(published on Reading the Past blogspot) How do you find the tracks of a 17th-century witch? This was my quest as I traveled to the Highlands of Scotland to research my novel, Bitter Magic. Bitter Magic is inspired by the true story of Isobel Gowdie, whose witchcraft confession in 1662 is one of the most famous in … Read more
The beginning of February, halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, marks the traditional Gaelic festival of Imbolc, a time to celebrate the coming of spring, the creative energy ready to emerge in the earth and in our lives. Here is an image that went into the creation of the book cover for Bitter … Read more
One of my favorite books on writing is If You Want to Write by Brenda Ueland, a short book about “Art, Independence and Spirit.” Like many women, I tend to disparage my own efforts with negative self-talk, but Ueland’s advice always brings me back to the actual joy of writing and the enthusiasm to keep … Read more
As we move into the dark time of year and we’re still in the pandemic, I’m finding it hard to stay hopeful. Lassitude, lack of focus, indecisiveness, all seem to take over at times. But there is some light in this darkness. I recently joined a Torah study group with friend and brilliant Rabbi Jan … Read more
What a surprise. October has been declared Country Store Month in Vermont, and my novel, Wild Mountain, is all about a community around a country store in Vermont. It reminded me of this story/review of Wild Mountain by Kim Church: “When I was a child, I did not dream of becoming a writer. I was … Read more
Demanding the firing of three police officers who assaulted Black citizens during arrests. These folks have been camped out in the park in front of the police station for three weeks. As we deal with racial injustice now, I think of two wonderful books I read a few years ago: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson–I … Read more
How did you start to write? . . . a friend asked me the other day. Here’s what I remembered: I am a single parent, and my daughter is in school. I am sitting on my bed, my notebook and pen in hand. Sunlight from corner windows makes the room bright, and outside the house, … Read more
This is one of the best novels I’ve read in a long time. And I read a lot of novels. I’d hesitated about it, because I’d read Jojo Moyes’ Giver of Stars, which is about the same time and place and situation–the WPA program in Kentucky for bringing books to isolated rural families.I had read … Read more
New Cover for Sea Level! I was really tired of the old cover and found a great book designer to re-design it. Voila! I love how it combines the two main characters, the clergywoman and the artist and the actual setting of the novel, the Delmarva Peninsula.
Unbelievably, my husband and I are getting used to staying home sequestered inside, and the fear is slowly subsiding. Though we have a new evolving schedule and rhythm, and a lot is different, some things stay the same, like walking Daisy the dog around the block in the morning, and taking short hikes with her … Read more