Writing Blog
Call for submissions at Writers Abroad
Writers, sharpen your pencils. The submission period is open for the Writers Abroad annual anthology. Each year, the writers group Writers Abroad publishes an anthology, organized around a particular theme. This year’s theme is Far Flung and Foreign. They seek submissions of short stories (up to 1700 words), flash fiction (up to 500 words), non-fiction (up to 1000…
Read MoreWorking art into literature
As an undergraduate in a school that didn’t have minors, I unwittingly almost triple majored in art history. I’d accumulated so many classes in it that by senior year I was just shy a couple. In the end, living in Italy, I (only half jokingly) claim it’s the most important subject I ever studied. After all, here in Italy…
Read MoreMore fun with historical research: Ball gowns!
And here’s where most men will stop reading… As Mr. Bennet himself put it so elegantly when his wife attempted to describe ball gowns to him in the BBC film version of Pride and Prejudice: “No lace. No lace, Mrs. Bennet, I beg you!” Chapter three of Pride and Prejudice expresses Mr. Bennet’s disdain for discussions…
Read MoreI finally joined the Twitter bandwagon
It took me a while, but I’ve finally joined over 200 million users of Twitter. I’ve been using Twitter for my work, and find it quite useful for reaching specialized audiences. Unlike Facebook – which I hate, loathe, despise, makes me break out in hives – I find Twitter to be a great way to…
Read MoreAuthor interview with Crime & Passion’s Chantel Rhondeau
Chantel Rhondeau is a talented writer of romantic suspense and one of my first critters over at the on-line critique group Critique Circle. Over at Critique Circle, I’ve been the beneficiary of all of Chantel’s helpful critiques, which have done so much to help me improve my work. And I’ve also had the chance to review…
Read MoreThe Happy Booker-Alternative Book Award
My friend and blogging buddy, author Catherine McNamara (if you haven’t seen my author interview with Catherine, take a look here), has nominated me to create a list for the Happy Booker-Alternative Book Award. I follow the Booker prize each year – here are the nominations for 2013, but I like the idea of a…
Read MoreMy story, Stari most, has been accepted in an online journal
I just received the good news that one of my short stories, Stari most, has been accepted by Milk Sugar: A Literary Journal. I enjoy reading the stories in this online journal, so I was very pleased to learn that my story was accepted for publication in its October/November 2013 edition. Much of my inspiration…
Read MoreAuthors on Italy
Any of you who are familiar with my site know what an Italophile I am. That hardly makes me original. I’m simply following the lead of a long line of authors, poets, painters and composers singing Italy’s praises. If you find yourself in Rome, be sure to take a look at my earlier post on…
Read MoreHaving fun with historical research and 19th century riding habits
Okay, full disclosure: I’m a history nerd. I was always fascinated in my history classes and majored in it as an undergraduate in college. I’m married to an historian and read (and get roped into translating) more than my fair share of academic books and papers. When I travel, I drive my kids insane lingering…
Read MoreBrainstorming at the spa 2013
I’m typing this with my tears in my eyes because I’d been hoping to go myself, but March is shaping up to be more hectic than I thought and I won’t be able to get away this year. But for you lucky writers in Europe – or those of you who just need a thinly…
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