Carolyn Tomlin

Riding the Rails: St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern Railway

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A conductor greets visitors at the St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern Railway (Carolyn Tomlin)

A conductor greets visitors at the St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern Railway (Carolyn Tomlin)

An excerpt from my Missouri Life article “Riding the Rails:”

Some say the days when railroads were king are only a distant memory. However, for the ten thousand people who annually ride the St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern Railway, those days are very much a recent memory.

Hailing from Cape Girardeau County in the small town of Jackson, the historic diesel locomotive Number 5898 ambles through a short stretch of southeastern Missouri countryside. Along the route, neighbors gather and bring their children to wave at the train. And if they’re lucky, the engineer will blow his whistle as a friendly greeting.

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LET’S GET REAL—Rules for Grandparents Who Overspend

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Mississippi Christian Living

An excerpt from my Mississippi Christian Living article on grandparents who overspend on their grandchildren:

Five-year-old “Stephen” couldn’t wait until his next birthday. And who could blame him? On his fifth special day, his grandparents gave him a pony. On the fourth birthday, it was an above the ground swimming pool.

Rolling her eyes, Stephen’s mother responded, “This has to stop. Every year the presents become more extravagant. I can’t begin to imagine what they’ll give for his 16th birthday!” If you’re like this family, you certainly don’t want hurt feeling. And, they’re glad the grandparents want to provide gifts and spend time with their son, as they love him so much.  Continue reading →

10 Reasons to Visit Lancaster, Pa.

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Lancaster, Pensylvania

Here’s my article on the Lancaster, Pennsylvania, which was taken from the Chester County Independent:

It is that time of year when the days grow shorter and nights longer. The air grows cooler and the leaves more colorful. Fall is also the time when we plan a long weekend or a road trip of several days. Although there are numerous places across America where tourists travel, none is more colorful than the Pennsylvania Dutch Country near Lancaster, Pa.

The following 10 activities are sure to tempt your family. Learn about our nation’s history, participate in local festivals and fairs, and hitch a buggy ride with an Amish farm family. You will return with a sense of what make our country great!

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7 Myths that Keep Pastors from Writing

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(Preaching Magazine / FILE)

(Preaching Magazine / FILE)

Here’s an article I wrote for Preaching Magazine:

A retired pastor asked a friend who owned a pickup truck to stop by his house. Once there, he loaded several heavy-duty plastic bags into the back of the vehicle. “Drive me to the city dump,” said the elderly minister.

Once there, he pulled the large black bags out and stepped a few feet away. In a few minutes a bulldozer buried the contents. With a questioning look on his face, the friend asked, “Sir, what was in those bags?” With tears streaming down his face, the pastor said, “Sixty years worth of sermons and notes—my life’s work.” This true story should not have happened.

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Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Legacy

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A bust of Laura Ingalls Wilder (FILE)

A bust of Laura Ingalls Wilder (FILE)

I recently took a trip to Missouri and loved it. See my article on Laura Ingles Wilder for Missouri Life:

“No matter what age, readers look for the same qualities in books: a compelling plot, interesting characters, vivid imagery, and a genuine page-turner. You hate to read the last page because the characters have become friends.

After more than 80 years, Laura Ingles Wilder’s Little House books have continued to be compelling. But why?” Continue reading →

Lessons From the Garden

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Lettuce grows in a greenhouse at Genesis Growers in St. Anne, IL. Genesis Growers runs a CSA (community-supported agriculture) program distributing its fresh produce to more than 200 local families. (JCI Photo / Todd Bennett)

Lettuce grows in a greenhouse at Genesis Growers in St. Anne, IL. Genesis Growers runs a CSA (community-supported agriculture) program distributing its fresh produce to more than 200 local families. (JCI Photo / Todd Bennett)

An excerpt from my Tennessee Home & Farm article “Lessons From the Garden:” 

The dew had almost dried on the warm spring morning. After long winter hours of studying the Old Farmer’s Almanac and finding the right phase of the moon, my dad chose this Saturday in April to plant the family garden.

Dad added fresh gasoline and checked the oil in the 1950s Troy-Bilt tiller. A few sputters and clinks later, the motor churned, caught and pulverized the soil. Soon, the sweet smell of fresh-turned earth permeated the country air.

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Intro to the Writing Life

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Carolyn Tomlin, second from left, and Denis George, second from right, promoting 'The Secret Holocaust Diaries" at a Books-A-Million near Trussville, Ala. (FILE)

Carolyn Tomlin, second from left, and Denis George, second from right, promoting ‘The Secret Holocaust Diaries” at a Books-A-Million near Trussville, Ala. (FILE)

An excerpt from my recent North Jackson Magazine article, “Intro to the Writing Life:”

Being published is easier than you might think. Here’s how to go about it.

People write for many reasons — and have various reasons for never putting pen to paper. Do you ever wonder how great writers of the past wrote in long hand, without the use of a spell  checker — yet still turned out manuscripts that have stood the test of time? Or do you believe the myths that steal your self-confidence and keep you from publishing? Continue reading →

The Cherry on Top: A growing industry around the country

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Photo courtesy of Northwest Cherry Growers

Photo courtesy of Northwest Cherry Growers

Take a look at this article I did for Growing Magazine on the cherry industry:

On the average, there are 7,000 cherries on each cherry tree; 250 cherries make one pie; each tree makes 28 pies. If the average U.S. consumer eats 1 pound annually, this adds up to approximately 260 million pounds annually. Americans demand cherries—and growers are filling those expectations.

Often referred to as America’s Super Fruit, cherries are rising in popularity due to the recent focus on health-promoting properties of antioxidants. Instead of relying on fruits from foreign markets, health and nutrition experts advise consumers to look for American-grown fruit. An alternative to exotic berries grown and marketed in a foreign rainforest, the cherry packs a lot of nutrition. Plus, it’s available year-round as dried, canned, frozen and in juice.

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