A place for my thoughts

Brandi Easterling Collins, independent author

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General Thoughts, Pop Culture

2019 in Book Reviews

I originally set a goal on Goodreads to read 100 books in 2019. When I surpassed that goal before the end of the year, I upped the goal to 125.…

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January 1, 2020
General Thoughts, Novels (my writing updates)

Caroline’s Lighthouse Update and Free Preview

Well, as of 9:45 pm on October 12, 2016, I submitted my final manuscript of Caroline’s Lighthouse to Archway Publishing. All 52,966 words of it. About two weeks ago, I…

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October 14, 2016
Essays, General Thoughts

To All The Pets I’ve Loved Before

I’ve grown up with pets for as long as I can remember. My Easterling family seemed to have an affinity for the feline and canine variety of pets and the…

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September 11, 2020
  • Man looking at goals checklist
    Essays,  General Thoughts

    Can High Goals Get in the Way of Contentment?

    April 18, 2025 /

    Having hopes and dreams for ourselves is healthy. But at what point can high goals get in the way of happiness? Dreams vs. goals It’s natural for humans to have dreams. They start when we’re little kids, dreaming of being a ballerina, a pro athlete, or just like Mom or Dad. It’s good to have dreams because they’re one of the things that set us apart as a species. Later in my childhood and early teen years, I dreamed of someday being a writer—an author of published novels. Goals are a bit different and less easily forgotten. As a child, I wanted to be all sorts of different things, but…

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    My biggest fear

    November 20, 2016
    Insurance policy on a clipboard shielded by an umbrella

    And They Didn’t Even Buy Us Dinner First: Property Insurance Woes

    March 24, 2024

    To All The Pets I’ve Loved Before

    September 11, 2020
  • Illustrated race track scene with children driving cars at a starting line
    Essays,  General Thoughts

    How Many Times Can You Start Over?

    February 16, 2025 /

    Several times in my life, I’ve had to hit the reset button and start from scratch. It can get exhausting, but it’s also a chance to change or improve the outcome by making different choices. Starting over can be difficult On January 18, 2024, I started over on a better health journey. I had planned my “start over” to coincide with the first of the year, but life and some health issues got in the way. So, that Saturday morning, I stepped on the scale. And I cried. I didn’t like the number staring back at me and knew I had to change my habits to be healthier. Since that…

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    Illustration of family photos on a wall

    Weddings and Funerals: Changing Relationships with Family and Friends

    October 27, 2024
    Woman apologizing

    Apologies and hurt feelings

    September 16, 2021
    Be thankful graphic with leaves

    That for which I am thankful

    November 25, 2021
  • General Thoughts,  Pop Culture

    2024 in Book Reviews

    December 31, 2024 /

    I read 75 books in 2024 and wrote half of my sixth novel, which is tentatively titled Four Hearts. While I originally planned to set a goal of 100 books, I changed my goal to 75 books early in the year due to unforeseen circumstances. Here are my top reads for the year. Top 10 best reads for 2024 (traditionally published) These are in order, starting with my favorite read of the year. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr This Used to Be Us by Renée Carlino This Impossible Brightness by Jessica Bryant Klagmann Spirit Crossing (Cork O’Connor, #20) by William Kent Krueger Camino Ghosts (Camino Island,…

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    Brandi and Peanut (a chiweenie)

    Autumn writing update

    October 1, 2019

    Music and what my favorite songs mean to me

    September 17, 2016

    September 11, 2001

    September 11, 2016
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Anxiety Artwork Assignment Book Review Books Broken Heart Caroline's Lighthouse Childhood Children Covid-19 Dad Dark and Twisty Death Depression Dream Family Fear God Got an "A" Healing Heartache High School Hurt Indie Authors Indie Publishing Inspiration Jordan's Sister kids Loss Love Mom Music New Novel Novels Pain Reading Sadness Sex Stars Suicide Truth What I Learned That Summer Writing writing update

Recent Posts

  • My Favorite Holiday Movies and TV Specials (Even the Guilty Pleasures)
  • A Family Road Trip: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
  • Summer 2025 Writing Update and Sixth Novel First Chapter Teaser
  • Can High Goals Get in the Way of Contentment?
  • How Many Times Can You Start Over?

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