Personal Essays
An Advocate for Marriage
The Southern Cross (p.12),
03/01/2024
Divorce, Annulment & the Petrine Prililege
Commonweal Magazine,
04/01/2024
The Catholic Church: The World's Divine Melting Pot (pgs 7-8)
The Southern Cross,
12/01/2023
The Southern Cross
Unearthing God's Purpose (pages 10-11),
September 1, 2023
The Best Reasons to Become a Redhead and Stay One
Next Tribe,
May 30, 2023
Alone Is Not a Synonym for Lonely: A Single Woman Explains
Next Tribe,
01/20/2023
Why you won't catch me wearing pink during Breast Cancer Awareness Month
The Independent,
10/17/2022
Prepping the Mushrooms
Angels On Earth,
Jan/Feb 2022
How I Found Joy In Letting Go Of Ever Going ‘Back To Normal’
The Federalist,
July 15, 2021
An Unlikely Advocate for Marriage
Institute for Family Studies,
03/04/2021
How My Divorce Helped Prepare Me for the Pandemic.
Divorce Magazine,
06/12/2020
COVID-19 Has Triggered Memories of My Unwanted Divorce
Institute for Family Studies,
05/06/2020
Old Boxes, New Life
Penn Stater Magazine,
March/April 2020
40 Ways to Celebrate Your Birthday—or Any Other Occasion—During COVID-19
Next Tribe,
04/01/2020
Escaping the Clutter Trap
AARP Magazine,
Feb/March 2020
In Sickness
Institute for Family Studies,
12/02/2019
When my husband filed for divorce, I was shamed for staying faithful to my vows
America, The Jesuit Review,
10/10/2019
Like many Americans, my divorce destroyed my mental health and nearly drove me to suicide
USA Today,
09/29/2019
What Happened When I Agreed To Go On A Date With A Man Decades Younger Than Me
The Huffington Post,
09/20/2019
Reconstructing a Life and Finding Home After the Devastation of Divorce
Institute for Family Studies,
08/26/2019
Editor's Pick: My 8-year-old daughter showed her strength — and convinced me of mine, too
The Lily,
04/28/2019
In showing her own strength, my daughter taught me that I, too, am strong
The Washington Post,
April 18, 2019
I was falsely accused and my reputation was disparaged. I don't regret fighting back.
USA Today,
09/28/2018
You Should Be Dancing
Purple Clover,
09/22/2018
Where Have All the Good Men Gone?
Purple Clover,
April 21, 2018
Tuesdays With Flannery
Writer’s Digest Magazine,
November 29, 2017
How Not To Let Your Ex Ruin An Otherwise Perfect Day
Grown and Flown,
September 1, 2017
Commencement Day
Purple Clover,
July 15, 2017
Sounds of Silence
Weight Watchers Magazine,
June 15, 2017
This interracial couple endured discrimination and bullying
The Washington Post,
June 9, 2017
I Nearly Died From an Insect Sting
The Guardian,
November 18, 2016
God Save the Queens
Purple Clover,
July 9, 2016
I Divorced My Husband but Still Have an Affinity for His Jewish Traditions
The Washington Post,
April 21, 2016
No Man in Your Lifetime is Ever Going to Love You
Purple Clover,
March 26, 2016
Lighting Up
Brain, Child Magazine,
March 21, 2016
Like Sand Through the Hourglass
Purple Clover,
December 12, 2015
The Day My Daughter Became a Woman
Brain, Child Magazine,
October 15, 2015
A Song In My Heart
Purple Clover,
September 20, 2015
The Force Awakens
Purple Clover,
August 29, 2015
A Legacy of Failure
The Mid/Scary Mommy,
July 27, 2015
Blood Is Thicker Than Water
Purple Clover,
July 26, 2015
Daydream Believer
Purple Clover,
June 28, 2015
Sometimes It’s Okay to Bend the Rules
The Mid,
June 1, 2015
The Girl On A Motorcycle
Purple Clover,
May 19, 2015
The Incredible Shrinking Woman
Purple Clover,
April 6, 2015
Shortchanging America’s Families: Marriage and Divorce Vegas Style
New Jersey Family Magazine,
January 1, 2013
Four Days of Silence
Salon,
October 16, 2012
The Anniversary I Spent Alone
Salon,
December 25, 2011
When Moms Break Up
Salon,
February 26, 2011
Through A Child’s Eyes
Prevention,
December 1, 2010
Accept Divorce? Never
The Huffington Post,
November 18, 2010
After the Divorce: My daughters, the strangers
Salon,
November 10, 2010
After the Beast: Saying No to No-Fault
The Huffington Post,
November 10, 2010
My Fight to Stop My Divorce
The Daily Beast,
August 1, 2010
Part-Time Fulfillment (The NY Times “Lives” column)
The New York Times Magazine,
01/15/2010
Why I Let My Daughters See Me Cry
Family Circle,
April 1, 2005
Amid All the Bad Jokes, An ‘Eternal Friend’
Newsweek,
November 9, 2003
Jumping In
Newsday,
August 11, 2003
The Catholic Church: The World's Divine Melting Pot (pages 7-8)
The Southern Cross,
12/01/2023
Non-Fiction Features
Attacks on Conservatives Supporting Divorce Reform Are Mounting
Institute for Family Studies,
July 9, 2024
Blame Women For High Divorce Rates That Hurt Women More Than Men
The Federalist ,
01/31/2024
5 Questions With Family Studies: Greg Ellis on America’s Broken Family Law System
Institute for Family Studies,
November 2, 2021
Beverly Willett on Flannery O’Connor: “The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it.”
Headbutler,
05/19/2020
30 Reasons Why Life Is So Hard (And what you can do about it)
UpJourney,
May 6, 2019
Life After Divorce. 7 Lessons I Learned From My Husband’s Affair
The Sanity Snack,
04/22/2019
South Magazine
GA Ports Authority: Bringing Business to the South,
June/July 2018
Power Poetry
South Magazine,
June/July 2018
SING! The American Traditions Vocal Competition Celebrates 25 Years in Savannah
Savannah Magazine,
March 8, 2018
Call of the Heart
Savannah Magazine,
December 11, 2017
Positively Paula
South Magazine,
October 6, 2017
NYC to Savannah
Savannah Magazine,
May/June 2017
The Secret That Lies Off the Coast of South Carolina
South Magazine,
March 29, 2017
So Happy Together
Savannah Magazine,
Fall/Winter 2016/2017
Jay McInerney Talks Fame and Faking It
South Magazine,
January 27, 2017
Villians, Victims, and Vices: A Conversation with Caroline Leavitt
South Magazine,
January 27, 2017
How an Accidental Chef Created a Lasting Legacy, Slightly North of Broad
South Magazine,
January 27, 2017
100 Years of Ginger
Good Grit Magazine,
January/February 2017
Root Doctors
South Magazine,
December 2016/January 2017
Still Magnolias
Good Grit Magazine,
December 1, 2016
Emergent Savannah
Good Grit Magazine,
October 1, 2016
This Means War
South Magazine,
June 2, 2016
Georgia’s Antebellum Trail
Good Grit Magazine,
June 1, 2016
Tiny Houses, Big Difference
Savannah Magazine,
May 6, 2016
Tent Cities
South Magazine,
April 1, 2016
Here’s Sonny
South Magazine,
February 5, 2016
Nasty Divorces’ Silver Lining?
The Daily Beast,
May 19, 2012
Building Hope (Architects and Designers Provide Low-Cost Design Solutions to Disadvantaged Communities)
Chicken Soup for the Soul Magazine,
January 1, 2007
The Mom List: 5 Things You Wish You’d Never Said
Parenting,
December 15, 2006
Surviving Alternate Weekends
Woman’s Day,
September 12, 2006
Back-to-School Special: Goodbye Summer, Hello School!
Woman’s Day,
September 1, 2006
An Angel in Disguise (Giving Hope to Families of the Missing)
Chicken Soup for the Soul Magazine,
July 1, 2006
6 Ways to Calm Camp Jitters
Woman’s Day,
June 6, 2006
Pouring Out Their Hearts (One Little Girl Inspires Thousands)
Chicken Soup for the Soul Magazine,
May 1, 2006
Nix Neighbor Nuisances
All You,
May 1, 2006
Make the Most of Your Birthday
Woman’s Day,
April 6, 2006
Overall Dedication (Encouraging Employees to Give)
Chicken Soup for the Soul Magazine,
March 1, 2006
Life Lessons: Raising Tolerant, Compassionate Children
Viewpoints on Parenting, Toys ‘R Us,
March 1, 2006
All Work and No Play
Viewpoints on Parenting, Toys ‘R Us,
October 6, 2001
Op Eds
If We Really Wanted Fewer School Shootings, We’d Work To End Divorce
The Federalist,
09/17/2024
Attacks on Conservatives Supporting Divorce Reform Are Mounting
Institute for Family Studies,
07/09/2024
I'm Catholic. I Stand with Israel.
The Times of Israel,
06/18/2024
All the Protestors Are Somebody's Child
Epoch Times,
05/24/2024
There is no Republican plot to end no-fault divorce — but there should be
The Washington Examiner,
08/18/2023
Our Country's Deepest Bigotry is Not What You Might Think
The Opinion Pages,
03/05/2023
Not Getting Divorced Could Save Your Marriage
Institute for Family Studies,
October 17, 2022
Let Catholics Pray in Lain
The New York Daily News,
August 5, 2022
Work is great, but most moms want to raise their children: Biden would tilt the scale toward full-time employment
New York Daily News,
May 9, 2021
How to unify America, starting now
The New York Daily News,
09/23/2020
Will COVID-19 promote trend toward isolation or restore our courage as Americans?
USA Today,
03/20/2020
Like many Americans, my divorce destroyed my mental health and nearly drove me to suicide
USA Today,
September 29, 2019
Celebrity divorces should not be news: They probably are because we want to feel superior.
The New York Daily News,
09/17/2019
What fifty years of no-fault divorce has gotten us.
The Washington Examiner,
08/13/2019
I shouldn't have had to fight to be a stay-at-home mom. We need family-friendly policies.
USA Today,
07/31/2019
How Mom and I finally bridged our political divide
The Seattle Times,
May 25, 2019
Divorce won't make you or your kids happy. This January, resolve to keep your marriage intact.
USA Today,
January 9, 2019
I was falsely accused and my reputation was disparaged. I don't regret fighting back.
USA Today,
09/28/2018
Beyond the Border, Keep all Families Together
The Deseret News,
July 15, 2018
A Newcomer’s perceptions of Savannah have Changed
Savannah Morning News,
November 20, 2015
How the Victory of Gay Marriage Could Save All Marriage
New York Post,
October 22, 2015
It’s Time To Get Serious About Infidelity
Public Discourse,
September 25, 2015
Dear Pope Francis: Remember the Standers
First Things,
June 10, 2015
Dear Monica: Cyberbullying Is Wrong — But So Is Adultery
Public Discourse,
April 7, 2015
National Marriage Rates in Nosedive
The Deseret News,
December 25, 2014
Campuses Must Confront Assault Issue
The Courier-Journal,
December 16, 2014
Campuses Must Confront Assault Issue
The Philadelphia Inquirer,
December 14, 2014
American Apparel is Still Obscene After Ousting CEO Dov Charney
The New York Post,
June 22, 2014
Reforming Divorce Law Will Benefit Marriage
The Deseret News,
May 7, 2014
Time To Reform Divorce Laws
The Philadelphia Inquirer,
April 25, 2014
What’s Next for Anthony Weiner?
The Deseret News,
September 17, 2013
When To Burst Your Friend’s Bubble (with Jennifer Weiner and Tracy McMillan)
The New York Times, Room for Debate,
August 4, 2013
We’re Not Like Angelina
The New York Post,
May 17, 2013
When Divorce Is A Family Affair
The New York Times, Room for Debate,
February 14, 2013
‘No fault’ Nuttiness: Why Modern Divorce is Lunacy
The New York Post,
September 19, 2011
Kraft’s Thoughtless Contest
The National Review,
August 15, 2011
Book Reviews
An Unrelenting Stand for Families
Institute for Family Studies,
06/25/2024
New Book Offers Advice to Young Career Women Who Want More
Institute for Family Studies,
04/15/2024
Heartbreaking Memoir "Troubled" Indicts the Elites Tearing Apart Two-Parent Homes
The Federalist ,
03/29/2024
Harrison Scott Key's Countercultural Prescription for Staying Married
Institute for Family Studies,
June 27, 2023
The Mother Knot, by Kathryn Harrison
The New York Times Book Review,
June 13, 2004
Baby B, by Michael Ryan
The New York Times Book Review,
May 9, 2004
Other
Quoted in "A History of No-Fault Divorce in the U.S."
CNN,
2024
Quoted in The Atlantic's September 26, 2023 article on No-Fault Divorce
The Atlantic,
2024
The Catholic Review, Fall-Winter 2023, Vol. 112, reprint of NYD News article in Braille
Xavier Society for the Blind ,
2024
Interviewed, profiled and mentioned in:
Psychology Today, Babble, New York Magazine, Woman's Day, The Christian Post, The Washington Times, Jezebel, Connect Savannah, etc. ,
2019
Interviewed, profiled and mentioned in:
The Deseret News, Minnesota Public Radio, WJCL-TV, The Courier-Journal, Fatherly, Newsmax, OXY, Philadelphia Magazine, Adweek, etc. ,
2019
Interviewed, profiled and mentioned in:
Crisis Magazine, Marriage Matters, The Marriage Place, Blog of Sara Beth Merrick, Haven Writing Retreats, Patheos, Overlawyered, etc. ,
2019
How to Begin Again
The Huffington Post,
2017
The Day My Daughter Became a Woman
The Huffington Post,
2017
Sometimes It’s Okay to Bend the Rules
The Huffington Post,
2016
Savannah Anthology 2016
Contributor, Juried Competition (“My Midlife Teenage Rebellion”),
2016
Savannah Anthology 2015
Contributor, Juried Competition (“Thunder’s Grief”),
2015
Move Over, First Families: ‘Blended’ Families Are the New Game in Town
The Huffington Post,
2014
Move Over First Families: Stepfamilies are the New Game in Town
Coalition for Divorce Reform,
2014
What Kids Want for New Year’s
The Huffington Post,
2014
What Kids Want Most
Coalition for Divorce Reform,
2014
Parents Ask, Experts, Answer
Gryphon House, 2014, Contributor,
2014
First Monday in October
The Huffington Post,
2013
Why Divorce Reform is Key to America’s Prosperity
Coalition for Divorce Reform,
2013
The Supreme Court’s Decision to Punt on Marriage
Coalition for Divorce Reform,
2013
Is Forever Feasible? (Interview with Prof. Alan J. Hawkins)
The Huffington Post,
2013
Is the Way We Divorce in America About to Change?
The Huffington Post,
2013
Changing the Way We Divorce
Coalition for Divorce Reform,
2013
How to Choose Your Next Husband (Interview with Suzanne Venker)
The Huffington Post,
2013
Should Filing for Divorce Be Harder?
Coalition for Divorce Reform,
2013
Why I’m Fighting For Divorce Reform
The Huffington Post,
2013
Divorce Reform is Possible in 2013
Coalition for Divorce Reform,
2012
The #1 Reason To Think Twice Before Splitting Up
The Huffington Post,
2012
The Mouths of Babes
Coalition for Divorce Reform,
2012
Why We Need National Black Marriage Day
The Huffington Post,
2012
Why Your Marriage Can Endure More Hardship Than You Think
The Huffington Post,
2012
Introducing Issues With Opposing Viewpoints: Divorce
Cengage Learning, Greenhaven Press, 2012, Contributor (Chapter 3: No-Fault Divorce Laws Are Not Beneficial),
2012
The Beauty of the Pause
Coalition for Divorce Reform,
2011
Why Stay-At-Home Dads May Get Screwed In A Split
The Huffington Post,
2011
Is Divorce Literally Killing Our Nation’s Children?
Coalition for Divorce Reform,
2011
Couple Divorces over Mayonnaise Feud: Fact or Fiction?
Coalition for Divorce Reform,
2011
Divorce Lessons for Our Children
Coalition for Divorce Reform,
2011
Standing Up for Marriage and Family
Coalition for Divorce Reform,
2011
Say ‘No’ To No-Fault Again
The Huffington Post,
2011
After the Daily Beast: Saying No to No-Fault
The Huffington Post,
2011
The Most Pioneering Divorce Reform Effort in 40 Years
The Huffington Post,
2011
The Impossible Dream: My Fight to Save My Marriage
Coalition for Divorce Reform,
2011
No-Fault Divorce? Maybe Yogi Was Right
The Huffington Post,
2011
Feminists Love Divorce!
The Huffington Post,
2011
Divorced + Children + Relocating? Fuhgeddaboudit!
The Huffington Post,
2011
When The One Who Got Away Is The One You Left
The Huffington Post,
2011
Pinky Swears are Worthless and Other Lessons Divorce Teaches Our Children Well
The Huffington Post,
2010
Pause! In the Name of Love
The Huffington Post,
2010