On sand

In 2009, I went to Cape Cod to do some novel research. I knew a few days wouldn’t cut it, so I spent an entire month in a very cute cottage. Glorious. On a cloudy, slightly stormy day we headed for the beach. Beach was practically empty. Some big machine had just combed it and the lines went around in [...]

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Those were the days

I’m writing about a special place. A place I loved. A place that’s gone – but not forgotten. No, indeed. A website has been dedicated to it. Its Facebook page counts over 11,000 “friends.” And, for once, “friend” is the right word. Losing this place was almost like losing a friend. You’d think it’d be [...]

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Le mot juste

Last summer, on a beach on Cape Cod, I was standing on the boardwalk when a tawny-haired lady with large sunglasses walked up and nudged me. She asked, “What are those called?” And she pointed to the plant above. I didn’t know why she was asking me. I wasn’t wearing a tag that said “Flower Expert.” [...]

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Allez vous-en! Sapristi!

Cassandra Jade asked her readers who their favorite female protagonist was and I immediately thought of Edna Pontellier of Kate Chopin’s The Awakening. So why did I choose Edna? Why not Emma or Anne Shirley or Tess? I think the reason is this: Edna had some serious balls. In an age that prizes motherhood as a [...]

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Aquatic dreams

Today’s your last chance to enter the “My eyes! The goggles do nothing!” contest over at Sean Ferrell’s blog. You need to write a story explaining how he wound up looking like this. Prize is a copy of First Contact by Evan Mandery. The entries so far are hilarious and made me snort. Naturally, Yours [...]

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