A place for my thoughts

Brandi Easterling Collins, independent author

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Essays, General Thoughts

September 11, 2001

I can’t believe it’s been 15 years when the tragedy still feels like yesterday sometimes. September 11 has become the “Where were you?” story for a lot of people in my…

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September 11, 2016
General Thoughts, Pop Culture

Day 7: Countdown of my favorite love songs (message to new lover)

Welcome to day seven of my ten-day series of Valentine’s Day-inspired blog posts. Yesterday, I wrote about my favorite pour your heart out songs. Today’s songs are all messages to…

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February 11, 2018
Essays, General Thoughts

Overweight in a Size 8: Thoughts on Obesity and Body Image

What does obesity look like in America? I don’t know if you’ve seen the statistics on obesity in America, but they’re staggering. According to a CDC estimate, as of March…

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February 25, 2023
  • General Thoughts,  Pop Culture

    When a celebrity dies

    June 4, 2017 /

    I’ve been thinking about this for a while. Why are we (the collective “we”) so moved by and intertwined with celebrity deaths? Celebs are mortal just like the rest of us, so it is inevitable that they will die someday, but when they do, they have more mourners than the rest of us. This is especially so when they die tragically or die young, which often coincide. When someone dies at age 98 in their bed surrounded by family, we say it’s a good death because they lived a long life. Many people die much younger than that. Tragically young. What’s the cutoff age? Is it 40? 50? 60? What…

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    Day 2: Countdown of my favorite love songs (bittersweet breakup songs)

    February 6, 2018
    Book cover featuring woman standing on a stage with text: When Does Life Begin?

    Writing update: When Does Life Begin? publication and sneak peek

    September 8, 2023

    Desperately Seeking Friendship

    September 1, 2022
  • General Thoughts,  Novels (my writing updates)

    Nine months in: Writing Updates and Jordan’s Sister info

    April 29, 2017 /

    It has been nine months since I started this blog. Nine whole months—long enough to grow a human being. Since the launch, it’s had 1,056 unique users view a total of 5,515 pages. I know it’s not huge numbers, but to get to that many in nine months is an accomplishment I am proud of. Wow. Also, on Twitter, I have gone from two followers in July to 1,230 as of this morning. On July 15, I shared my writing journey on Facebook with a “coming soon” teaser picture for Caroline’s Lighthouse. That YA novel, dreamed up in early 1997 when I was only 15, is now available for purchase in paperback…

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    School Shootings

    February 24, 2018
    Illustration of older lady waving.

    I’ve been old (but not necessarily wise) my whole life

    June 18, 2024

    Day 6: Countdown of my favorite love songs (pour your heart out)

    February 10, 2018
  • General Thoughts,  Novels (my writing updates)

    Discussion questions for Caroline’s Lighthouse

    April 15, 2017 /

    A lot of the YA books I have read lately include discussion questions in the back of the novels. I didn’t do that for Caroline’s Lighthouse, but I still think it leaves room for discussion. Everything I wrote was thought out and intentional. Every description, character interaction, and each snippet of dialogue was scrutinized. It has foreshadowing and irony for people who like to analyze those types of things, but it is hidden enough that people looking for a quick read can skim right over it and enjoy the story. ***Spoiler Alert*** if you haven’t read the novel.

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    Rejection

    November 4, 2017

    Music in Jordan’s Sister

    April 29, 2018

    Day 2: Countdown of my favorite love songs (bittersweet breakup songs)

    February 6, 2018
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