Worshipping at the Library Altar

“The library was a little old shabby place. Francie thought it was beautiful. The feeling she had about it was as good as the feeling she had about church.” A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith. February is Library Lovers Day—and not only do I love libraries, I credit the Kensington branch of the … Read more

Bake a Luscious Vintage Chocolate Recipe for Someone You Love (including yourself!)

Feb 1st is National Dark Chocolate Day Raise your hand if you knew Feb 1 was  National Dark  Chocolate Day.  I know, my hand is also down—but I’m ready to celebrate.  (I plan to consider this an auspicious sign for THE FASHION ORPHANS book launch on Feb 1. Like maybe someone will buy me chocolates?—I’m … Read more

Match Great First Lines to Phemon Books

Win an indie bookstore gift certificate! First Lines of Books I’m addicted to great first lines—I even have a document of first lines for which I want to someday write a book. If you’re a first-line admirer, or a book addict *like me* here’s your chance to show some chops. Below are ten of my … Read more

One Easy Starter: A Million Easy Soups

Big Pots of Homemade Soup made Super-Easy Raise your hand if you’re so sick of cooking you could live on dry cereal for the rest of your life. These days my answer is soup, soup, and more soup. Sometimes they resemble stews, sometimes chili, sometimes the inside of my fridge— but always eminently edible and … Read more

Ten Unusual, Caring, & Artistic Presents For Family, Friends & You

T’is the season to do a million things (good, great, exhausting, hair-pulling-annoying) but one I find the most relaxing is finding (and recommending) small shops, artists, and craftspeople. Below are some of my favorites cause I’ve already shopped with them, or ones I plan to recommend that my loved ones visit *for me*. BELMONT BOOKS … Read more