Q: I’ve always wanted to write a book. Now that I’m retired, I finally have the time. Am I too old? A: No. You probably just now have enough life experiences to make the stories you have to tell worth telling. You can’t know until you try. Q: Laid off, instead of looking for another job, can I support myself with my writing? A: Yes, if you take a nine-to-five writing job. No, if you plan to live on income from penning the great American novel. There’s a story about seat mates on an airplane. One asked ... Read more >

A: Love, in real life, is very different from the 275 page novel romance version of it. In reality, and that’s where all of us live, it is a process of trial and error. There isn’t a person out there wearing a flashing neon sign that says ‘perfect mate for …’ We all have to find our Mr. or Ms. Right by experimenting with friendships and relationships, and they won’t all work out. Online dating sites advertise that you can find your perfect match and advertise their successes, but they never show you ... Read more >

A: Your concerns are certainly valid. According to advocacy group Working to Halt Online Abuse (WHO@), an estimated 1 in 12 women in the US has experienced stalking online or offline. Specifically singling out cyberstalkers, slightly over half know their victims personally beforehand, such as in your case. The internet and social media has made stalking others as easy as a click on the keyboard – a drastic change from the limited options my heroine’s 1836 London stalker is limited to in my novel, Audra. ... Read more >

A: This is a hard question, but I think you should follow your heart. If your almost-ex has really reformed his ways, then you might have a legitimate second chance to find the connections you had when you first fell in love. I can understand your being hesitant—after all, he hurt you once, so who’s to say he won’t hurt you again? On the other hand, maybe he’s realized what you mean to him now that you’ve been apart for a while. If he really seems ready to leave his old patterns behind and focus on your ... Read more >

A: Ahhh – the fine line between lovers and friends. Moving from one to the other is never an easy transition – but, if done just right, the resulting relationship is as rare and precious as the Hope Diamond. The key to this transition? Honesty and respect. No innuendos. No false moves. Just open, honest, respectful communication. Sounds easy, right? Wrong. But only the hardest things in life are worth anything and this is definitely one of them. First, determine if you are reading his signals correctly. He’s ... Read more >

A: There are many times when friends’ advice is important and where they can help you gain some outsider’s perspective. You should, for example always at least listen and think about it when your friends tell you that you might be mistreated or manipulated. In this instance, however, does it really matter what they say? You said it yourself, you are happy and you have a close and intimate relationship to another human being; you share your life – if not physically all the time, I assume you tell each other ... Read more >

A: If you can separate your personal life from your business life and you can mutually agree on the venture, go for it. It could be enjoyable because you share a common dream. However, if you take on the role of a subordinate in the business relationship you may find some difficulty. Roles have to be defined to keep the harmony not only in the workplace, but also in the bedroom. One has to be objective, rational, and able to separate business from pleasure even when times are tough. The solution is to have a ... Read more >

A: Probably the first thing to consider is if your employer has a workplace policy. Some companies do. Find out and determine if that impacts your decision to say, “Yes.” If not, then other things to think about are how often do you see each other at work? What will happen if you both go out and then one of you decides to stop the relationship from progressing. Hard feelings or embarrassment. Can either of you deal such issues? Conversely, what if you all enjoy each other and your relationship ... Read more >

A: The best way to propose to a woman is from the heart. For a woman, in many ways, the words you use when you ask her to marry you will matter more than where or when you ask. Encourage your brother to have the words for the actual proposal down pat first. If it helps, he can make a list of all the reasons he wants her as his wife, and then he can go from there. It doesn’t have to be longwinded or poetically elegant, just honest. Once he has the words straightened out, he can start worrying about “coolness.” ... Read more >

A: Unfortunately, there’s no hard and fast rule for this one. The safe option would be to wait until he says it first. Then you can be sure you’re not rushing things and won’t scare him when you say it back. The problem with this is you could be waiting a while. It’s not necessarily that he doesn’t feel the same way; sometimes guys just need more time to vocalize. Actions can speak louder than words. Do you see love in the way he treats you? Is he openly affectionate in public as well as private? Has he ... Read more >