I have been father and stepfather to six young people, all adults now. Their work is far ranging. One is a web designer. Another a doctor. One in the music business. A tax consultant. A marine engineer. But now the youngest has decided to be a journalist, which is to say … a writer. When
Jonathan from Naperville, Illinois, writes, “Please write another book like True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle.” One of my editors urges me to “write another book like Poppy.” My niece Rosa sends me a note, “I loved City of Orphans. Write me another one just like that.” It is perfectly understandable why readers, having enjoyed a particular
There is a new book out, What We See When We Read, by Peter Mendelsund [Vantage Books]. I have not read the book, only a review. But I shall read it. Because it tries to answer this question: When we read we see the words on the page. But, upon seeing the words, what do we
I was just going over a manuscript for the last time—it needed to go to my publisher’s copy editor—when I realized I was in a position I have been in (happily) many times. To whom, if anyone, should I dedicate the book? This is, of course, only something the writer of a book can do, and
When I begin to think of a story—a work of historical fiction—I begin to acquire books about the subject. Here my day-job of yore—a research librarian—helps me locate titles. More often than not, I get these books via the internet, where a host of sites guide me to the cheapest copies. Sadly, if fortuitously, most
My next book, Catch You Later, Traitor is well into production. To be published in the winter of 2015, my computer generated text is gradually being transformed into a book, a book that will be published with x number of copies—I have no idea how many, much less how it will be received. Nonetheless, as
My editor writes to me, “I think the manuscript is in fantastic shape. I’m so pleased with the changes you’ve made, and at this point, I have very few comments left…. [It’s] nearly there, with very little left to address.” That’s my cue. So, after something like two years, I work through this manuscript yet again for
How much time would you put into deciding where you might go and live for two, maybe three years? I suspect you would agree it would take—should take—much thought, planning, discussion, as well as research. Time well spent. Now, put the question like this: How much time would you put into deciding what you might
Congratulations to the 10 people whose names were drawn at random: Sandy S from Cedar Rapids, IA; Gwen C from Lakeville, MN; Joan A from Goldsboro, NC; Patrick H from Burlington, VT; Josiah J from Elburn, IL; Megan H from Chandler, AZ; Jamie B from Mesa AZ; Elizabeth S from Milwaukee, WI; Andrea P from
One of the most difficult aspects of writing a novel is establishing the logic of the plot and of the characters. It is rare to speak of logic in this context, but I’m convinced it is a key component. It’s all the more crucial, because the reader does not (consciously) think of narrative in this