I am dreaming my next novel. It’s a strange and careful time because what I read and think and see is sure to affect me in some abstract or even direct way as I find this novel’s path. Today I’m reading GRIMALKIN, a collection of poetry from the now-rather-famous Thomas Lynch. Lynch, a Michigan undertaker, …Read More

Image by Kara/Infogirl I’ve always been an evening gardener. It’s as though I live in some tortuously hot place like New Orleans or South Florida where one has to rise at dawn or race the fireflies into the yard in order to plant and tend. My energy is best in the late hours of the …Read More

Soon Lindsay Lohan, Vincente Fox, Imelda Marcos and I will be celebrating our common birthday, though probably not together. Together, Imelda and I could chat about shoes, Lindsay could bring the champagne, and, well, I don’t know about Vincente. He would probably enjoy checking out Lindsay. But I think I’ll stick close to home with …Read More

I am possibly the only person on the planet who traveled to Anchorage, Alaska and didn’t see a live moose. I may have seen Denali in the distance from my hotel window, but I really can’t be sure. My week in Anchorage, back in September, was spent hurrying between the Sheraton(?) and the Convention Center …Read More

I feel a little sad when someone purchases my work and is unhappy with it. Fortunately, I usually only hear from folks who have nice things to say. But I’m open to criticism, as long as it’s, well, reasonable. Recently, I received this (unedited) email from R.S.: __I WILL NEVER EVER PURCHASE ANOTHER ONE OF …Read More

I came home today to find the package containing the proposed cover for CALLING MR LONELY HEARTS in my kitchen, waiting for me. There was a brief moment when I didn’t think I could bear to open it. What if I didn’t like it? What if I thought it should be changed? Would I be …Read More

Meet Michelle Brooks. Poet. Very Cool Writer-Chick. Her poetry is a treat (sometimes a dark and scary treat, but we like that around here!), and her blog is deliciously idiosyncratic. One never knows what to expect–except a brand new pic of Michelle every day!

I was in Roanoke, Virginia last week for the Tinker Mountain Writers’ Workshop, a six day extravaganza of the writerly sort. Workshops, readings, tasty food, scintillating conversation and, yes, okay, a few late-night beer chats. Good fun all around! The title of my Thursday Craft Seminar was “Writing Genre–Will They Respect Me in the Morning?” …Read More

How thrilled was I to see this today from the cool folks at VSL?! And because YouTube is so addictive, and good music is good even when it’s silly!

I just have to speak out on this–Last week I watched the A & E miniseries of The Andromeda Strain. It was quite possibly the worst thing I’ve seen on television in years. If you loved the original 1971 film of the Crichton novel, I beg you to stay far, far away from the miniseries. …Read More