What’s Holding You Back?

March 16, 2020 by Chandra Sparks Splond

I’ve known since I was 14 years old that I’ve wanted to write books, but I didn’t sit down to actually write one until after I had my daughter in 2004—almost 20 years later. I don’t think it was a conscious decision not to write books—I’ve spent my entire career in various aspects of […]

Five Lessons I Want My Daughter to Learn from Being Raised in Birmingham

February 17, 2020 by Chandra Sparks Splond

Maybe the realization that my daughter will be 16 this year has me a little nostalgic, but recently I started thinking about how much of a blessing the city I once despised has been to me since I returned in 2006.

Five Places to Find Friends (Best of Book of Splond)

April 22, 2019 by Chandra Sparks Splond

If you’re anything like me, friendships have taken a backseat now that a husband and kid are in the mix.

A Love Letter to My Daddy for His 75th Birthday

April 15, 2019 by Chandra Sparks Splond

Daddy, Today would have been your 75th birthday. Although it’s been almost 25 years since you’ve been gone, the impact you had on my life still remains.

Should I Write a Book? (Best of Book of Splond)

March 25, 2019 by Chandra Sparks Splond

The fact that you’ve been drawn to the post tells me a lot about you. You’re at a point where either you’ve had this idea to put pen to paper for a while, or someone has planted a seed in you that has you wondering if you have what it takes to write a book.

Local and National Resources for Opioid Addiction

March 18, 2019 by Chandra Sparks Splond

According to drugabuse.gov, in 2016, there were 343 opioid-related overdose deaths in Alabama—a rate of 7.5 deaths per 100,000 people—nearly half the national rate of 13.3 deaths per 100,000 people. The number of deaths related to opioids included 157 related to synthetic opioids (mainly fentanyl), 126 attributed to heroin, and 124 related to prescription opioids.