As writers, we all look for ways to become compelling storytellers. We strive to create relatable characters, use descriptive language and employ a climactic structure that will leave readers feeling dialed in and exhilarated. However, the most important storytelling component is the quest. A protagonist’s journey towards knowledge, vindication, achievement, the holy grail is not … Continue reading »
So, what’s it like to write without a roadmap? I’ll let you know when I arrive at my destination. For now, I am on a novel-writing journey that is progressing without any real idea of where I am headed or how I will get there. No doubt, there are many writers who meticulously plot and … Continue reading »
Living in a valley of vineyards surrounded by modest mountain ranges means that my neighbors and I enjoy some interesting weather. Most days are mild; other swelter. But there are always cool breezes that sweep through just before the sun sets on the day. In all, it’s quite temperate. But when it rains, it really … Continue reading »
I have not written to you all in quite a while. Since July, to be precise. An unexpected illness can do that to a writer, luring even the most dedicated scribes from their desks. But, a funny thing happened during my summer of no July, where I watched the world move past me in bold, … Continue reading »
It’s the first day of spring and for many people around the world that means we have entered a time of renewal. Rebirth. Rejuvenation. But for some of us, we aren’t quite there. For some of us, we are still on our way to that moment of awakening. We may be still mired in the … Continue reading »
It is a time of year when many feel melancholy. There is just something about all the holiday spirit and memories of Christmases past that puts people in a reflective place. You can call it sadness. Or even just being human. Read: ‘Tis the season to be melancholy The end of the year is a … Continue reading »
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” Pulitzer Prize winning poet Mary Oliver poses this extraordinary question in her poem “The Summer Day” in which she challenges her readers to give serious thought to how they will make the most of their lives. Find us on … Continue reading »
I recently made the acquaintance of a fellow writer at my day job. From different departments, we were both taking part in a meeting that called upon our day job skills when he let it slip that he was chosen among many to participate in an exclusive writing program the following week. Read: Silly goose: … Continue reading »
As my youngest child is getting set to promote from 8th grade this week, it’s time to reminisce. This essay is an old and treasured favorite about watching my baby grow up: It’s funny the tricks that Time can play on you. I swear it was just yesterday that I was handing off a wailing … Continue reading »
All my life I have identified myself as an American of Italian descent. My paternal grandparents emigrated with their families from Sicily to the United States in the early 1900s, joining a sea of immigrants to arrive at the famed Ellis Island. Follow us on Facebook My family has continued with all the traditions of … Continue reading »