Quiet and Everyday Heroes

The tragedy in Haiti points ever more poignantly at the amazing deeds of everyday heroes. Right now, somewhere in Haiti, selfless men and women are putting their lives at risk and sacrificing comfort, sleep, food, peace of mind and who knows what else to pull someone from rubble, to deliver a baby in the midst … Read more

Countdown to Publication: Day 36, Behind the Scenes of Extreme Narcissism

  SHE WRITES, a terrific site for women writers, asked if I’d like to be included in the group of writers they’ve invited to participate in writing a “Countdown to Publication” blog. Well, let me tell you this: having a debut novel launch includes many tasks—some Sisyphean, some plain fun, and all feeding into the … Read more

Books on Writing: Part 1

Books on Writing: Part 1 Whisper the words books on writing to a bunch of writers and you might have to watch the whoosh of air as they take sides so fast it’s like being transported to West Side Story. Jets: “Books, I don’t need no stinking how-to-learn-to-write books. Long as I have John Gardner, … Read more