The Muse and My Friend

In 2005, when I started writing my first novel — in an effort to figure out what in the world I was doing — I began to follow the careers of other writers, online. One of my favorite blogs at the time was called, Simply Wait, written by Cape Cod novelist and...
Poe For Your Problems

Poe For Your Problems

Of all the writers anywhere, Edgar Allen Poe might be the least likely person you’d turn to for advice. His life was beyond complicated: he married his cousin, got fired from one job after another, constantly feuded with friends and rivals, and he was always...
Poets & Resilience

Poets & Resilience

I love how different genres of books can appeal to all kinds of readers. I recently read three books written by poets, in the categories of inspiration, memoir, and prayer. Maggie Smith’s Keep Moving is a little collection of “notes on loss, creativity,...

Forging Strong Parent-Professional Partnerships

Decades of research show that when families and schools partner together, children are better positioned to reach their greatest potential as learners and active members of the school community. There’s simply no doubt that parental involvement is directly linked to...

Inside My Office

This room without a door—through which you have to pass to get to our screened-in porch—is where I spend more hours than I care to count writing my novels. It’s affectionately called Boston. When my children were little and interruptions unremitting, I sat them down...