My soon-to-be-released romantic suspense novel, The Lair, takes place in Verona, Italy. Since I’m not Italian (except in my heart), I knew I had to bone up on all things Veronese, including the city itself (which I was fortunate enough to visit), the culture, the language, and of course, the food and drink. So imagine my horror when I checked my manuscript one more time before sending it off to be edited and came across the following sentence: “Dante suggested they meet for a cappuccino around ... VIEW POST
How to Keep Readers From Uttering Those Four Dreaded Words …
[NOTE: I submit this blog post as a writer, a reader, and a regular, everyday person. When I use the word ‘we,’ I’m referring to the collective, as in all writers, all readers or all citizens.] In the real world, where what happens to us via laws and public policy really matters, we seem to be okay with the fact that those we hire (read: “elect”) to represent us in government, are not straight with us. Basically, they lie. Even as candidates for office they lie, either directly or by ... VIEW POST
How Reliable are Memories?
I remember you ... sort of The past is a province in a fairy tale, suspended in the midst of pain, beauty and freedom. It is a universe of mirrors and an infinitely arbitrary, yet exciting, itinerary of metamorphosis. Journalist Cesare ... VIEW POST
To Find a Solution, Just Rent a Goat
A few years ago several homes burned on the hill above where I live. The dried grass, shrubs, and weeds from the flat open space below the bluff served as a tinderbox. That's because the hill itself is very steep - not designed for conventional mowing or weed-whacking. Lightning caused the spark, and the fire spread too quickly to be stopped. Enter Rent-a-Goat. As I write this, I’m sitting in my backyard, listening to the plaintive bleats of the furry fire preventers. Granted, they probably ... VIEW POST
The Genre of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370
Everybody wants to know what happened to Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, and because they do, it’s being covered nonstop by the news media. Now, even the coverage itself is becoming news. As talking heads ruminate over what might have happened to the ill-fated aircraft, the theories grow more and more surreal, from burning tires to stowaways to circumstances straight out of a “Twilight Zone” episode. One pundit (can’t remember which channel) was asked recently why people are so ... VIEW POST
