Books
Kiki Lowenstein Rides Again
One of the best parts of being an author is making friends with other authors. In 2008 my friend Joanna Campbell Slan began her new mystery series, the Scrap-N-Craft mysteries featuring scrapbooker Kiki Lowenstein, who manages to get herself into the most amazing predicaments. I had the pleasure of interviewing Joanna here two years ago,…
Read MoreThe Day I Fell For Horatio Alger or My Introduction to the Study of Popular Culture
Somewhere during the first trimester of my sophomore year in college, I realized I was signed up for the wrong major. I was in music education, and observing just one high school music class was like having a bucket of ice water dumped over my head. Me, standing in front of those kids? Trying to teach them…
Read MoreSunday Poetry: Reading Away from Ourselves
Welcome to Sunday Poetry. If this is your first visit you can read about the purpose and inspiration of my Sunday poetry blogs here. This week and last I’ve blogged about old books, so today’s poem is an ode to books written by Billy Collins, the poet who convinced me, after a lecture at Chautauqua Institution two years…
Read MoreOld Friends and Book Ends: Repurposing Your Old Books
I was delighted to get so many responses last week to my personal book quandary. Remember, I asked what to with a box of old, not particularly valuable, books before I move? One reader suggested looking at Etsy.com, where books are routinely made into crafts. So, on a whim this morning, after checking Etsy, I began looking for…
Read MoreThe Pleasure and Treasure of Old Books
We’re moving. I’ve mentioned that before, but today it’s just shorthand. If you’ve moved, you understand. Part of moving is decluttering. I’ve mentioned that, as well. Going through memorabilia has a certain charm. Yesterday I sorted through a bag of old cutlery, separating the silverplate pieces from the stainless. The silverplate was my mother’s, not…
Read MoreJudging Other People’s Books. What Do I Know?
Last summer I was asked to give input into a new literary prize in the making. Input is easy to give. I explained my take on several items in question and enjoyed the company of other writerly persons in the room. I thought I was finished. Then in November I received my judging instructions. Now,…
Read MoreAuthor Casey Daniels and Wild Wild Death
Emilie: A big welcome to Casey Daniels on her return visit to Southern Exposure. As part of the interview Casey has volunteered to give away a copy of A Hard Day’s Fright (the book which precedes Wild Wild Death) to one lucky commenter here. U.S. addresses only, please, to keep Casey out of long post-Christmas post office…
Read MoreLife Changing Experiences between the Covers of a Book
This week I had a showdown with a tooth possessing a crooked root and no remorse. Tooth and I were slated, with no other possibilities, for a date with my friendly, skillful dentist, whose news was destined to unmake my day. I put off the trip for two months, conveniently sick the first time, conveniently…
Read MoreHanging Out On the Beach For Fun and Profit
Last week’s Novelists Inc. conference was fabulous. I came home with so much information, but unfortunately no suntan to go with it. I was inside the hotel at workshops madly scribbling notes almost the entire time. When I wasn’t, I was investigating Sarasota with friends, which might well turn out to be our Florida home someday. …
Read MoreWho’s At The Controls? You Might Be Surprised
Today I got an email from an unhappy reader because the copy of Sunset Bridge she bought was missing significant pages. Unfortunately this was the fourth or fifth email of its kind in the past few weeks. Clearly somewhere along the way a small batch of that title, the final of three in my Happiness Key series, went…
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