Photo by Moses Pendleton
Look what our friend Moses saw in the snow! Do you see it? The dog? It’s a dog, barking.
Ann Leary, author of The Good House
Author of The Good House
Judging a Book By Its Cover
February 17, 2012 by 69 Comments
Although my new novel The Good House won’t be published until next year, my editor has asked me to start thinking about what kind of cover I would like for the book. Publishers like to find a cover early so that it will appear in their catalog that goes out to book distributors each quarter. The publisher usually reserves the right to have the final say on the book jacket design, but of course they want the author to be happy with it and because the author knows the book so well, they are often very good at conceptualizing a design.
Young Writers
April 16, 2011 by 19 Comments
It’s time, once again, to help choose the poems, essays and stories that will be read at this year’s ASAP Celebration of Young Writers. For those of you who are new here, The Celebration of Young Writers is an annual event to raise money for the After School Arts Program in Washington, CT. Local writers and performing artists read the works of children in the community, ages 5-18. Over the years, Denis, Christine Baranski, Peter Gallagher, Mia Farrow, Rose Styron and many others have been readers and Frank McCourt, whom we all dearly miss, always ended the evening with a tribute to teachers.
Plotting Away
January 6, 2011 by 27 Comments
View from eyesore
I happen to be on a bit of a roll with the novel. Sometimes books are a struggle to write – often they are, but when and if you are able to stir up a little action between the characters, the thing almost starts writing itself (or righting itself) and this is the most exciting time for a writer. I woke up this morning just dying to get back into it. This novel has much more intrigue and mystery than anything I’ve written (anything I’ve written!). Okay, much more than all my other two books. Last winter, I wrote a first draft of it and since then have been trying to work out various kinks, and now that it’s winter again, I believe I’m sorting it all out. I’ve basically rewritten the entire story, but kept the characters that I had grown quite attached to in the initial draft.
It’ll Be Fun! Really!
September 26, 2010 by 21 Comments
The other day, my friend, author Cynthia Kaplan, sent me an email inviting me to participate in a reading at the West Bank Cafe. I thought very carefully about it for a good three seconds, then shot her an email back saying that I would love to, because anything involving Cynthia Kaplan is bound to be fun.
A few days later I received a follow-up email announcing the format of the evening, which was now being described as some sort of “show.” A soundcheck was involved. I studied the email carefully and then I Googled the other people who were participating and I realized that I was going to be on stage with a bunch of comedians.
Let Me Plan Your Weekend
July 7, 2010 by 57 Comments
Looking for something nice to do this upcoming steamy Saturday? Well, if you live in or near Litchfield County, CT, I have a lovely plan for you.
First, arrive in Washington Depot at around noon and enjoy a tasty lunch at either The Pantry or Marty’s. Then, at 2:00, make your way over to the Hickory Stick Bookshop, where my friend Wendy Burden will be signing copies of her book Dead End Gene Pool until 3:00. I’l be there with her! It’s air-conditioned and, in my humble opinion, the nicest independent book store in New England.
Young Writers
April 26, 2010 by 27 Comments
There are still tickets available for the 5th annual ASAP Celebration of Young Writers event.
In this, my favorite event of the year, actors and writers read the works of young writers, ages 5-18. In the past, it was co-hosted by author Frank McCourt and Denis. Last year, though Frank was ill, he still came to the event and read the wonderful words of the children and gave an inspiring tribute to the most important people in the world – teachers. This year his wife Ellen will be reading in his place and this year’s event is dedicated to our wonderful memories of Frank McCourt.
Poetry For Dummies
April 10, 2010 by 58 Comments
Photo by Moses Pendleton
Our friend Moses sent me this photo of somebody who is trying to learn about poetry. (if you can’t make it out in the photo, he’s reading Poetry For Dummies. I have seen the various “Dummy” books: Real Estate For Dummies, Investing For Dummies, Golf For Dummies, etc, but it astounds me that there is a Poetry for Dummies. Is there a Love for Dummies, Beauty for Dummies, Heartache for Dummies?
Women and Horses
February 14, 2010 by 62 Comments
Photo by Andrew Sullivan
Since yesterday’s post was so depressing, I thought I’d follow with something cheerier. Here are a couple of animals who are not at risk of finding themselves in a kill shelter anytime soon. And, as you can see, they are not exactly malnourished – in fact the horse looks like it is about to have a foal, but of course, he is not, because our Snoopy is a gelding. He likes to offer some inspiration while I type. He nibbles dreamily at the lawn and then breathes sweet-smelling thoughts into my ear. Oh, the breath of a horse is so nice and earthy and sweet. All they eat is grass and clover and hay and grain, nothing disgusting like meat. Our horse Gabriel is so repulsed by meat-eaters that he won’t touch his water trough if a dog has drunk from it. And they digest their meals slowly and thoughtfully and so when they breathe out through those big soft nostrils, it’s just lovely warm huffs of meadow and air.
A Very Comfy Desk
January 19, 2010 by 63 Comments
The other day a woman was here interviewing me for a local magazine. She wanted to photograph me in my “work space.” I tried to change the subject and throw her off-topic by gossiping about somebody we both know, but she persisted. She thought it would be great to show me working away at a desk. So I sheepishly showed her my office, which could actually qualify me for an episode of the reality show, Hoarders, and mumbled something about working in there, when it’s not so cluttered. I couldn’t show her my fabulous real office, where I’m propped up by pillows all day and puppies try to stay awake so that they can stare at me:
