Two weeks ago, I wrote about a goofy aspect of my experience doing historical research--diving down a research rabbit hole about, of all things, egg beaters! But of course I do a lot of serious background research for each of my novels. For THE...
Dear Reader: A Sanity Check Throwback–On Getting Lost on a Writer’s Retreat
Please note that this is a throwback to my Sanity Check humor column that I wrote for the Dayton Daily News. Since I wrote it several years ago, please note that this writing retreat did NOT take place during the past six months of COVID-19! But,...
Dear Reader: On Egg Beaters and Researching Historical Novels
I'm often asked at writer's workshop and book club gatherings about how I research my novels. Do I: (a) Do all the research and then write my novel? (b) Do a bit of research, and then mix writing and researching? For me, the answer is B, with a...
Dear Reader: Thoughts on Going Virtual
I have to admit, it's taken some adjusting to settle in to virtual events. After a half year of 'going virtual'--and events likely remaining that way for the near future--I'd like to say I've gotten used to it, and I'm a tech whiz now and an old...
Pie of the Month: um…. Cheesecake?
Is cheesecake a cake... or a pie? (I know, I know, either way, it's delicious!) I say... it's a pie. Why? Well, because technically, it's a cheesecake pie! Here's my reasoning. The cream cheese and other ingredients used for the filling form a...