Reading Round-up for February
What do you think of the new heading? I'm still looking for a good midcentury font. This is getting closer. February was an eclectic reading month for me. I found myself sampling everything from self-help to psychological thrillers. Lucky for me, all the books I read were winners! THE FROZEN RIVER by Ariel Lawhon I know it's only February, but The Frozen River is already a contender for Best Book of the Year. First, you've got a murder. Then there's a rape. Lastly, there's the protagonist, a midwife who knows the town's secrets. She's based on a real-life midwife who documented the rape in...
Going Narrow and Leaving Substack
Two weeks into 2024, I got the green light to proceed with a proposal I’d submitted about Syndrome K, a real-life imaginary disease created by Italian doctors as a way of hiding Jewish citizens from the Nazis. This good news meant a giant shift in my 2024 timeline....
Of Pizza, Books, and Going Viral
A few weeks ago, Dave Portnoy, owner of Barstool Sports, posted a video review about the pizza at my friend’s bar. For those who don’t know, Barstool Sports is a podcasting, video, and blogging empire known for its rabid fanbase, controversy, and yes, pizza reviews....
Barb’s Book Reviews
Seeing all the posts touting how many books people read in January is making me feel guilty. My reading output was low last month. I managed 4 ½ books. Of course, 1 ½ of those were research books. I blame holiday burnout and vacation. Hard to read when you're...
For Writers: The Two Biggest First Chapter Mistakes
I’ve spent the last two weeks writing the opening pages of my WIP. After 5-6 versions, I think I’ve landed on one that will stick around until I get further into the story. Then, chances are, I’ll go back and revise it again. By the time I’m done, I will probably have...
Two Reviews and a Rant
Happy First Friday of 2024! First, The Reviews December is never a big reading month for me. Making the holidays happen takes up too much time. Plus, I was researching for my new book which meant a lot of my free time was spent online reading Italian magazines and...
The Phrase for 2024
Last year, my inspirational word was Everest. Earth’s highest mountain (above sea level) seemed an appropriate metaphor as I strove to conquer a new type of writing. Jumping from genre fiction to book club fiction certainly felt like a climb. What made Everest so...