Opening the stranger door
So, while I’m waiting for the publication of my new book, I’m turning back to the work-in-progress, which has me in something of a twist. It’s been a relief, frankly, to put it aside for a couple of months while I concentrate on the ‘bidness’ of publishing. However, The Big Dog now wants to be…
Read MoreBright 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…
Read MoreWe Do What We Want, Do We?
This past week I’ve been plugged into the riots in Britain (sparked, initially, during a peaceful protest against the fatal police shooting of Mark Duggan) and, since the US news outlets are woefully narcissistic, much of my information about London has come via Twitter. I had recently connected to London-based writer, Lawrence Pearce, who lives…
Read MoreThe Things We Carry
As some of you know, my ninety year old mother has had some pretty serious health problems lately and, as her only living relative, the responsibility for her care falls on me, as does the responsibility for cleaning out her condo. Few things in life are as daunting and emotionally exhausting as cleaning out an…
Read MoreAn Argument For Going Gently Into That Good Night
Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rage at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. – Dylan Thomas Several weeks ago, my mother had a series of mini-strokes and had to be first hospitalized, and then moved to a long-term assisted living facility. …
Read MoreBishop Tutu on "The Other"
The theme of my soon-to-be-released novel, OUR DAILY BREAD is that when we view someone as “The Other” the result is inevitably–to greater or lesser degree–negative. I am certainly not the only person who believes this. For example, my friend Chris Hedges, in his book, WAR IS A FORCE THAT GIVES US MEANING, speaks most…
Read MoreListening for the words
I recently spent the weekend in silence and centering prayer at a retreat center run by the Sisters of Saint Joseph in Cape May. It’s a glorious place overlooking the dunes and sea. I was there with some other folks who, like me, are trying to stay sober one day at a time. I had…
Read MoreWhat's more important, plot or great prose?
My Best Beloved was recently at an insurance industry conference, from where he sent me an email saying he was in the midst of a discussion with an associate about literature. I can’t tell you how gratifying it is to think of business folk taking a break from discussions of annuities and risk prevention to…
Read MoreJustice. And conflicted emotion.
“JUSTICE has been done.” In this way, President Obama began his speech announcing the death of Osama bin Laden. Navy Seals led a raid on a compound in a small, affluent Pakistani town and killed the “mastermind” behind Al-Queda and the unspeakable events of 9/11. The world, or at least those who aren’t bin Laden…
Read MoreHere comes the crow, again
So, here I am again. In THAT place. I have a book coming out in the fall (OUR DAILY BREAD), and so I’m presently looking at galleys and cover for the Advanced Review Copies that will go out to reviewers. Soon I’ll be involved in the kind of publicity authors are expected to do…
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