What to Read While It Snows (Again)
I have been lucky as a writer. I’m a secret introvert, which means I hide my shyness well. I’m not a joiner, yet over the years I’ve found myself part of three distinct writing communities. I mentioned the first last week — the writing forum where I workshopped my debut novel. (Coming out in …TWELVE…
Emerging From the Man Cave to Announce A Winner
This weekend I took my mother and my daughter to the MFA to do cultural-type things. We visited a fashion photography exhibit, saw the new Art of the Americas wing, had lunch, drooled over the John Singer Sargent portraits (my favorite painter) and then went home. It was all very civilized and lovely. In my…
Snowbound. Send Chocolate.
So, we’ve been snowbound for two days. It’s been fairly productive. Today we made bread, I finished the disaster of a scarf I’ve been trying to knit, and I managed to clear the driveway with the snow blower without losing a limb. (If you’re reading this, Dad, all safety procedures were followed. Mostly. There’s supposed…
Four Things You Need to Know
Time is a little tight right now, so without further ado: Shameless is only available in the US for season one. Now that I have become addicted to the Gallagher family’s travails, I can’t watch any more. I want my BBC, dammit! Paul Abbott, can you hear me? I will be having a book signing…
Can You Hear Me????
So, guess what came in the mail today? Can you hear me squeeing from here? (Open the window. I’ll bet you can.) Yep, that’s right — a single copy of my finished book. With an acknowledgement page. And a photo. Even a price! After all this time, it just doesn’t seem possible that it will…
What I've Learned ( Or, Things Not to Do on Winter Break)
There are two things I will never, ever do again: 1) Drink a margarita and champagne in the same day; and 2) Watch a DVD I know nothing about with my mother-in-law. I’m not sure which was more painful. In my defense for the first situation, I rarely get out, the two different drinks were…
Where Did It Go?
It occurred to me this weekend that Christmas is the ultimate parenting analogy. There’s all the excitement, the bustling about and the anticipation. And then the big day comes and no matter what you think, you’re never quite prepared. You wake up at an ungodly hour, you’re tired, your hair is a mess, and there’s…
This, That, and the Other
Hey there! It’s been a crazy few days — there was the making of the sugar cookies, followed promptly by the eating of the sugar cookies (see that sneaky little hand in the top of the photo?) followed by a fever pitched frenzy that I’m not sure we will survive. I may need to find…
Editing, Actually
I have a set playlist for the holidays when it come to movies. Every year, my husband and I kick off the season by watching Home for the Holidays the night before Thanksgiving. (If you haven’t seen it, watch it next year — it will make your holidays seem blissful by comparison.) Then, in no…
Temptation
So. Last week I went to a book signing featuring Julia Glass. She was lovely and funny and professional and I came home with a signed copy of The Widower’s Tale. (That means I won’t be lending it out. Sorry. No, don’t look at me like that. Go get your own.) Anyhow, the bookstore was…
Making a List…
There’s a quiet hum of activity at my house. I found my daughter cutting the legs off a pair of her jeans last night. (“To make presents with!”) My son has been spinning about like a top, cajoling everyone he can into taking dictation for the list he started back in July. The tree is…