Category Archives: parenting

Two Posts Up at Familiar Sites

The Summer 2012 THIEFTAKER Blog Tour takes me back to familiar ground today.  I have two posts up.  The first, my usual Monday Magical Words post, can be found at http://magicalwords.net, the group blog on the business and craft of … Continue reading

Posted in Appearances, Business of publishing, kids, Novels, parenting, Publicity, Publishing, Reading, Thieftaker, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Two Posts Up at Familiar Sites

Music From My Kids

I used to tell my daughters that no good music had been produced since sometime in the late 1970s.  I didn’t really believe it, but they were younger then, and at the time they were listening to some truly horrid … Continue reading

Posted in Family, kids, Music, parenting | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Music From My Kids

Maurice Sendak

I’m sure that this will not be the only tribute to Maurice Sendak that you read today and in the days to come.  That’s okay.  Sendak’s books reached so many of us, and meant so much to all who read … Continue reading

Posted in Fantasy, kids, Novels, parenting, Reading, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Maurice Sendak

Writing Exercise: Character and Voice

Developing our writing voice for a story or a character can be incredibly difficult; it can also be quite rewarding when we get it right.  The key for me is stepping out of “myself” and forcing myself into the psyche … Continue reading

Posted in Character, Friendship, Fun, kids, Novels, parenting, Reading, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

I Want To Go Back To College

Really, I do.  It’s not that I miss being in my late teens and early 20s.  I don’t want to go back to that part of my life at all.  But I would love to be a college student again.  … Continue reading

Posted in Family, Friendship, kids, parenting, travel | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on I Want To Go Back To College

A Winter Day’s Dilemma

It’s cold out.  Not eye-watering-tears-freezing-on-your-face cold, but cold.  Raw, is probably the better word.  It’s foggy and windy, and it was snowing earlier.  Nasty, nasty day.  And I’m sitting here on the couch, typing on my laptop, a fire in … Continue reading

Posted in Family, nature, parenting | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on A Winter Day’s Dilemma

A Worthy Cause

Tonight my wife and I will be attending a fundraiser for Planned Parenthood that is being held at the house of some friends.  Planned Parenthood has recently found itself in the crosshairs of social conservatives on Capitol Hill.  Actually, this … Continue reading

Posted in Family, parenting, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on A Worthy Cause

A Parent’s SAT Angst

My daughter is in the dining room right now, sitting down to take a practice SAT.  She’ll be at it for four hours. I still remember taking the SAT.  I remember my scores, even though it’s been over thirty years … Continue reading

Posted in Family, kids, parenting | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments