Archive for May 2015
Does absence make the heart grow fonder … for your own writing?
Usually when I finish work on a novel, I set it aside and work on something else. Since I also write short stories, I find this a nice way to break from my longer projects. Then, when I’ve had a little time to distance myself from my work, I return to my project and start…
Read MoreVisiting Taipei’s Longshan Temple and Herb Lane, Taiwan
I loved my visit to Taiwan, and I’ve already written about many areas of interest to see in the country, and in its capital, Taipei. Taipei also boasts beautiful Buddist temples, perhaps chief among them is the Longshan Temple. The temple was first constructed, on a much smaller scale, in 1738. Today, it is considered…
Read MoreIt’s time to sign up for the 2015 Matera Women’s Fiction Festival
Yes, it’s that time of year again. Time to think about signing up for the Matera Women’s Fiction Festival (24-27 September 2015). Early bird rates are in effect until 30 June. Take a look at the registration page here. This festival, held in the beautiful southern Italian “cave town” of Matera (see my earlier posts…
Read MoreSkyscraper Tourism: The Burj Khalifa in the Dubai
As I’ve mentioned in earlier posts, when my family and I travel, it’s rare we’ll pass up a trip to the top of a skyscraper. I’ve already written about our visits to New York’s Top of the Rock, Malaysia’s Petronas Twin Towers, and Taiwan’s Taipei 101. When we went up Taipei 101 and my sons learned the skyscraper…
Read MoreLondon’s calling … all lovers of short stories
There are many reasons to visit the cosmopolitan city of London. But for lovers of short stories, 18-21 June 2015 is an ideal time to make it there, since these are the dates for the London Short Story Festival. There will be lots of the big names in short stories attending, speaking about their craft…
Read MoreAdmiring the Pura Taman Ayun temple in Bali, Indonesia
The beautiful Indonesian island of Bali is filled with picturesque Hindu temples. Locals have a joke that there are at least 1-2 temples per resident. Pura means temple, and the Pura Taman Ayun means the Temple of the Vast Garden, and is well worth a visit if you’re in nearby Ubud or Denpasar. Figures from…
Read MoreCore Attraction: Can an anti-nuclear activist and a nuclear power exec find true love?
I’ve never been an appreciative romance novel reader. Probably one of my problems with the genre is that the hurdles in place for the romantic couple always seem so flimsy, and I lose patience with the supposedly insurmountable obstacles dragged out painfully throughout an entire novel, with few other plot points of interest to grab my…
Read MoreA day in the sun at Lake Martignano, Italy
Lago di Martignano, Lake Martignano, is a small, volcanic lake reaching depths of 58 meters. This small lake is just beside the larger, and more well known Lake Bracciano. Within the region of Lazio, Lake Martignano makes an easy day trip from Rome. The lake was known to the Ancient Romans, although it was believed to…
Read MoreBest websites for writers
Writer’s Digest came out with their annual list of the best web sites for writers. Many of my favorites made the list. Others I didn’t know of, but will have to explore. Here are some of the sites I enjoy that made this year’s list, and hope other writers will find useful: Nathan Bransford :…
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