A Writer’s Lament, Revised

This post originally appeared on Murder Is Everywhere. A ragged, handwritten sign has been taped to my study wall for about a year. I love this job! A quarter-century ago, I was working full-time in university public relations and desperately longed to be a fiction writer. It seemed like an impossible dream, to stay home all … Read more

The Mint-Flavored Novel

This post originally appeared on Murder Is Everywhere. A week ago Sunday, I sat in a crowded conference room in Bethesda and listened to a few comparison of novels to toothpaste. When you go looking for toothpaste at the drugstore, what would you think if your favorite one was missing—because Proctor & Gamble hadn’t felt inspired … Read more

Bullet Journal For a Writer

This post originally appeared on Murder Is Everywhere. Every December and January, calendars are on my agenda. I’m drawn to paper calendars of every type, whether they are freebies from the Baltimore City Department of Public Works or Japanese ones from art museums. However, book-sized planners that fit into my handbag are the Holy Grail. … Read more

Why Fall is a Writer’s Best Season

This post originally appeared on Murder Is Everywhere. Sometimes it seems our population has two types of people: those who hate to see summer end, and those who can’t wait. Last week, school started in Maryland, and I began experiencing the most time for my work than I’ve had in the last 18 years. Chalk … Read more