Hobbies

A friend of mine turned me on to a Netflix series titled Man on the Inside. The show is a comedy about a retiree turned amateur private investigator trying to find a thief in a Senior Living Community. Since my friend’s husband is associated with the production, I decided to support his efforts and watch a couple of episodes. I’m glad I did…

One of the delightful things about being an author is getting to know other writers throughout the community. I met David Galef at a publisher’s retreat in Chicago last spring. He is a creative writing professor who has penned a number of books, ranging from children’s literature and poetry to adult fiction, translation, and more. […]

For more than 33 years, my book club has been meeting monthly to discuss some very important and impactful literature. I write that statement with a giant dose of humility, because in this group of highly educated, well-read, and insightful women, some of whom devour several books a month, I consider myself a pretty…

There are at least four kinds of history books: novels, creative non-fiction, non-fiction, and academic. They progress in density. Historical novels are usually fun to read because you learn while you are entertained. Creative non-fiction, where the author fills in the blanks of some dialogue, motive, and emotion is usually fun…

The best way to understand the present and future is to study the past. That’s why we read history. Grit your teeth and dig in. You won’t be disappointed. This is a compelling book set in 1766 about a treasure hunt for a trove of gold ore. It begins in the Canadian sub-Arctic at a Hudson Bay North Atlantic trading post. Mayhem is foretold as the post administrator organizes the expedition…

In recent years, I’ve started creating projects using a product I particularly love: washi tape. I especially like it because there’s an endless variety of patterns and colors available on the market. So before I walk you through the process, here is some information about washi tape, and I’ll also talk about the materials, since there are a few very important points to keep in mind when it comes to them…

There are few things that I enjoy more than writing. Over the years, as I’ve matured, so have the characters that I’ve created. Mature characters bring a different perspective to writing – they bring experience, wisdom, and an appreciation of the privilege of growing older…

Mysteries are never top of my mind for reading because they are so formulaic. But I often succumb to their ease of reading as a bit of popcorn for the mind. Fortunately, they are often fun and surprising. Here’s a list I’m sharing with you, along with my thoughts about each book.

We all have a story to share. One of mine, purely fiction, stemmed from a conversation with a colleague who tested positive on a work screening for a sexually transmitted infection (STI). That evening, her husband shook her hand in lieu of a goodnight kiss. The handshake joke continued until she received her corrected, decidedly negative, results…

When the formalities of a divorce are over, property is divided and papers are signed, it’s time to move on. At least, that’s what everyone expects you to do. For me, the first few weeks and months felt liberating and calm. The emotional weight of another person was lifted, leaving me feeling lighter and hopeful. […]