It wasn’t that she didn’t love Jacob; he just drove her crazy. He was one of those men who never said what he was thinking, but instead turned silent and stared off into space whenever he was upset. That silence could stretch on for hours, leaving Mary to stew. Mary said to him, “Give me…
What Happens When Family Shows Up in Fiction?
One of the biggest reasons I hesitated to publish my novel Hope in a Time of Dying was because it was inspired by real life, and several of my family members play recognizable roles in the story. I worried that readers would assume the characters were exact portraits of my loved ones, and that every…
Flash Memoir: A Wrecked Model T
The car looked like a Model T, or what was left of it. It was more rightly, the carcass of a Model T with no wheels or tires, no engine, no seats. Only the body of the old car, rusted, bent, and disheveled, like an old woman with too many miles and too much booze. …
Happy Anniversary, Liz and Ron!
Today is the 6th wedding anniversary (14 years together) of my daughter Liz and her husband Ron. These two have built a happy life together, which includes their darling little 2 3/4-year-old son, Ethan. I am delighted Liz and Ron found each other. Their happiness makes me happy. I love all three members of this…
A Small Crowd, Big Connection: A Different Kind of Book Reading in Ojai
Today, I arrived at 1:30 for my 2 pm book reading and signing at the Ojai Public Library. I met Ellie, the librarian, who escorted Ray and me to the meeting room, and we worked out all the logistics: thermostat, seating, bathroom location, etc., then put out my in-law Cindy’s excellent cookies along with mineral…
Book Soup Celebration
What a wonderful experience my Book Soup reading and signing was! I had over 30 people fight traffic to get there, and they were an attentive and supportive audience. Cindy Betty—my in-law and co-Memaw to Ethan—regaled the crowd with delicious homemade cookies, and I was surrounded by friends and family. All three daughters, two sons-in-law,…
Book Soup: Here I Come
Tomorrow, I am doing a book signing and reading at Book Soup in West Hollywood. I have looked over my book but haven’t yet made a decision which passages I will read. My son-in-law Ron’s mom, Cindy, is making cookies for the event. Liz, Ron, and Ethan are driving into LA from Ojai. Rachael and…
Why I Bought Three Pairs of the Same Boots
Living in Ojai during the fall, winter, and spring months has taught me just how chilly the evenings can get. It’s not unusual for temperatures to dip into the high 30s in winter, or the low to mid-40s in fall and spring. That’s where my favorite footwear comes in. I have a pair of Clark’s…
A Meditation on Joy
Joy is a visceral reaction that is for me less frequent than happiness and also less easily obtained. There is no product to buy that will automatically produce joy – at least to my knowledge – and there is no advertising campaign that aims to sell joy (except, ironically, for a dishwashing liquid). Every consumer…
The Perfect Summer Dessert: Honey-Maple Spicy Peach Pie
I made a spicy peach pie this evening. I used maple sugar and honey since I don’t eat refined sugar. However, if you’d like to use regular sugar, just substitute 3/4 cup brown sugar for the maple sugar and honey—the rest of the recipe stays the same. I’ve included pictures of the steps at the…
20 Minutes a Day 