“Thankfuls” Trump the “Un-thankfuls”

By Lynn Slaughter / November 19, 2016 /

When our sons were growing up, we used to have a tradition of passing a candle around the Sunday night dinner table and sharing what we felt thankful for. When it was his turn, our then seven year old piped up with, “Let me start with my un-thankfuls.” 

Grieving

By Lynn Slaughter / November 12, 2016 /

Forget all that “time to move on and heal our differences” stuff. Maybe I’ll get there, but after Tuesday’s stunning presidential election, I sure haven’t arrived at that place.

Do We Send Students to College too Soon? [Lessons from Vets on Campus]

By Lynn Slaughter / November 6, 2016 /

The local university where I teach part-time has made a special and quite successful effort to welcome veterans on campus. My veteran students are a bit older than my “just out of high school” first year students.

Writing May Be a Solitary Occupation, But …

By Lynn Slaughter / October 30, 2016 /

Even before I tried writing a novel myself, I was fascinated by authors who wrote them. Curious about the folks writers regarded as their inspirations or helpmates along their journey toward publication, I invariably read the acknowledgements’ page

A Different Kind of Halloween

By Lynn Slaughter / October 23, 2016 /

Halloween happens to be the birthday of my younger son’s fiancée, so that already makes it a special day to celebrate. It’s also my husband’s favorite holiday.

Can’t Not Look

By Lynn Slaughter / October 15, 2016 /

Eager to get to the university on one of my teaching days, I left the house early—only to find myself sitting in stalled traffic on the interstate for 45 minutes. Sirens screamed, and ambulances roared by. 

Confessions from the Teaching Front

By Lynn Slaughter / October 11, 2016 /

I sometimes think I suffer from the opposite of attachment disorder.

Feeling Sad

By Lynn Slaughter / October 1, 2016 /

Yesterday morning, my older son’s stepmother and my ex-husband’s beloved wife, died. Last week in “Still Family,” I wrote

Still Family

By Lynn Slaughter / September 25, 2016 /

I was at my grandson’s seventh grade football game when the call came. Amidst the noisy fans, my son’s voice sounded unexpectedly sober and lower than usual. “Wanted to let you know

Why Do You Write Such Dark Stuff?

By Lynn Slaughter / September 18, 2016 /

It’s not that my YA characters aren’t sometimes funny or snarky. But I have to admit that my books, like those of many contemporary YA novelists, tend toward the dark side. It isn’t only the murders

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