December 6, 2013

More about Longbourn, and Why I’m Claiming it for Romance

When I fall in love — with a book, an idea, and of course a person — I want to think hard about the object of my passion. Which is another reason why I love to write (because it’s the best way to get to know the how and the why and the he and [...]

November 4, 2013

Smart Thoughts on Writing

From Delia Ephron’s memoir/essay collection Sister Mother Husband Dog… (etc) Our job as writers, as we begin that journey, is to figure out what we can do. Only do what you can do. It’s a rule I live by…. [I]f you only do what you can do, you never have to worry that someone else [...]

October 28, 2013

Reading on the Road, with Janet, Jane, Jo Baker, and my Mom

With so much of my family on the East Coast, my trips back here from California become elaborate omnibus affairs, with so many craftily-designed stops up and down the eastern seaboard that I sometimes lose track and wind up having to pay megabucks for a last-minute Amtrak reservation (and worth every penny, needless to say, [...]