Isn't It Romantic?
A friend was visiting this weekend and we talked about her Kindle. She swore she’d never buy another paper book again (with the exception of Evenfall, of course) — she likes her device that much. She can read almost any book she wants, any time, and usually for less than the price of a regular…
The Secret Word
I’ve spent a good portion of today manhandling the slobbering beast into his crate, and neither of us are best pleased. Our neighbors are having work done on their yard, and Harley is convinced the contractors mean us harm. Normally he’s very docile, but there’s something about strangers carrying heavy equipment that really makes him…
Uphill All The Way
It’s been about a week since I’ve gone for a run, and even longer since I’ve had a chance to run outside. I was slogging up a hill, breathing hard, and my body had the same reaction it always does — a very clear “Are you trying to kill me?” feeling. I like to talk…
Diving In
Every summer, we pack up the kids and the dog and whatever else we can stuff in the car and head to a tiny beach in Connecticut. Let me preface this story by stating that I am not a beach person. My ancestors come from a place where damp is a season, and I spend…
Halfway There
I’ve been working under deadlines, professionally speaking, since I was around 20. (If you count deadlines I didn’t get paid for, like school newspapers and internships, you can bring the age down to about 12.) My first editor scared the bejesus out of me at a young age, and made it clear that short of…
That Comforting Feeling
In the small Connecticut town where my family spends part of the summer, there is an amazing used bookstore. It has a dog named Sailor, and a comfy rocking chair, and you can buy a whole bag of gently loved children’s books for the cost of a movie and popcorn — perfect for a damp…
I Have Seen The Future…And It Is Good!
All week, I’ve been reviewing versions of my web site. Can I tell you how much I love it? It’s created by this talented designer, and I can’t wait to share it with you. It captures the best parts of my book, it’s beautiful, and did I mention I love it? (Plus it will have…
Borders, Books, and Pirates
Yo Ho Heave Ho! Posting’s been light this week because — wait for it — I’ve been in the land of mermaid and princesses. And survived to tell the tale. (Ariel survived my eye-rolling, too.) Before our arrival and departure, I spent some time in the airport bookstores searching for my “plane book” — a…
I’m All About Strong Heroines (Unless They Have Fins, Not Feet)
Here’s a secret — my daughter, at the age of nine, has yet to see The Little Mermaid. And it’s not because I forgot, or couldn’t find it in my movie queue, or happened to overlook it at the dvd store. It’s on porpoise. (Cue the bad pun/mean mother music here.) When I was pregnant,…
Five Bad Things About Heroines
So. Today’s post is brought to you by author Erin Blakemore. Erin lives in Colorado, is a (former) roller derby queen, and has a debut book out this week. Titled The Heroine’s Bookshelf, it’s an inspiring look at literature’s greatest and most enduring female characters, ranging from Laura Ingalls to Lizzie Bennet. Learn more and…
Who's Your Heroine?
As a kid, I learned how to read relatively late — I think it was the end of first grade — but once I started, I couldn’t stop. I read everything that would hold still — cereal boxes, billboards, even The Thornbirds in fifth grade (I loaned that one to my teacher, Sister Mary Rose. …