Category Archives: writing

Rabbit holes / Book News

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From last week. Just for fun.

How to make smashed potatoes in muffin tins

Allergy meds for dogs

Grounding sheets

Nate Bargatze, Jim Gaffigan

Dog training an aggressive poodle

Herding dogs that bark commands that sheep understand

Surgeon general pick

Smashed potatoes NOT in muffin tins

Sweet potatoes with Parmesan crust

California vote tally

Local public-facing immigration advocacy groups

Carrot brands to avoid

“Widow Qlicot”

Ssshhhsssshh

The darkest day of the year approaches and I find myself without much to say right now. Or too much to say? They can feel the same.

But! First I must shout from the roof tops: MY FIRST PUBLIC READING from The Weight of Cloth is on the calendar!

January 26 at 2:00 (that’s a Sunday) at Newtonville Books.

Goblins and Heretics

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I woke after dreaming of loan sharks in the city. How they and government programs worked hand in hand to perpetuate cycles of poverty. And then there was a clan called The Goblins, who wore dark creepy outfits and looked evil but actually performed charitable works. Brooklyn.

Speaking of dreams. The Heretic’s Daughter is a good book. A story of the early days of our colony and the witch hysteria of the late 1600’s. Well-researched and well-written. I’m learning a lot. But she exemplifies the fiction writer’s maxim: Tell a dream, lose a reader.

Every third or so chapter begins with a dream. Stop! I say. Stop! Hard eye roll, followed by skimming. They’re never integral to plot and she does a lot of other scene/mood setting so — unnecessary.

There! I said it.

I’m famous now

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Hey hey! Just kidding. But a super nice and well-known former Boston radio DJ and talk show host, Jordan Rich, interviewed me for his podcast, On Mic.

JR, as he’s called, worked as a disc jockey and talk show host throughout the Boston area for decades, including as the morning drive host for WSSH-FM (1982 to 1996) and as cohost of The Morning Show on WRKO-AM (1978 to 1982). He is co-owner of Chart Productions, a company offering a full range of audio and video production and coaching services.

When you hear how gorgeous his voice is, you won’t be at all surprised that he’s made careers in radio and podcasting.

He asked really great questions about my research process, crafting voice for my characters, and more.

First link is for iPhone.

And this link is for Android devices:

I don’t think I sound too stupid.

If you have time, please leave his podcast a review.

Sunday collage 11/10 and book pics

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Is this a way forward? Make a picture a day? Even if I can’t explain it. Post only those I love. (I love this one).

Because I’m getting sick of myself, I’ll tell you that. And sometimes afraid too. Like I’ll be found out by the bad guys.

I’m committing the cardinal sin of posting the same images everywhere, but in this time of extraordinarily bad news, maybe I can get a pass? Because it makes me insanely happy to see my book at an independent bookstore. Look! Will you goddamned look? Next to Jesmyn Ward no less.

I still can’t quite believe it.

Nor can I believe that I’m still finding typos. Today: two. And two improvements.

(Did I mention that Ken is my book manager? Poor guy).

Next week stay tuned for a link to my podcast interview on On Mic.

Bookstore order!

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Pink, orange, and red tinge leaves and petals this time of year.

Black walnuts drop like artillery — thuds if they hit the ground, slap-tangs if they hit tarmac or a car. I’m so glad that the two walnut trees on the lot line don’t overhang our driveway. Thankfully, the neighbors who park in the driveway captured below disabled their car alarms.

No, I won’t be dyeing cloth with this bounty. I’m still too busy and/or drained by figuring out book sales and distribution networks.

The happy news is that a local book ambassador’s review of The Weight of Cloth caught the eye of my local bookstore. Within minutes, they ordered 20 copies!

Now independent bookstores need a deep discount, making my teeny royalty even teenier, but I think it’s worth it. Can’t wait to see my book on their table.

Before ordering the 20 copies, I had to fix to a bunch of typos — those elusive fuckers — and by I had to fix I mean Ken had to fix. A patient man, lucky me. Next time I will hire a copy editor.

There were so many typos, in fact, that I could rank them a little. My favorite? The one in the acknowledgments where I’m thanking my editor. I’m not sure if that’s more embarrassing than hilarious or the other way ‘round.