Resolved: Or Death by Family
We had a lovely holiday, and are still digging out and trying to find the floor, which is covered in mounds of presents from the generous family and friends who seemed to think Santa needed a little help. My kids are lucky enough to have been ‘adopted’ by several close friends, and now own enough…
All I Need is a Reindeer…
The Grinch looked around, but since reindeer were scarce, there was none to be found. Did that stop the Grinch? No! The Grinch simply said “If I can’t find a reindeer, I’ll make one instead!” Happy Holidays! See you in the New Year!
Christmas in Books
I love the holidays. I love the scent of pine, the cold air, the way the houses look when we drive around at night. But maybe most of all, I love the books. Over the past 10 years, we’ve amassed quite the collection of holiday stories. Most of the year, they live in a box…
No Gift With Purchase
John Scalzi, a writer I really like, did a very kind thing this week: He gave writers and editors the chance to share information about their books in his blog’s comments. A type of writerly gift guide for the holidays, if you will. I thought it might be fun to do something similar. So I’m…
Snowdrift Saplings
Change. I’m not a fan of it. My daughter’s not either. It used to be that I was the only one who tried to hold on to the way things are with both hands, but now I see that tendency in her, too. I’d like to save her 40 plus years of stress and tell…
It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like …
It’s time to stock up on wine. : ) What, you were expecting something else? I’m lucky. For the most part, holidays around here are drama-free. On Thursday, I can honestly say ‘Thanks” for all my family members, extended and otherwise. But even drama-free holidays can still be stressful. So over the years, Bill and…
Guest Post! Creating Characters That Grow
For me, one of the most interesting and challenging parts of writing character-driven books is making sure my protagonists stretch and change in a believable way. Frodo from The Lord of the Rings series is my shining example of this: He starts off the series as a happy-go-lucky little hobbit with good intentions, and ends…
A Forest in the Trees (For Norman)
Before we moved to the suburbs, we lived on a run down horse farm in a town with a population of maybe 3,000 people. I do not joke when I tell you that the cows often outnumbered the human residents. My husband probably deserves sainthood for staying there with me for that long, but I loved…
Peace and Quiet
Like many New Englanders, we lost power over the weekend. I’d heard we might be getting a storm, but hadn’t taken it seriously. After all, how much snow could we possibly get before Halloween? But I’d forgotten where I live. The weather in New England is nothing if not a continual surprise. At 8 p.m.,…
Soft Eyes
The very last horse I ever owned was a beautiful, giant chestnut who had spent too much time in the show ring. We worked out a very good deal: I agreed not to show very much, and to spend the majority of our time together outside in the fresh air. He agreed not to try…
Of Ghouls, Ghosts, and Gingerbread
I’m a creature of habit. Every few years I reread The Lord of the Rings series, along with The Hobbit. I hit Emma and Pride and Prejudice in the winter. Fall is reserved for comfort reading — and a few good scares. For the first, there’s nobody better than Laurie Colwin. I first discovered her…