Witnessed quite a bold exploit this morning.  This writers retreat where I'm spending the week (Doe Branch Ink) got an astounding visitation from the outside world this morning.  The land is a quite a ways from a main road.  Getting here involves going up a mountain and just over the other side.  Not visible to […] Read More

Just started back to work on a nonfiction book that I haven't touched in 4 years.  For the last three weeks, I've done minimal writing (if making lists counts) because I finished a novel draft I've been working on for a while.  Jumping into a new book or a long-neglected one is, for me, like jumping […] Read More

Just arrived here at Doe Branch Ink, to be the writer-in-residence with four other writers for a week of mostly writing and some feedback and critiquing sessions, plus a lot of hanging out. I did one of these weeks last fall and it was like a literary houseparty, people tapping away on their keyboards here and there […] Read More

This could be the Halloween season when you finally see a real ghost. If you're wanting more adventure than simply handing candy out the door, check out this opportunity: bargains on haunted hotels, from Vermont to San Diego.  I have long wanted to see a ghost — wanted that kind of proof of some sort […] Read More

Think you go through a  lot to get your dream projects to work?  Have a look at the story of Robert Evans, one of most successful (and flamboyant and notorious) movie producers ever. Last night I watched the documentary version of his bio, titled The Kid Stays in the Picture.  This guy whose credits, as producer or […] Read More

Lately I've found myself feeling uneasy about the prospect of posting here.  The reason is:  I've gotten pretty irregular about it, have lost the rhythm, and have to get myself cranked up anew each time.   Sorta like going back to writing after some time away:  it's always harder to re-start than it is to just keep going.  […] Read More

In the New York Times tomorrow (Sunday, Oct. 16,) my essay will appear on the grievous wound I suffered at age sixteen when I didn't get into "brainy-teen camp," formally known as North Carolina Governor's School. At age sixty-two, I'm still irked that I didn't get to go. My story is about how that has […] Read More

    A few times a year, my clinical psychologist husband holds a one-day seminar on self-hypnosis.  The next one, held at our house near Chapel Hill, NC, is "Love Skills: Hypnotically Enhanced Intimacy."   A personal story:  When Bob and I first started getting serious about 30 years ago, I said to my very protective brother Franc, […] Read More

An example of serious courage:  at a McDonald's I drove-through fairly late one night last week an apparently-teenage girl with a heavy Spanish accent was taking the orders, taking the money, making the change, pumping the milkshake, handing out the bag, handling one customer's money while taking another's order — all in a language that is foreign to her.  […] Read More

Once upon a time, I parasailed (twice!) over the bay at Puerta Vallarta.  That took no gumption at all; I was stupid at the time.  However  a current activity of mine is drawing on my reserves of daring:  I'm keeping the financial books for my husband's psychotherapy practice, since he left a large practice and went solo […] Read More