A thousand important things I can't remember, but I remember the day in high school when my friend R--- stopped me on the sidewalk between buildings to give me a cassette copy of Sting's album Dream of the Blue Turtles, and I kept thinking the title was Flight of the Blue Turtles. I still think …
I'm still working on this novel. I've had some feedback on earlier versions of the manuscript, but now I'm on my own sorting this mess out. One thing I don't like about writing on a computer is having to scroll back forth in the manuscript to find scenes. I want to see several scenes at …
My mom loved dogs, and I could tell you many stories to show you how much. But today, here's one. My mom moved a lot and almost always lived in apartments. She had very little money. A dog of her own was impossible. She wanted a big dog, and pet deposits and vet bills were …
I wonder what my mother would make of all this social media. I can imagine her marveling at the information and the images at her finger tips. She also worry about the lack of privacy. She'd set all of her privacy settings to the max and choose carefully what to share. Of course, I don't …
With a little luck, I might write a lot this week before the summer semester begins. Fingers-crossed and coffee mug filled! Also, I have news. My incredibly supportive and lovely publisher has needed to make a change, and Plum Tree Books is no more. I'm sad, but I hope this will allow her to focus …
On a lovely October morning in 2012, I was sitting on my patio looking forward to a day of writing and drinking coffee. My phone rang. It was my doctor's office. I almost didn't bother to answer. What did they want? I didn't have an appointment to confirm. But I answered and the woman on …
Love is on my mind. You've heard the expressions. Love thy neighbor. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in …
Dogs are the best. They like to play. They like you. They don't judge. They don't go on the Internet and pour rage fuel on anything. Sure, they might rip the guts out of your pillows, but not because of your politics or religion, but because they're fairly certain a squirrel is hiding inside. We …
One lesson I've taken from Rowling (and she's not the only author to do this) is to write the ending of the series first. Well, actually, I already had the ending written. I've rewritten it with a few new ideas in mind. Now I have something to work towards. Although what I have in mind …
I've decided to break up the manuscript I've been working on. Well, I've been working on several manuscripts, but the one I'm breaking up is the next one up for publication. The story sprawls, and I like it that way. The story is nothing like Harry Potter. Well, okay, the main character is 11 at …
Marta Bacon 