Archive for February 2010
A novel idea about a novel idea
I’m lucky. I have a lot of ideas for books. Lots and lots and lots. I just need more time to write them all. As I attempt to wrap up my third book over this upcoming vacation, these ideas have begun to crowd my brain, each one vying for the top spot. Invariably, I will…
Read MoreI couldn’t resist posting…
8 simple rules for requesting music at a wedding
I just finished meeting with a couple who is getting married in March. They are very nice people who chose most of the music for their wedding, which will tie my hands a bit when it comes to taking requests that night. This is fine with me. I find the practice of requesting songs at…
Read MoreSOMETHING MISSING: The large print version
The large print version of SOMETHING MISSING was just released last month, in case you’re interested in owning every version of the book. It was chosen as a Thorndike Reviewer’s Choice book and had a nice write-up in the relatively unknown but still very appreciated Juneau Empire, even though the writer, Kathy Ward, manages to…
Read MoreGood advice
As a writer, I rely on quality feedback from my readers. I know there are many writers who prefer to write in a vacuum, absent of comment or criticism, and this may actually be the preferred way of writing for most authors. “Write with the door closed first,” Stephen King says. But this is not…
Read MoreAnswers and coincidences
A while back, I wrote about running into a person reading SOMETHING MISSING my book at the gym and not knowing what to do. The post received quite a response on the blog and especially through Twitter and Facebook, and today someone brought me an answer. Sort of. Blogger Simcha Lazarus found my post and…
Read MoreThe Man
As you may know, I cannot stand needless ceremony. In keeping with this belief, I have begun signing all credit card receipts with the words: The Man Since no one ever examines these signatures, I’m not sure why I’m even required to sign the damn things anymore? If I’m going to be forced into this…
Read MoreDoubting myself
I learned today that The Bookworm, my local, independent bookstore is going out of business. A year ago, Barnes and Noble moved into the neighborhood, and as expected, our indie didn’t last long. While I’m sad to see the bookshop go, the store didn’t even have its own website and almost never hosted authors or…
Read MoreWhite snow, black swan
It looks like there is a good chance that I will be home tomorrow, enjoying our first snow day of the winter season. Though my students will be turning their pajamas inside out and placing spoons under their pillows in hopes for a foot of snow, many of my friends and colleagues are hoping that…
Read MoreTen minutes at a time
“What the writer needs is an empty day ahead.” CATHERINE DRINKER BOWEN I saw this quote in my Twitter feed recently and thought, “No, No! No!” A couple weeks ago, I was in Vermont with a handful of other authors, speaking about our books and writing. During the question-and-answer session, an audience member asked about…
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