How to Write an Autobiographical Novel
“I told my students all the time: writing fiction is an exercise in giving a shit—an exercise in finding out what you really care about.”
A Gift of Hope
A Gift of Hope For Christmas, I received a gift of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times by Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams There’s no need to say that now is a good time to read such a book. … Continued
Fox and I: Wilderness, Friendship, Extraordinary Language
Wilderness When I was a teen, I backpacked a lot, mostly in Southern California with its rugged mountains and granite boulders. Once I spent two weeks climbing around in the Bighorns in Wyoming. On these trips, my friends and I … Continued
What’s the Purpose of a Book Review?
The book review star rating system is meaningless. The sole purpose of a book review is to inform the potential buyer about the contents of books. A good review allows that buyer to know if the book being reviewed is … Continued
Book Reviews, Cancel Culture, and Sex Cults
Book Reviews and Sex Cults Lauren Hough was born into and grew up in the Children of God, a sex cult known to members as “the Family.” Hough’s abusive upbringing was my primary reason for wanting to read Leaving Isn’t … Continued
God Spare the Girls
I’ve been on the lookout for comp titles—books similar in theme or story to novels I am working on. I saw a brief review of God Spare the Girls by Kelsey McKinney and thought it might have connections to my … Continued
Multi-author Book Launch June 26, Submissions Opening July 1
Two wonderful things are coming up in the next several days. The first is a multi-author book launch at the California Imagism Gallery in Ontario, California. Saturday, June 26, 5-9 PM “In the quarantine, so many books were released, and … Continued
Acts of Contrition Book Discussion Tonight
Join Me to Chat about Acts of Contrition Tonight “I couldn’t call my parents. Believe me, I was not alone in my willingness to risk being murdered on the street before admitting to them my shame. A violent death was … Continued
Seeing Some Light
More than a year into the pandemic, we’re seeing some light. A Year of Loss During the year, I’ve written about loss, about what it was like to trade off with my sisters in living with our parents in order … Continued
Acts of Contrition: Short Stories Pre-Sale Now
I Have a Book! My book of short fiction Acts of Contrition: Short Stories is now available on pre-sale from Los Nietos Press. The official publication date is March 15, 2021. Yeah, the Ides of March! Thankfully, I’m not superstitious. … Continued