Writing
Midweek Questions from My Readers
Every once in a while I like to answer some of the questions you’ve sent me. Some are related to writing, some are more personal, and my goal in these posts is to answer two of each. (Almost) anything goes, so feel free to add new questions with your comments and I’ll try to answer…
Read MoreAn Inventive Book Club Discusses Necessary Lies
I Skyped with a book club recently as they discussed Necessary Lies and the host forwarded me a copy of the invitation she sent out to the members. I love it! She really took the story to heart. She gave me permission to share the invite with my readers (I blanked out all the members…
Read MoreCan We Talk? Should I or Should I not Publish Private Relations (Revisited)?
June will mark the 25th anniversary of the publication of my first novel, Private Relations, which has me pondering–yet again–whether or not to release it for my 21st century readers. I’ve had this chat with some of you before, but I need to have it again. I need your help in making the decision. I…
Read MoreStory Weekend: Favorite Job Ever!
What was yours and what made it so special? I’ll start it off with my own story this week. If you’re new to Story Weekend, here’s how it works: I pick a theme and you share something from your life that relates to that theme, however you interpret it. Thanks to all of you who’ve contributed.…
Read MoreWhy this Box Made Me Cry (and a Give-away)
In the days before e-books, here’s how it went for most authors: you spent a couple of years pouring your heart and soul into a book, which was then published, sat in the bookstores for a few months and then quietly disappeared forever. This was a typical scenario for most novels (and still is for…
Read MoreStory Weekend: The Taxi
I’m even giving you the title for your 100-word story this week! I’ll start it out with my own and hope you’ll join in. If you’re new to Story Weekend, here’s how it works: I pick a theme and you share something from your life that relates to that theme, however you interpret it. Thanks to…
Read MoreStory Weekend: It's a Small World (and a giveaway)
Yes, Story Weekend is back! I’ve appreciated hearing from those of you who missed it. This weekend’s topic is “It’s a Small World” and I’ll start it off with my own story in the comment section to get things rolling. On Monday evening, 7pm EST, I’ll use a random number generator to pick one of…
Read MoreWhy I can no Longer List my Top Ten Books of the Year (and a Giveaway)
UPDATE: We have a winner! Thank you all for sharing your favorite books. The Random Number Generator picked Rhonda Baker. Congratulations, Rhonda! For the past few Januarys, I’ve posted my ten favorite books of the previous year on my blog. Some of you have been asking me when I’d be posting my list for 2013…
Read MoreStory Weekend: Acting (and a Giveaway of a Large Print Edition of Necessary Lies)
As a kid, I always wanted to be an actress. My friend Joyce and I would practice a scene from the movie The Bells of St Mary’s, in which the priest (Bing Crosby) tells the nun (Ingrid Bergman) that she has leukemia, and she cries (with relief, because of the storyline). Joyce and I would…
Read MoreBirth Control Craziness
I lost my virginity at the age of eighteen. I loved the boy; in retrospect I can’t imagine why. Still, I was head-over-heels smitten, the sort of smitten that had me sketching his picture in my notebooks and skipping classes to be with him. I hadn’t completely lost my mind, however: I knew I didn’t…
Read More