Tag: featured
The Real Danger of Harper Lee’s New Novel
When I first heard that Go Set A Watchman was being released, I had the same thought I had when I hear that any famous author is releasing a sequel to a successful novel … This could be dangerous. The more I read about the circumstances of Go Set A Watchman being “discovered” and coming […]
Serendipity on Steroids
I recently came to a personal writer’s realization. All of my stories—both the ones on paper and the ones impatiently waiting in the queue in my head—have to do with serendipitous meetings. Serendipity, it turns out, (some might argue it’s fate) is an obsession of mine. Turn left at the corner and meet the love […]
Introducing the Holocaust to Young Readers
In 2014, with the present rise of another wave of Anti-Semitism, I was commissioned by Scholastic Australia to write a novel set in the Holocaust. Given the vast number of novels, memoirs, biographies, essays, poetry and commentaries that have appeared in the last seventy years the task was daunting. Even though I thought I knew […]
Q&A with Taylor Jenkins Reid
Taylor Jenkins Reid is the author of FOREVER, INTERRUPTED; AFTER I DO; and the brand spankin’ new, terrifically fabulous MAYBE IN ANOTHER LIFE (This interviewer gave it a solid five star review), all published by Simon & Schuster/Atria/Washington Square Press. Her first book, FOREVER, INTERRUPTED, was included by Kirkus Reviews in “11 Debuts We Love” and […]
Two Decades of Writing
TWENTY years ago my first book was published – Unlawful Carnal Knowledge: The True Story of the Irish X Case was subsequently banned in Ireland, which made it an overnight success north of the border. As a journalist on the Daily Telegraph, I was working full-time but took the week off to promote my book […]
The Passion to Teach, the Courage to Write
Hands trembling, she skulks up the center aisle as if she is walking the proverbial plank. After she shakily giggles and glances around the room, I offer her a reassuring smile. I know, however, I’m not what she fears. Even her staring peers aren’t her biggest enemy right now. She is battling a raging beast […]
Interview with Rowan Coleman
Rowan Coleman is the internationally bestselling author of an astounding twelve novels, most recently WE ARE ALL MADE OF STARS and THE MEMORY BOOK (released in the US as THE DAY WE MET). She’s been compared to Jo Jo Moyes and Nora Ephron. She lives with her husband and five children in a very full […]
Writing About War
While researching for my novel, Someone Else’s Conflict, I found myself asking a number of interesting, sometimes disturbing, questions about my decision to set the backstory in the 1990s Croatian conflict. During the conflicts following the break-up of Yugoslavia, the war in Croatia was gradually overshadowed by the shocking events in neighbouring Bosnia-Hercegovina. While I […]
Women, Know Your Place!
A man writes some books. They’re not brilliant examples of literary prowess but are obviously entertaining because millions of people buy them, and after all, who are we to decide what someone else should read, right? His books all follow a certain formula and you know how they’ll end but that’s fine. People obviously like […]
Tips On Getting Feedback
Writers hear it all the time – connect with your reader. Give the reader what he wants. Manager her expectations. Don’t confuse them. Surprise them. Keep them interested. These are all worthy goals, but they’re after the fact. First, you write, then you get feedback. Feedback lets you gauge how well you’re getting your message […]
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