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Brandi Easterling Collins, independent author

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General Thoughts, Pop Culture

My 30 Favorite Male Singer-Songwriters

Let’s hear it for the boys (male singer-songwriters, that is) I recently wrote about my favorite female singer-songwriters, so now I’m writing about the male ones. My initial list was…

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November 19, 2023
General Thoughts, Novels (my writing updates)

Six months in: General updates

As of yesterday, it has been six months since I launched this blog. What an amazing experience. Since then, 717 unique users have viewed 3,890 pages in a total of…

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January 25, 2017
General Thoughts

Family Vacations

The road to hell was paved with family vacations…just kidding. I remember several family vacations from my childhood. My stepdad, mom, younger sister, and I would pile into the station…

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August 25, 2019
  • Author read 75 books in 2025
    General Thoughts,  Pop Culture

    2025 in Book Reviews

    January 4, 2026 /

    I met my goal of reading 75 books in 2025 while I also finished writing and editing my sixth novel, Four Hearts, which was released on December 16. Here are my best reads: Top 10 best reads for 2025 (traditionally published) Apostle’s Cove (Cork O’Connor, #20) by William Kent Krueger Flight Patterns by Karen White If Tomorrow Never Comes by Allison Ashley All Our Beautiful Goodbyes by Julianne MacLean Misery by Stephen King The Nature of Disappearing by Kimi Cunningham Grant One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson Sunrise on the Reaping (The Hunger Games, #0.5) Broiler by Eli Cranor Best nonfiction reads for 2025…

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    Mary Higgins Clark

    Rest in Peace, Queen of Suspense

    February 2, 2020

    A scary topic: suicide

    April 11, 2017

    For the love of travel (for work): Seattle

    April 7, 2018
  • Illustration of animals, presents and a snowman with text reading Happy Holidays
    Essays,  General Thoughts

    Embracing the Holidays

    November 28, 2025 /

    I’ve written before that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It’s still true, and I keep the season pure in my home. I decorate for the seasons, which is a more recent development, but since I’ve lived outside my parents’ home, I’ve always waited to decorate for Christmas on the day after Thanksgiving. Some people prefer to decorate earlier, and I pass no judgment on what they choose to do in their own homes. When did autumn start to disappear? Maybe it’s my age, but it feels like autumn (or fall) gets shorter every year. When retailers have Christmas decor out before Halloween, it can feel like harvest or the season…

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    Weddings and Funerals: Changing Relationships with Family and Friends

    October 27, 2024
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    Can High Goals Get in the Way of Contentment?

    April 18, 2025

    A New Family Member: An official introduction

    March 29, 2021
  • Novel cover for Four Hearts by Brandi Easterling Collins
    Novels (my writing updates)

    Four Hearts: Coming soon

    November 19, 2025 /

    After many years in the making (technically), Four Hearts is finally out for preorder on Amazon. The publication date through Luminesce Publishing is December 16, 2025. My sixth novel I’m so excited to share Four Hearts with everyone. I love these characters, Noelle, Austin, and Ashton (as well as all the supporting ones). Here’s the blurb: With Y2K one month away, everyone’s on edge… High school guidance counselor Ashton Spriggs wants nothing more than to support her students. From the overachiever, Noelle, who’s hiding a problem at home, to Austin, the smart, yet failing, boy with a shiner, Ashton is torn between being their friend and the adult they need.…

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    How I became a novelist in twelve (easy) steps

    April 7, 2019

    Almost-winter writing update

    December 8, 2019
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    Summer 2025 Writing Update and Sixth Novel First Chapter Teaser

    June 19, 2025
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Recent Posts

  • In My Multiple Hobby Era
  • Believe It or Not, Getting Fat Isn’t the Worst Thing That’s Ever Happened to Me
  • Movies I Will Watch Again and Again
  • 2025 in Book Reviews
  • Embracing the Holidays

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