“Lassie,” “Maude,” and “The Monkees” TV shows all premiered on this day, proving–if it needed proving–that, as T.C. Boyle says, “anything can make a story,” and there is, indeed, an audience for everything. Looking forward to meeting you, the audience for my next novel, One for the Ark, officially launching next week. Who I think...Read More

Pleased to announce that two of my submissions were finalists in the William Wisdom William Faulkner Writing Competition sponsored by Pirates Alley Faulkner Society, New Orleans.  HARMONY’S PEACE & JOY, my current novel-in-progress, was a finalist in that category, and  my historical novel, FREE LOVE, was a finalist in the unpublished novel category.  My short...Read More

What’s in a name? This is the 25th anniversary of the restoration of the name of Russia’s second-largest city, St. Petersburg, founded by Peter the Great in 1703.   For 67 years, the city was known as Leningrad in honor of the founder of the Soviet Union, Vladimir I. Lenin. At the beginning of WWI the...Read More

This is “According to Hoyle” day, the anniversary of the death of Edmond Hoyle in 1769. He is believed to have studied law, and gave instructions in London in the playing of the game of whist. He published a “Short Treatise” on the rules in 1742, and hence the expression, “according to Hoyle” connotes playing...Read More

I’ve seen the first copies of ONE FOR THE ARK (official launch September 19) and I have to say it’s a thrill. (It’s live today on amazon.com, so you can be among the first to preview a copy.)  I always worry a little when the first copies arrive and I reread the acknowledgements, knowing that...Read More

Sir Walter Scott once said, “I care not who knows it–I write for the general amusement.”  Which must be how many of the Olympians feel this week, knowing they are not on pace for a World Record but they will have fun–in the pool, on the track, on the beach, on the course.  Even Katie...Read More

This is the birthday of Roberta Cooper Ramo, who I don’t know personally and didn’t know much about at the time that she became the first woman president of the American Bar Association (1995-96). With the nomination of another woman lawyer pioneer as the Democratic candidate for President, it seems like a good time to...Read More

FACEBOOK reminded me that two years ago today, I posted the following: When is losing like winning? When there are 1300 entries and your story makes the top 45! The story, When Walls Weep, is excerpted in part from an unpublished novel, One for the Ark, and placed on the long list for the Raymond...Read More

The Democratic National Convention starts today and you know that Daphne would love to be there, if she could. Thomas, of course, was probably at last week’s convention, but only for purposes of hobnobbing with his fellow State party leaders. You’ll understand soon enough: at election time, Mayor Thomas Donaldson, a moderate conservative, and his...Read More

Mayor Thomas Donaldson of Stirling, Wisconsin faces a number of fascinating issues in his small, moderately conservative, moderately religious town, not the least of which is the occasional friendly opposition of his liberal feminist wife, Daphne.Read More