A place for my thoughts

Brandi Easterling Collins, independent author

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  • Welcome: About me
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Archives

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Essays, General Thoughts

Finances and Frugality in a World Where Everything Costs a Freakin’ Fortune

Let’s talk about some F-words (no, not that F-word). Let’s discuss finances, fortune, and frugality. I’m not a financial advisor, but I wanted to share some thoughts about money and…

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January 30, 2024
Adult Poetry, Poetry

A Walk In The Rain

“A Walk In The Rain” Free Verse Poetry, August 2016/March 2017 She went for a walk in the rain With barely enough light to see The mist baptizing her favorite…

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March 2, 2017
Novels (my writing updates)

Four Hearts: Coming soon

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…

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November 19, 2025
  • A woman looks into a mirror while measuring her waist
    Essays,  General Thoughts

    Believe It or Not, Getting Fat Isn’t the Worst Thing That’s Ever Happened to Me

    May 27, 2026 /

    Body image has been a hot topic for as long as I’ve been alive in one way or another. As the old saying goes, sometimes, the more things change, the more they remain the same. Eras of Women’s Body Image During My Lifetime and How I Related I was born during the 1980s aerobics craze where the ideal female body was toned and athletic like fitness model Jane Fonda. I remember accompanying my mom to aerobics classes when I was a young child or trying to follow along with home workout videos on VHS. The 1990s came along with “thin-is-in” models like Kate Moss. Seventeen and Cosmopolitan magazines had diet…

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    Illustrated race track scene with children driving cars at a starting line

    How Many Times Can You Start Over?

    February 16, 2025
    Illustration of older lady waving.

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

    June 18, 2024

    Talking about death

    September 9, 2018
  • Sketch of movie tickets, popcorn and film
    General Thoughts,  Pop Culture

    Movies I Will Watch Again and Again

    April 6, 2026 /

    I love movies almost as much as I love books. Over the years, there have been multiple movies that I’ve watched multiple times. They’re not all what critics would call cinematic masterpieces, but these films have meant a lot to me and still do. My first movie at the theater I still remember the first movie I saw in a movie theater: Ernest Goes to Camp. My aunt Diana took me to see it with my three cousins. It was a wonderful experience that spurred my love for movies and spending time with my aunt. She often took my siblings and me to the movies over the summer when she…

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    Music studio control room and singer booth

    Top 15 Cover Songs I Like Better Than The Originals

    October 23, 2023
    Brandi and Peanut (a chiweenie)

    Autumn writing update

    October 1, 2019
    Illustration of children watching a Halloween movie

    My Favorite Holiday Movies and TV Specials (Even the Guilty Pleasures)

    September 9, 2025
  • 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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    You May Also Like

    Two Years of Updates: Reading, Writing, and other creative outlets

    July 22, 2018
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    My 30 Favorite Male Singer-Songwriters

    November 19, 2023

    Childhood Lost

    July 25, 2016
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Recent Posts

  • 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
  • Four Hearts: Coming soon

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