Category: On Writing
On Being A Writer
I was sixteen years old when my first poem was published in The Commercial Appeal, a newspaper in Memphis. TN. The poem, titled “Souvenir” was about the Vietnam War. The year was 1969 and I was in the eleventh grade. I have been writing ever since. I was blessed to have a high school English […]
Woman, Man, or Both?
Garbo portrayed you in Queen Christina, beautiful, when you, in fact, were not. These days you’re celebrated as an early feminist, although you, of course, would have sneered. And to be fair, some still call you a traitor, even to yourself. Once, at a dinner party in Sweden, my host showed me a fragment of […]
When You Plant A Seed…
When a tiny seed is planted it’s always a miracle to me how it germinates and finds its way into the world. That little shoot that forces its way through the often unyielding earth to reach for the sky. It was a bit like that for me when I attended a ten-week creative writing course […]
TO NATURE (AND NURTURE) YOUR WRITING by Savannah Hendricks
Last year, I had the opportunity to take a road trip to California and attend the Wrightwood Literary Festival. Never having been to the Wrightwood area I was excited about the adventure. I had no idea what to expect. Yet, it’s in California, right outside of the city, how different could it be? The flyer […]
When Penny Met Brutus
If your dog’s charm dwarfs your own, you’re in good company. I humbly admit that my dog Penny is cuter, wittier and a better cook. Not only that, but Penny’s love for the Connecticut River waterfront and its fans is so powerful that my life is forever changed. Admittedly, I’ve only had a dog for […]
The Impatient Dr. Lange: An Excerpt
Five years ago this July, pro-Russian rebels shot a commercial plane from the sky killing all 298 people on board and slowing the development of a cure for HIV. In The Impatient Dr. Lange, Pulitzer-finalist Dr. Seema Yasmin tells the story of her mentor, Dr. Joep Lange––a shrewd Dutch HIV doctor and scientist who was […]
Fear Itself By Erica Ferencik
Oprah chose Erica Ferencik’s debut novel, The River at Night as a #1 Pick, calling the book “the page-turning novel you’ve been waiting for, a heart-pounding debut.” Entertainment Weekly named it a “must read, a harrowing…a visceral, white knuckle rush.” Miramax has recently optioned the novel for film. The New York Times Book Review called Into the Jungle, one woman’s terrifying journey of survival in […]
BECOMING A WRITER: MAVIS CHEEK
Mavis Cheek is the critically-acclaimed author of sixteen novels including Amenable Women, Aunt Margaret’s Lover and award-winning Pause Between Acts. This summer, these three titles will be re-issued with new forewords written by Mavis, together with newly designed jackets. They are being published by Psychology News and distributed by Vine House Distribution. We are delighted to feature Mavis on our […]
HOW TO WRITE FICTION ABOUT THE UGLY PARTS OF OUR PAST
The first time I met him, my father-in-law Art regaled me with stories of the Spanish conquistador who claimed territory and opened trade routes for his queen before he traveled to California, married a local woman and sired Art’s family tree. His connection to this valiant man was a great source of pride, but what […]
Colombia—Land of Magic and More Magic
“Excuse me,” I said, “I don’t believe I heard you correctly. We’re going where?” “Colombia,” my husband repeated. “Bogotá, specifically, but likely elsewhere in the country too.” “Are you out of your mind!” was my swift rejoinder. Back in 2009 drug cartels, kidnappings, and the like were synonymous with that country. It’s true that we’ve […]
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