The concluding volume in Lev Grossman’s Magicians trilogy, “The Magician’s Land” is best enjoyed after re-reading “The Magicians” and “The Magician King,” since this third book jumps right into the action, expecting the reader to be familiar not only with its hero, Quentin Coldwater, but …
Read MoreA year in the life (and then some…)
It’s been one year today since I started this blog, so I thought I’d share the story of how it came to be and my writing life up to this point. My rebirth as a writer really began three years ago, when my sister gave …
Read More10 books that had an impact on me
These are not necessarily my “favorite” books, but 10 that have a special place in my life for various reasons. Presented roughly in the order in which I encountered them: The Outsiders. The book that made me believe I could write a novel, since S.E. …
Read MoreBack-to-school resolutions
My niece and a lot of other kids are headed back to school this week, and while I don’t have children of my own, I still get caught up in the excitement of the season. Growing up, I always loved going shopping for school supplies, …
Read MoreExperiencing Pamela Des Barres’ writing workshop
I’ve been a huge fan of Pamela Des Barres since high school, when I read her autobiography “I’m With the Band” and dreamed of living a life so interesting that one day I, too, could write a book about my adventures. For many years, I …
Read MoreAugusten Burroughs on why to write every day
I had the privilege of hearing Augusten Burroughs speak at the Atlanta Writers Club Centennial Celebration on Saturday night. His keynote speech took the form of a Q&A session, which was a little disappointing to me: he’s such an excellent storyteller that I would have …
Read MoreBetter late than never: I’m on Goodreads!
I’m a little embarrassed that it took me so long to discover this wonderful resource for writers and authors. (What can I say… I’ve always been a bit of a late bloomer!) But I’m pleased to say that I now have an author profile on …
Read MoreBetter Than Barbie? Body Image Isn’t Always About Size
I’ve been reading some of the media coverage of “Lammily,” the crowdfunded alternative to Barbie that has “average proportions.” Despite her weird name (I think it sounds like mammary), a lot of people seem to like the idea of a doll that has a more …
Read MoreWhat I’m Reading: Bigger than a Bread Box
Took a break from Marisa de los Santos to read a middle-grade book by a local author: “Bigger than a Bread Box” by Laurel Snyder. I heard Snyder speak at the January Atlanta Writers Club meeting, and found her inspiring, especially when she shared that …
Read MorePlease lend this book!
For many years I had a philosophy of never lending books to friends. If you wanted to borrow a book, and it was one I could bear to part with, I’d give you the book outright, but I’d never expect to see it again. This …
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