What Avatar Can Teach Writers
I’ve heard all the criticism of James Cameron’s Avatar. The plot is predictable. The bad guys are two-dimensional. Visual effects don’t substitute for story. All this is true. But Avatar isn’t simply a...
View ArticleMad Men Season Three: The Power of a Happy Ending
The show Mad Men is many things. It’s intense, morbidly funny, sad, and intelligent. What it’s never been is happy. Which is why the ending to season three, which was so joyous I felt like dancing...
View ArticleMy Favorite Inspirational Quotes–for Writing and Otherwise
Every now and then I need to play Stuart Smalley for myself and keep my spirits up about writing and, well, life. This is my favorite pin. It was a gift from dear friend who’s no longer with us:...
View ArticleWhat Is “Spartacus: Blood and Sand” Doing Right?
Note: I wrote this after the first season of Spartacus. All of the show is now available on Netflix. Go. Watch. For those who’ve seen it already, I wrote a few more articles: Spartacus, Rome &...
View Article“Kill Them All!”: The Spartacus Finale
I started watching this show because I pay attention to all things Romans these days. That’s because my book coming out next month, Dinah of Seneca, deals with alternate history Romans and I’m working...
View ArticleAt Pitchfest Today!
My favorite pin. No, not pitching myself. I have my talented agent, Eric Ruben, and no new stories to work into a pitch. But the CT RWA chapter is holding a pitch fest as part of their monthly...
View ArticleAnd So It Begins….
Tentatively titled The Crystal Tower, the work on the Next Big Thing has begun. I’m using a notebook for the rough draft and so far, I’ve filled over 30 pages and that includes the ending. It’s first...
View ArticleTuesday Tea: The Perfect Cup
Beer Butter loose tea from Adagio It was during a private conversation on Slack about how much to spend on a tea infuser that it occurred to me what I believe is simple about brewing tea is not obvious...
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