Posts Tagged ‘LEISHA’S SONG’
Confessions of an Anxious Writer
Don’t get me wrong. I would never choose not to have gone to see my amazing NYC grandkids, followed by a Boston reunion with my super sisters. Getting to hug the people I love felt like such a gift after this year of not being able to be with them face-to-face. But like anyone who’s…
Read MoreThere’s Always More… And That’s What Keeps Things Interesting
Years ago during my dance days, I auditioned for a company in another state. In the post-audition interview, the artistic director said nice things about my dancing and concluded by telling me: “You’re such a finished dancer.” I thanked her for her kind words, but I knew this last statement was dead wrong. There is…
Read MoreHatching an Idea for a Novel- And Then What?
Are there writers on the planet who haven’t been asked: “Where do you get your ideas?” If so, I’ve yet to meet them! The easiest and perhaps least helpful answer is: “Anywhere and everywhere.” As Lisa Cron points out in Story Genius, her craft book for writers, the wisp of an idea could come from…
Read MoreVirginia Woolf Was Right
In 1929, Virginia Woolf published her famous essay, A Room of One’s Own, in which she argued that if a woman is to write, she must have money and a room of her own. I’ve certainly been aware of money as a factor in being able to focus on creative work. In the years when…
Read MoreThinking About My Forthcoming Novel: Why LEISHA’S SONG Matters to Me
I’m thrilled that my third YA novel, Leisha’s Song, comes out on June 15 from Fire and Ice, the YA imprint of Melange Books. To tell you a little about the book, here is a brief description: Leisha knows something’s wrong. Her beloved vocal coach at boarding school would never have resigned and disappeared like…
Read MoreTwo Crucial Needs: Encouragers in Our Personal lives and Critical Thinking Skills as Citizens
This past week, my publisher sent me the final pdf of my upcoming novel, Leisha’s Song. I was instructed to read it carefully, notate any needed corrections, and have someone else read it as well. We writers are notoriously bad at finding our own spelling and punctuation mistakes. It’s so much easier to find them…
Read MoreThe Second Question Writers Get Asked Most Often
“Where do you get your ideas?” may be the most frequently asked question writers get asked, while the follow-up is often, “Do you base your characters on anyone you know?” When I get asked that, I have to say the answer is both “no” and “yes.” No, I’ve never created a character that’s a…
Read MoreSharing Updates
As I write this, I’m recovering from inhaling way too many helpings of the delicious Thanksgiving dinner my husband made for us. My waistline may never be the same, but it was worth it. Feeling very grateful for his food and most especially, for his love. I don’t know how I lucked out to marry…
Read MoreThe Thankful Season
When our children were growing up, we used to pass a candle around the table at our Sunday evening suppers and take turns saying what we were thankful for. Our younger son announced one night, “Let me start with my unthankfuls.” This became part of our family lore and whenever one of us had a…
Read MoreWriting Updates and Reflections on Writing Outside Your Identity Group
I’m excited to share that at long last, Malice Domestic’s anthology, Murder Most Theatrical, is available for pre-order from Wildside Press and will officially come out on October 1st. My short story, “Missed Cue,” appears in the anthology, and its setting in a dance company reflects my love of the dance world I spent decades…
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