I have many personal connections to today's post topic, so I'm pleased to talk about "Poetry in the Pines", a collaboration of the Monadnock Writers' Group and the Cathedral of the Pines in Rindge, NH. So much poetry is inspired by nature that "Poetry in the Pines" seems a natural mélange. Cathedral of the Pines … Continue reading Poetry in the Pines
Today's fun Friday photo is actually a video provided courtesy of author Bianca Marais. I shamelessly asked to borrow this video of her dog Muggle and cat Wombat (great names) after seeing it on Instagram. Watch the short video and you'll see why. Those two are precious, and the look on the dog's face is … Continue reading Fun Friday Photo: Muggle & Wombat
Does the world need a list of "the best, ultimately uplifting stories about sexual abuse and harassment"? I think so, and so does Book DNA (formerly Shepherd.com), the newest kid on the bookworm's block. I was invited by the creators of Shepherd, a new reading resource for book-lovers, to submit a list of good reads … Continue reading The Best, Ultimately Uplifting Stories About Sexual Abuse and Harassment
Congratulations to fellow TouchPoint Press author M.T. Maliha for releasing another spectacularly spooky read--Betwixted, the final installment in her Waverly Estates trilogy. Maliha is a wonderful storyteller. Betwixted grabbed me from Chapter 1 as the plot went into high gear immediately. Every chapter provides a spooky, eerie chill, and the mystery and intrigue build right … Continue reading A Spectacularly Spooky Read
Let me clarify: I don't hate Women's Fiction itself. In fact, my most recently published novel, Horseshoes and Hand Grenades, can be classified as Women's Fiction. I hate the term "Women's Fiction". Jodi Picoult - Master of Women's Fiction or just Master of Fiction? I don't understand why we need a genre of literature called … Continue reading Why I Hate “Women’s Fiction”
I recently read The Gargoyle (Anchor Books, 2009) and am compelled to share one of author Andrew Davidson's character descriptions--one so amazing I had to re-read it right then and there, and immediately deemed it The Best Character Description Ever. Authors often struggle to find new and interesting ways to portray their characters as there … Continue reading The Best Character Description Ever
William Shakespeare and heavy metal musician John Corabi of Mötley Crüe inspire today's post. Yep, you read that right. One of the most often quoted passages from Shakespeare is this sentiment posed by Juliet in Romeo and Juliet: “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as … Continue reading What’s In A Name? Or a Book Title?
Thanks to author M.T. Maliha for inviting me to join her podcast and talk about the narrative choices authors face. The Dusty Wood Podcast showcases interviews with guests who talk about writing and life, sometimes together. M.T. Maliha is a lovely author and an even lovelier person. Her Waverly Estate trilogy includes Ghost Dance and … Continue reading Narrative Choices – Podcast Interview
A fellow New England author I am fortunate to know is Reverend Jane Willan, whose latest cozy mystery was published a few weeks ago. More details on Abide With Me in a minute, but first you may have questions: What is a cozy mystery? Cozy mysteries, also called "cozies" are a form of crime fiction … Continue reading “Composing Sermons & Dreaming Up Murder”
Where does one start to describe the wonderful writing and career of award-winning poet Susan Roney-O'Brien, whose new collection Thira is now available? This new release is a treasure trove for poetry-lovers. She has published five collections of poetry and innumerable individual poems in literary publications. Her poetry has been translated into Braille and Mandarin. … Continue reading Treasure Trove for Poetry Lovers