Red Room Where the Writers Are

Be Careful What You Wish For »

Be careful what you wish for.  When my first memoir, Chicken: Self-Portrait of a Young Man for Rent, became a bestselle

My unabashed patriotism »

     As we approach the seventh anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the U.S., I am reminded of the importance of patriotism.  Not the knee-jerk kind born out of fear and

An unexpected smile and the shit lorry »

Writing & Risk »

Last Tuesday I had a reading in Brooklyn, Park Slope to be exact. It was at this cute little place called the Perch Cafe. I read with two other women writers Taha Ebrihimi and Hossannah Asucion.

On Eighth Avenue »

I once lived in a green house with a tin roof.  When it rained, I'd feel extra cozy, listening to the sound like it was a companion.  Mostly what I did in that house was look for a job.  I was teac

Silence is the Door to Poetry »

I just found this statement in an old notebook.

Some Final Pre-VP Pick Thoughts »

It goes without saying that Obama's VP pick will tell us a lot about how he sees his chances in November and what kind of a President he would be if he is elected.

A Piece of Land No Bridge Can Reach »

I don't know what it is like to be the quiet child, the one who does no harm, or, at least, not as much.  I don't know what it's like to be the one the teachers aren't calling home about.  The on

The Paramental Appreciation Society »

Vampires stroll Golden Gate Park. Dragons prowl Nob Hill. Witches craft curses and love potions in the Tenderloin. And what's really chasing BART?

Share Your Rejections With the World »

The brand new issue of Poets & Writers magazine has an interesting tidbit I feel a duty to share with you. It's about submission rejections. Now, often people get discouraged by rejections.

I want my body »

The best way to lose your inhibitions is to go for medical tests. You invariably have to take off your clothes. I seem to have perfected the art of a slow striptease.

Maybe This Is Why Clowns Are So Scary ... »

"The art of resting the mind, and the power of dismissing it from all care and worry, is probably one of the secrets of energy in our great women." -Captain J.A. Hadfield

Something about Mary »

Mary Williamson was not a girl you'd expect to change the world. She could swim, that's one thing.

The Tempo of Change »

The latest post on The Archdruid Report.

What Do You See? »

The last time John and I were on Topsail Island, we were having dinner in a restaurant when John suddenly said, "Do you see that waitress over the

Writing a first novel »

I only taught briefly at UC extension because I had three young children and and a husband who taught at Cal.

"Why I Wear My Hair Long" »

Why I Wear My Hair Long I want to wrap it around youlike a silk shirt button itslowly,carefully, facing you

Litquake! »

Mark your calendars: I'll be reading at Litquake's Lit Crawl on Saturday October 11 at 6 pm.

Your Teacher Told You Split Infinitives Are a No-No. Your Teacher Lied.  »

(This one's by request. Here you go, E.S.!)

Thirteen Cool Online Multicultural Magazines »

1..HUMAN NATURE http://www.humannaturemag.com/Celebrating a world of Diversity in America

Critical Analysis »

I've been a member of Red Room for a while and haven't really set up my page to look anything exciting.

First Day Back »

First day back at school: sky August blue, puffy scudding clouds. I walk away from the classroom, feeling...what is it?

Have I Mentioned Lately that Grammar Snobs Are Great Big Meanies? »

One of the frustrating things about being a writer -- especially a nonfiction writer -- is that, once you've written something, you feel that it's "said." You made your point.

LEFT BANK REDUX »

I walked along the Wetlands last night, which lead to the harbour's mouth and is fed by rivers.

Answering Questions About Matters of Faith »

Matters of Faith has been out for two weeks now, long enough that I am beginning to steadily get the questions I knew would come once readers had time to finish the book. Some are the usual questions ("Where do you get your ideas?" "Is this set in Everglades City/Chokoloskee/Goodland etc.?" And my personal favorite: "Have you been spying on my family?"),

Gustavo Naveira and Giselle Anne: The Best! »

In the world-wide community of Argentine tango (an enormous community now on every continent), there are a few maestros that are sought after everywhere.

Just Go! To the BP Travel Writers Conference »

Many thanks to the great people at the Book Passage Travel Writers and Photographers Conference!

My guess on the November 2008 election results »

Go to the following link to see my estimate of how the election will turn out:  http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-

I am Mad--A Worthless Blog »

I'm in a relatively bad mood, and thought I'd share it with you all.  Leave now if you know what's good for you. 

Day Nine as a Non-Person »

Wikipedia lists several different ways for a person to become a "non-person."I'd like to add one.

Minutes, burials and the Big City »

Managed to do nearly a whole scene in Hallsfoot’s Battle last night, so it looks like I’m back in the sad

Ferlinghetti's A Coney Island of the Mind »

It has been 50 years since Ferlinghetti's classic book A Coney Island of the Mind was released!

Tobias Wolff – A Damn Fine Writer. »

A fellow writer in the BookShed, BillJustBill, made the following comment the other day:

My guess? »

John Kerry.

Econ 101 & the mortgage crisis »

Economics is a fascinating subject.  At least I find it so.

The Passing of TIme... »

I've had an odd week. Well, not odd so much as sad and rather bittersweet. Forgive me if I spend some time thinking aloud in this blog.

Creativity is alive and well »

I am still on Cloud 9 since my last blog entry (as an aside, does anyone know where the term "cloud 9" come from?).

Have you had an authentic conversation today? »

Check it out:   http://www.authenticconversations.com/weblog

Artsy recommendation  »

Tell No One is a nail-bitingly suspenseful mystery with an absolutely unnerving chase scene (on foot). It's a French film, very gratifying for francophiles like moi.

Narrative of life and death -- in the margins »

I'm reading a riveting memoir of mental illness and recovery called GET ME OUT OF HERE by Rachel Reiland. I came upon it when browsing in a bookstore, and the first few pages swept me away.