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Born to Write 
   
 
 
 
 

The Day I Learned I was "Presentable"

Some years ago, a famous editor invited me to lunch at a Manhattan restaurant. She brought along her top publicist, and, over ridiculously over-priced food (I was glad it wasn't on my dime), they began to talk about me as if I wasn't there. Most memorably, the  Read More 

In Sinc with Nature

Like many writers working at home, I spend a lot of time staring out my office window or lounging on my deck. Sometimes I'm looking for inspiration; at other times, I'm just taking a mental break, but the result is that I feel I've come to know each and every one of the critters  Read More 

What Role Does Luck Play in a Successful Career?

What is luck? And how important is it? I keep running into people who claim that we make our own luck in this world, but I think that's too simplistic. Some stuff just happens, that's all. Call it luck, or call it God's will. And yet, at the same time, I have observed many  Read More 

Longing for Mayberry

When Andy Griffith died this week, the news coverage brought many recollections of small-town life as envisioned on his much-loved show. I watched the show first-run as a child while living in South Carolina, and the characters did not seem at all far-fetched to me. We didn't live in a small town - we  Read More 

How writers help other writers

While I was busy at Book Expo America recently, my local writers' group had a breakfast meeting. Sometimes we kvetch, sometimes we actually accomplish something. This must have been a great meeting, because one of the members was so inspired that she went straight home and got to work  Read More