Tag: featured
The Other American Dirt Issue: Is Fear of Appropriation Fomenting a Culture of Censorship?
I was recently in the NPR studios in New York to participate in the show, 1A’s, panel discussion on the enduring American Dirt kerfuffle, specifically, “What The Controversy Over ‘American Dirt’ Tells Us About Publishing And Authorship.” Seated in the studio with me was Vox culture writer, Constance Grady, and from two remote locations we were joined by […]
Interview with Millicent from MY LOVELY WIFE
Author SAMANTHA DOWNING interviews her main character Milicent, from her novel MY LOVELY WIFE. Dexter meets Mr. and Mrs. Smith in this wildly compulsive debut thriller about a couple whose fifteen-year marriage has finally gotten too interesting… — Interview with Millicent Thank you so much for agreeing to do this. The pleasure is all mine. Why don’t you […]
And Then, Two More: Donna Levin
I wrote a book called Get That Novel Started, some years ago, for Writer’s Digest Books. I had only been a writing instructor for a few years, and sensed that it was soon for me to write a book about craft, but they offered me a book contract, and how often do you turn that […]
A Writer’s Intuition: Receiving Inspirations and Insights from the Beyond
By Debra Moffitt I was working on a new book set in modern-day Charleston, South Carolina when Aurelie, the protagonist of the WWII novel, The Girl on the Roof, came in. When I write, I move into an expanded state of awareness. On that day, I noticed that the tone of the book I was working […]
The Agony and the Ecstasy of Being Edited
The manuscript for my 3rd novel, a work of women’s fiction, which I’ve ahem, mentioned before, was submitted to my editor about 3 months ago and I’ve been not-so-patiently waiting for feedback. It’s not like I’m an editing virgin. I’ve been through the wringer after submitting pages to Meetup writers’ groups; critique partners; freelance editors, […]
Why Short Stories Matter More than Ever, by Randy Kraft
Feeling bombarded by maddening 24/7 news and social media feeds? Little time for the sheer pleasure of reading? Read a short story – there are a zillion of them bound and online, because a work of fiction gets to the heart of humanity, rather than a restating of the news of the day [although some […]
The Explorer’s Bottle By Katherine Keith
Iditarod racer (+ PCT hiker, alpine climber, rock climber, Ironman…) Katherine Keith released her memoir this month. “A good read for fans of Cheryl Strayed’s Wild,” (Working Mother), EPIC SOLITUDE: A Story of Survival and a Quest for Meaning in the Far North (February 7, 2020; Blackstone) is a reflection on a difficult but ultimately inspiring life of endurance dog-racing, motherhood, grief […]
Why Women Writers Need To Empower Each Other
Writing is a solitary profession. The stillness and the isolation make for important ingredients in the recipe of writing. That said, no one can survive and thrive in silos forever. Wanting human connection and engagement is part of our nature and need for survival. But it gets tricky because as writers, we are very vulnerable. […]
Writing Research: How I’m Using My Love of History to Write My YA Novel
Writing fantasy fiction allows me to bend the rules, make stuff up, and be as creative as I want to be. I’ve invented realms, worlds, and races for my Guardian Series, and I’ve turned little red riding hood into a kick-ass werewolf hunter and run with a werewolf pack through Sherwood Forest in Hood Academy. […]
On Writing Sex Scenes
Like every author I’ve weathered rejection, criticism, and tactful notes from copy editors asking if a character is meant to combat shivering by ‘crapping herself in a blanket.’ But, last month, true disaster struck. My mother discovered that I’m an author. She arrived at my door with an uncertain glare, saying, “Aunt L said she’s […]
Recent Comments