I just finished ‘To Rise Again at a Decent Hour’ by Joshua Harris, which is a fast read, sometimes compelling, sometimes funny and often thought provoking. It is not, however, a fair portrait of an atheist as it plays to the simplistic negative stereotypes often attributed by the religious right. The story is told from… Continue Reading
The more skill a writer has, the better he/she is able to manipulate an intended audience. This is a given. Creating personality, place, time, and event are all tools to manipulate readers so they can believe the action of characters and the outcome of stories. David Rhodes is a master of manipulation. His book Rock… Continue Reading
Book clubs, good book clubs, often provide me with insights about the experiences I have described in Small Moments: A Child’s Memories of the Civil Rights Movement. This has surprised me. As the author, I assumed I would be the one to give any ‘ah ha’ moments about the experiences of my childhood. But as… Continue Reading
I sent out an announcement today effectively stating that I am retired. The not-for-profit foundation I have been working for is closing at the end of the month and my job will no longer exist. So right now is probably a good time to catalogue whatever bitter-sweet reactions I have to this. SWEET There is… Continue Reading
One of the many wonderful things about writing fiction is doing enough research to make the story seem real. Most readers instantly recognize whether the details of time and place used for setting a story are described accurately. However, readers may not know, but a writer does that these same details are vital when developing… Continue Reading
The article written about ‘Jackie’ at UVA by Rolling Stone magazine underscores the importance of knowing the difference between reporting fact, using the genre of creative non-fiction to tell a story and fiction. If the article, A Rape on Campus: A Brutal Assault and Struggle for Justice at UVA, was written as creative nonfiction and this… Continue Reading
“The past is never dead. It’s not even past,” wrote William Faulkner. This was never more true than as the events in Ferguson unfolded. While the debate continues about the validity of the actions of a single policeman, it has come to light that the police department as a whole is guilty of at the… Continue Reading
This past week I attended a wonderful book club meeting in Nashville to discuss ‘Small Moments.’ There were several comments that gave me plenty to think about on my drive back home. One in particular gave credence to the idea that my father may have had some degree of Asperger’s. If this is indeed true,… Continue Reading
The multiple colors of Crepe Myrtle offer respite from the overwhelming green in the state of Tennessee. Given to us by English gardeners, these blossom-covered trees are clearly less succulent than the tropical canopy that looms over our everyday affairs. Instead, they are like elegant elderly women sitting amongst pulsating, sweaty youngsters, cheerfully providing reminders… Continue Reading
The summer is half over and I’ve finally landed in front of my computer. There is nothing like a move, or multiple moves in a short time, to distract a person from writing. Still, in the mist of all the upheaval, I have found a subject that has captured my imagination. I now live in… Continue Reading