A Facade Of The Past

That is - to me - the sort of writing that makes for historical romantic fiction. The fictional characters must inhabit recognizable history, and in doing so help us to better understand the history... while we are being entertained and without feeling like we are in school.

That Most “Unsocial” Of Socials

Fed up. Done. Gone.

“Old Fashioned” Blogs

I suspect many to most of you do NOT visit my Instagram. And I gather also that most of my Instagram followers rarely come by here to... a ye olden days olde blog. So pulling you all together is a struggle.

The Dinner Date: Does The Man Still Pay?

I cannot get over how evidently "challenged" by her opinions numbers of the male commenters are. Is what she is saying ACTUALLY that much of a SHOCKER?

How To Make Friends

There seems to be a misunderstanding among younger people about the nature of friendship and how friendships arise.

Lost In “Epic” Sci-Fi

I know I am not a sci-fi writer...

Publishers: Between A Rock And Another Rock

We need to bear in mind that even lying ugly treatises teach us something. If we are to try to understand those who think such ways, we need to read what they write.

Horses, Sails, And Walking

I threw together that draft map of some locations that will be in the coming book thinking a version of the map may appear in that book - the first time I will have published such an "aid."

Among The Twitters

I cannot believe how much some writers tweet; they seem to be on it all day...

Guns, Guns, Guns

George Floyd was not shot by police, yet he was killed as he was largely because of how US policing has mis-developed...

“Oft[en]-Stalkery?”

Given Austen has "Darcy" ask "Elizabeth" for marriage TWICE, the idea out there that he did not "pursue" her beyond a single request is therefore inaccurate.

The Personal

I state that not because I care about what one Instagrammer and some social media commenters think. I say it because I would never insult readers by trying to write about anything or anyone I don't feel I know enough about.

Great Books… Greatly Diminished

I do not expect "perfect" from any book. However, in this case you do not even get an original new story. It is just someone's lazy cheapo effort to ride on Fitzgerald's century old book in order to try to make some fast money for themselves.

A Feast Of Immovable “1 Stars”

Some readers approach this book thinking it is going to be some sort of Paris travel guide. It is not. It is about Hemingway's perspective and what he saw - and it centers on people.

“100 Years” Minimum

Here are six "classics" I have read that are also among my favorite books - I can read them over and over.