Writing Blog
I 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…
Read MoreI joined the new Women’s Fiction Writers Association
I learned about this association on a blog I follow, author Amy Nathan’s excellent Women’s fiction writers blog. Amy, author of the soon-to-be-released The Glass Wives, posts lots of great author interviews for authors writing women’s fiction. Her site is a tremendous resource for those interested in the genre. It’s through one of Amy’s posts…
Read MoreLaunch of Foreign Encounters e-book
I already announced the launch of the Foreign Encounters anthology, where I was pleased to have one of my stories – Missed Connections – included. This week, the e-book version of the anthology was launched – on Valentine’s Day. I’ve enjoyed reading the contributions, both stories and essays, that are set all over the world,…
Read MoreStart those revisions with Critique Circle
I’ve already written about my wonderful, face-to-face writing group that I have here in Rome. I look forward to those meetings every two weeks and enjoy the company of a talented group of American writers in Rome. But I tend to write a lot and need a way to keep myself on-track with revisions. As…
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