The Dreaded B-word: Backstory
Author and story consultant Lisa Cron says that everything we’ve been taught about writing is wrong. Five questions to ask yourself before page one.
Judging a Book by Its Cover
What makes a book cover appealing? I attended a publishing industry seminar to find out.
Great New Books
I think the vast majority of books I’ve read in the past few years have come to my attention through personal recommendations. I rely on their honest opinions to help me select my next read. There are too many great new books to waste time reading bad books. One...Why We Read: To Travel
My absolute favorite books–fiction or nonfiction–are ones that transport me to another place. Or another time and place. James Herriot’s Yorkshire. Ignatius J. Reilly’s New Orleans. Twain’s Mississippi.
Authorial Intrusion: The Details
The devil is in the details. Is that a good thing?
Why We Read: To Change Our Minds
I never liked Pride and Prejudice. Then the “Janeites” got to me.
I’m Reading
