The Sound of One Hand Clapping
I am not a Buddhist (although I have researched Buddhism in the service of one of my novels), but I’ve spent time pondering in relation to my writing a variant of the famous Buddhist kōan*: You can hear the sound…
Category: Publishing
Asking For Blurbs
There are many things I love about writing: creating stories, building worlds, meeting other writers, and talking about craft. There are some things I don’t love: the pay, the moments where I cannot solve a problem I created, and writing…
Random Thoughts of a Debut Author on the Precipice of Publication
Last Thursday, I had a total breakdown in the Harvard Square post office. I was in the process of writing a message to my dad in my debut novel, Cottonmouths, which I was about to mail to him. This isn’t out…
Interview with Literary Agent Patricia Nelson of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency
There’s a reason why Patricia Nelson receives top billing in my acknowledgments. Her editorial eye and support have been critical on the journey to publishing my debut novel, COTTONMOUTHS, out next month. I spoke with Patricia Nelson recently about her…
The Big Pitch: Gratitude Over Fear
It’s writers conference season and literary hopefuls all over the country are polishing their pitches, fine tuning their queries. Is the hook sharp enough? Are the stakes high enough? What if I freeze up when I finally meet my dream…
1,000,000 Words
The other day I was talking to my partner, Todd, as we commuted on the MBTA (red line represent!) He asked how many books I’d written. I began the sophisticated process of counting on my hands. Nine. I’ve written (not…