I have come to the sad realization that I lack all common sense and sensibility (you’re welcome, Jane Austen fans) when it comes to graphic design. As a writer, I’ve always worked closely with graphic designers. Shout-out to Deb at… Read More ›
writing
The Egg
It’s rare that you can pinpoint the exact moment your future course was plotted out, but I’m lucky: I know exactly when, and where, mine happened. Honolulu, Hawaii. 1982. I was in junior high school and, purely on a whim,… Read More ›
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Lost in the shuffle of all this who’s-our-next-president? uncertainty today (though it seems pretty clear to me) is the fact that South Dakota, which went to Trump with 59% of the vote, actually passed ballot measures legalizing both medical and… Read More ›
How NOT to Get Published
Sometimes, we get really interesting emails from people wanting to collaborate or contribute articles to our parenting magazine. Usually I ignore them, but every once in a while I can’t resist the urge to respond. This mostly happens when they… Read More ›
Bad Boys, Bad Boys
I was pulled over by a cop this morning. I wasn’t even driving a car…I was walking. Now, I know I often leave people in my wake when we’re strolling together—I’ve long been labeled a “fast walker”—but this is ridiculous…. Read More ›
Ask and Ye Shall Receive
In an admirable example of “ask and ye shall receive,” I recently expressed a desire to have my book banned, and a longtime reader complied. She didn’t hesitate in banning my book on her blog. Thank you, Stephanie. You’re awesome…. Read More ›
Lukewarm Off the Press
The fall edition of our parenting magazine arrived this week. When that delivery truck pulls up outside and all the boxes are unloaded from the pallet, it’s always a cause for celebration—physical proof of our collective hard work. Some people… Read More ›
Ban My Book…Please!
I think my book is too tame. Don’t get me wrong; it’s hardly G-rated. There’s sex, violence, and profanity. Kidnapping and substance abuse. Desecration of public lands, for crying out loud. But sadly, nobody has banned No Time for Kings…. Read More ›
The Surgeon
The air hangs heavy, stifling and still, lacking even the faintest hint of a breeze to stir up the atmosphere and provide some measure of relief. It’s draped atop us like a weighted blanket, smothering and oppressive. Isn’t that the… Read More ›
Tell, Don’t Show
As a fiction writer, one of the most valuable pieces of advice I ever received came from a literary agent who had read one of my manuscripts. “Show, don’t tell,” she said. This basic yet crucial writing technique can be… Read More ›