Blog | Sleight of Hand
I'm a novelist, a baker, and a photographer – three crafts that all happen by hand, each requiring its own kind of magic to transform raw ingredients into something beautiful. That's what you'll find here – the magic behind the making.
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How Writers Really Support Writers: Literary Citizenship Lessons I’ve Learned
The concept of practicing Literary Citizenship began well over a decade ago as an effort to encourage writers to support other writers in ways they know will help the most.
Readers: Stepping into the World of Authors & Writers
So, how does Literary Citizenship show up in the broader world of readers?
Photo courtesy of Friends of the Edgewater Library, Chicago.
Literary Citizenship In Action: Walking Boston’s Literary History
The Boston literary community is vibrant, diverse, and has great roots — come take a walk through literary time.
Celebrating Summer: Cool Food for Hot Days
It’s too hot to bake - here’s how to pull off an enjoyable and relaxed summer picnic.
Photo by Kateryna Hliznitsova on Unsplash
Writing Successful Domestic Dramas: It’s All in the Details
Very often, after I’ve introduced myself as a writer to people I don’t know, I’m asked about the kind of books I write.
Family Drama: Six Books, Secrets Galore
Family drama, especially when it’s not happening to me, is always fascinating. That’s why I love stories about family secrets.
Sometimes a flashlight, sometimes a floodlight
In a recent writing group meeting, I said to my fellow writers that a lot of working through the first draft of a novel is like swimming through mud.
Hidden London
Whether it’s your first time or your tenth time, London has many secret places to offer up to the adventurous traveler.
The Folk Tale That Wouldn’t Let Go
Ever since I was a child, I’ve been drawn to reading folk tales and mythologies. I think because I was making sense of my own world at the time, I was equally interested in how people of ancient cultures explained what was going on around them.
Image courtesy of Gardners Books via Amazon.
Defining Characters Through Works of Art
I drew on art history survey courses I’d taken in college. I stared at art images online in between writing sessions, wandered in and out of art museums in Boston and London, and bent the ear of a local artist about her process of creating. Every piece, place, and technique I explored got poured into this story to make the art world real for the reader.