10 Truths for Emerging Writers (hint: think slow)

I heard from an emerging writer recently who said she’d been crushed, devastated, destroyed by the feedback she’s received on her book, which she recently self-published, and by the lack of sales.  She was so convinced it was brilliant. Now she feels as though readers are idiots or else she’s utterly deluded.  Either way, she’s…

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Musehouse Reading

Bookbound has an article about my upcoming reading at the Musehouse Center for the Literary Arts in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia on Saturday, Feb. 18th.  I think the writer, Nicolette Milholin, did a fine job with it.  You can read it here.  Hope some of you can make it to the reading!

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Globe & Mail Review of OUR DAILY BREAD

I am humbled and grateful for the wonderful review Alan Cuymn gave OUR DAILY BREAD in the Globe & Mail.  I have enormous respect for Cuymn’s work; to get such a positive review from him leaves me breathless. He says: Where is hell, exactly? Up the mountain, where it has always been. The road there…

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My Book Addiction

The site “My Book Addiction” has posted an interview with yours truly, a review of OUR DAILY BREAD — and they’re doing a giveaway!  They’re offering 4 print copies of Our Daily Bread.  The Giveaway runs from today September 29,until October 6, 2011.  Good luck!  Let me know if you manage to snag a copy!

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Bright Spots

I am so grateful for the support I’ve received for my new novel, Our Daily Bread.  Thomas E. Kennedy, author of The Copenhagen Quartet, Duff Brenna, author of Too Cool, The Book of Maime and The Holy Book of the Beard (among others), and Dexter Palmer, author of The Dream of Perpetual Motion, have all…

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The Forgiveness Cure

I’m in the midst of editing my new novel, OUR DAILY BREAD, which will be released in the US in September.  It’s the story of what happens in a small town when, for generations, certain folks have been ostracized, pushed away and left to fend for themselves.  Considered Those People—beyond the pale, beyond redemption—they become…

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Familiarity breeds….

I’m in the process of editing my manuscript, OUR DAILY BREAD, which will be published in the fall.  Now, I’ve read this manuscript probably thirty times.  My Best Beloved, who is also my first reader, has probably read it five times.  My agent has read it at least once.  My editor has read it a…

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A Third Possibility

People frequently ask me, “Where did you go to college?” and some look as though I’ve just walloped them in the face with a flounder when I reply, “I didn’t go to college.”  How can that be, I see them thinking, you’re a published author.  Yeah.  And in this era of nearly mandatory MFAs, I…

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More than enough shame to go around

Anyone who has read this blog even occasionally knows my feelings on the psychological dangers inherent in chasing the publishing carrot and the sort of relentless self-promotion writers (and many other artists) are expected to engage in these days. Sure, we all want readers and publishing can be lovely, but I don’t believe the way…

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Fame and fortune — step right up!

“Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.” — William Wordsworth Someone I’ve never met recently accused me (via, not surprisingly, an anonymous blog comment somewhere) of being a liar and a cynic because I lead monthly creative writing workshops.  This person stated I was essentially conning people, making money by offering false hope…

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