writers – Sally Allen

February 13, 2017June 5, 2017

Mystery Thriller Week: Q&A with Joynell Schultz

Mystery Thriller Week, a celebration of the genre and its authors and readers, is officially underway and runs through February 22. If you’ve done the math, yes, it’s 10 rather than the usual seven days. It’s a super-sized week for a super-sized genre. For more information about the event, pop over to mysterythrillerweek.com.

In conjunction with the event, I’ll be sharing Q&As with mystery and thriller authors throughout the week (and a half).

Today, I’m happy to welcome Joynell Schultz, author of Love, Lies & Clones. Continue reading “Mystery Thriller Week: Q&A with Joynell Schultz”

February 7, 2017June 4, 2017

Happy birthday, Charles Dickens!

Charles Dickens was born on February 7, 1812. That makes today the 205th anniversary of his birth. (Impressive math skills, eh?)

Twenty-four years later, Dickens would write The Pickwick Papers and Oliver Twist, at the same time. At the same time! He’s estimated to have created over 13,000 characters. Basically, that would populate a medium-sized town! Continue reading “Happy birthday, Charles Dickens!”

April 11, 2016May 30, 2017

Literary Places: Westport, Connecticut

After a cold snap, a snowstorm, and a handful of rainy days, Sunday finally delivered some April-worthy weather. I took advantage of the sunny day by going for a long walk in Westport, Connecticut. Continue reading “Literary Places: Westport, Connecticut”

March 29, 2016May 30, 2017

5 quotes on reading and empathy

Reading is an exercise in empathy - Malorie Blackman

I’m afraid I traumatized the first group of students to whom I told, “There are no new ideas.” Actually, I meant it to be comforting. But here in the US, we are in a committed relationship with the idea of originality, which is perhaps a by-product of having a short history. Continue reading “5 quotes on reading and empathy”

February 2, 2016May 30, 2017

“Groundhog Day” as Expressed by 7 Revered Writers

Groundhog Day makes for a festive mid-winter distraction, when it’s not going horribly wrong. But it’s not exactly the stuff around which writers have penned great books. It does, however, provide the backdrop for one of my favorite films, “Groundhog Day” starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell.

Murray plays self-absorbed Phil Connors who is grudgingly sent to Punxsutawney, PA to cover the goings on of a certain groundhog (with whom he shares a name). MacDowell is his loveable and sweet-natured news producer. Grumpy and derisive of everything around him, Phil can’t wait to leave Punxsutawney. But after a blizzard grounds him, he gets trapped in a time loop, reliving the same despised day over and over and over… and over … until he learns the lesson he’s meant to absorb. Which is a little something like what the following authors have touched on in their work. Continue reading ““Groundhog Day” as Expressed by 7 Revered Writers”