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Month: March 2013

Writers on Diversity

Writers on Diversity

Author David James asked a group of writers – including yours truly – the following question: "Have you ever felt the difficulties/pressures that come from being of a different background, race, other diversity, sexuality, or culture around you, and how do you think those struggles might help you better understand the struggles of others?" You can find our answers here. Thanks, David, for including me in this project.

Library? They still have those?

Library? They still have those?

"When I read about the way in which library funds are being cut and cut, I can only think that American society has found one more way to destroy itself." – Isaac Asimov Is everything wonderful dying out? Remember VCRs…land-line telephones…cassette tapes…those Fruitopia drinks? Just today I saw a pay phone for sale in an antique store, for crying out loud! Okay, maybe none of those things were great, but here's one that is: the local library. As I reported recently, the…

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R.I.P. West Virginia Book Festival

R.I.P. West Virginia Book Festival

The West Virginia Book Festival, 13, passed away this week in Charleston after an unfortunate series of events. It is survived by the thousands of writers, readers and general book enthusiasts who cherished it, including visitors like Nicholas Sparks, Charlaine Harris, Dave Pelzer and Matthew Aaron Browning. Details about its untimely death can be found here and here. Condolences may be left in the comment field below.

I’m a terrible writer. Some days.

I’m a terrible writer. Some days.

“I hate writing. I love having written.” – Dorothy Parker Winter has been quite the emotional roller coaster for this scribe. My first novel, Straightville, U.S.A., hasn’t found a publishing home yet, and a recent pass from a promising editor had me ready to throw my laptop off the roof. Meanwhile, after churning out 50,000 words of my second novel during November’s National Novel Writing Month, the manuscript was weak at best and not getting any stronger. Between allowing myself…

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