David Wilson challenged us to write a hymn. I took the challenge.

Because many hymns begin life as a poem, I chose to expand a short verse into a poem and then into lyrics. Here’s what the project looked like at the start:

Sydney Avey Dynamic Women — Changing Times Home About Books Publications Blog Events Contact

Because the relevance of faith is under siege in our culture, I’m attending a lecture series titled What’s Happening in 21st Century Religion. Rabbi David Rosenburg shares his thoughts with a mixed audience that includes Christians, Jews, and atheists of both conservative and liberal persuasions. This diversity suits my purpose, which is to determine what people are thin...

Sydney Avey Dynamic Women — Changing Times Home About Books Publications Blog Events Contact

Clyde contemplates his cushy life.

Clyde here. No proud feline who’s done well for himself fails to give back. Because the response to My Life Story, Guest Post by Clyde was so enthusiastic, I’ve directed my ghostwriter to write a second chapter. My sincere desire is to inspire my feral and semi-feral brothers and sisters to lead healthier lives by using their human resou...

Sydney Avey Dynamic Women — Changing Times Home About Books Publications Blog Events Contact

For years I’ve ignored art exhibits that feature Eastern religions. At a glance, I wasn’t drawn to images that held no relevance for me. But when we were invited a to Member’s Exhibition Preview to view Wondrous Worlds: Art & Islam Through Time & Place at the Phoenix Art Museum, we accepted.

My first reason for accepting was far from lofty. We’re new art museum members. T...

Sydney Avey Dynamic Women — Changing Times Home About Books Publications Blog Events Contact

My staff has suggested I tell my life story. Though I rarely post on my Facebook page, I’m told my fanbase is growing. (I’m too lazy to check.) So, here goes:

My life story

I was born in a barn in Chinese Camp, a Northern California Gold Rush town that once housed thousands of Chinese laborers. Historians say these immigrants worked mines that yielded a total of $1.5 mill...

Sydney Avey Dynamic Women — Changing Times Home About Books Publications Blog Events Contact

Words of Peace

Christmas gives us special moments of unity. We take time to delight someone with a gift or wish them well with a card. We attend inspirational Christmas performances. We dust off the old family customs that bind us together. We dish up new traditions that carry us forward. 

Our celebration may feel like a too-short intermission in our daily lives, Or we ma...

Sydney Avey Dynamic Women — Changing Times Home About Books Publications Blog Events Contact

Merry Christmas from Arizona

Shopping for Christmas gifts seems less fun with each passing year. The only folks I know who enjoy the frenzy are competitive shoppers for whom Black Friday is an annual adrenaline-fueled tradition. Others approach the experience with business-like acumen. They knock out their list in minutes on cyber-Monday, no sweat. Not me or the woman I e...

Sydney Avey Dynamic Women — Changing Times Home About Books Publications Blog Events Contact

Prepping and roasting a turkey is an exercise in faith. Did I buy the right bird? Should I follow the instructions on the packaging or on the recipe I’ve chosen? The directions vary widely. The package says to roast the turkey at 325 degrees until the pop-up timer pops up (about  2 1/2 to  3 hours). The recipe says to roast it at 500 degrees for half an hour and then tent...