Many people think writing a book is driven by lightning bolts of inspiration that propel an author forward. Katherine Mansfield isn’t one of them. “There are definitely points when something comes out of the ether and rests on your brain … but I think true creativity is just ...
It’s the last gasp of summer, a morning that feels more July than late September. My daughter sleeps snuggly in the baby carrier that’s become an extension of myself, and my son leads me confidently across the park, to His Swing, the only one low enough to the ground for a toddler to ride ...
My son has begun devouring books. One might think, “A writer whose son loves reading. She must be delighted!” But I did not write, My son loves reading. I wrote, My son has begun devouring books. The latter is both more dramatic and considerably more accurate. The other night, we came to ...
I used to talk for a living. Well, kind of. Being a staff writer for the Observer-Reporter or any media outlet requires lots of talking. Interviews are like a game of 20 Questions that, when done well, naturally evolve into what the interviewer hopes is pleasant conversation. My job was to ...
Gray skies from morning ’til night. Snow, the kind that blusters about a while, but doesn’t settle. And cold, such cold! One feels chilled just peeking out the window. It was not a day for venturing outdoors, so my 14-month-old son and I spent the morning inside, imagining the most ...
The great misadventure began before the journey to Springfield, Mass., in a Pittsburgh parking garage. I shoved a blanket into my already-stuffed tote bag, breaking the handle. Both suitcases were brimming over with formal wear – to a wedding, we were heading – and other necessities and ...
