Today's letter writer is Dorothy Rice, author of the brilliant memoir, Gray is the New Black. Nothing like a pandemic to put our "stuff" in perspective.... I have so many things, objects, stuff – more than I can reasonably put to good use. I’m not generally hugely bothered by it. The jumble of discards, … Continue reading Covid Letters, No. 6
Today's guest blog, written by Marilyn Guggenheim, is not for the faint at heart! In response to the prompt, "What is the one thing you'd like to see become a permanent change about this pandemic?" she tells it, boy. My favorite line: "I want this pandemic to rouse us into some kind of rock-bottom, come-to-Jesus redo." … Continue reading Covid Letters, No. 5
This one is a bonafide letter. Written and illustrated by Sharon Glick. Local people will recognize her artwork. Before the world fell apart, we used to see it all over town on the moving canvas known as the Bookmobile. Thanks for sending this. What a treat.
Today's guest blogger is Sarah Jones-Popiel, a loyal subscriber (thanks!) with kids the same age as mine. I can't really express how much I relate to her post, and as she said it all so perfectly, I don't have to. Thanks for writing with such honesty, Sarah. As always, those who relate, please speak up. … Continue reading Covid Letters, No. 3
Readers--what an awesome response I received to my call for guest bloggers! I'm thrilled and moved. I can't wait to share these letters with you. Keep them coming, please. And because a lot of these guest bloggers are new, certainly new here, please speak up with comments if/when you read something that moves you, or … Continue reading Covid Letters, No. 2
Life has gotten weird. The last four months in brief: Holidays: family reunion in Hawaii. Reuniting with my mother's family, all of whom I adored growing up until my mid-twenties when my dad died and our visits fizzled. Then my--our--grandmother died. As you can imagine, much to write about that reunion. Suffice it to say: … Continue reading Covid Letters, No. 1
I'm away from home right now, at an undisclosed location, trying to write book number two. Technically it's book four, but I'm not counting the ones that didn't see print. Here's why: Getting a book in print is hard. It's glorious and back-flipping amazing, for certain. But there's another side to it all, an experience … Continue reading Book Two, Draft Negative One (-1)
O suns and skies and flowers of June, Count all your boasts together, Love loveth best of all the year October's bright blue weather. --Helen Hunt Jackson (1830-1885) In the early third of this month comes three loaded dates for me. I love October. I love Halloween. But each year I have this snag to … Continue reading Reclaiming October
Readers! Last weekend I was in Missoula for the Montana Book Festival, an event I first attended twelve years ago. I was alone then too, wandering through crowds of writers and their books, listening to panels and readings, and wondering what it would be like to be at this event as an author. Now I … Continue reading How to Live
Though I have vowed not to spend every summer evening as I did last year, watching baseball and knitting, I did find myself in front of the All-Star game this week. I happened to be watching when National League first basemen Pete Alonso, a rookie from the Mets, was asked to consider himself at spring training. … Continue reading A Star is Not Born: On Success, Talent, and Shame