Recently, an acquaintance approached me for advice on how to proceed with a book he wanted to write.  The subject was non-fiction and on a topic I knew little about, but I agreed to meet him for coffee and listen to his ideas.  He’d researched his subject and had so many thoughts,

A couple of weeks ago, a reader sent me am article from the Wall Street Journal about a first novel that became an overnight success, (“Preparation for the Next Life,” by Atticus Lish.  (Click here)  The story is one that would make any struggling writer salivate.  Tyrant, a sm

Susan Stoner, author of the Sage Adair Historical Mystery Series and I were browsing through in a large, three-storied bookstore the other day when suddenly my friend paused and, looking down the aisle at the floor to ceiling shelves, uttered a deep sigh. “Gosh, there are a lot of b