Fly, Button, Trick, Plant

Fly, Button, Trick, Plant

What you’re about to read was written 15 years ago, for an NPR fiction writing contest. I can’t remember the word limit…but the entry was to include the words fly, button, trick, and plant. It was a fun exercise! I don’t think I sent it to anyone, except NPR. So, here...
The Book Launch

The Book Launch

Last week, I gleefully attended the book launch for Saving Ellen, a debut memoir by fellow Mystic Writer Maura Casey. Why gleefully? Two reasons: one, I’m wildly excited for Maura, who has worked and waited for this moment; and two, it wasn’t my book launch. Does this...
A Writing Room of One’s Own

A Writing Room of One’s Own

I write at a desk next to windows that overlook the Mystic River. I can see the changing colors of water and sky, as well as the rock ledge that caps our backyard. It’s a nice setup. The only issue is that my desk also abuts our kitchen, the heart of the house, a...
There’s Still Time

There’s Still Time

It’s easy at 62 to look backward. Most of my life is behind me. And wistfulness seems to increase with age. As a younger person, I used to be amused by my older relatives who talked about a loaf of bread costing a nickel and the good, clean fun of a high school sock...
What About the Baby?

What About the Baby?

As a writer, I’m also a reader – both pursuits are intrinsically linked, in competition for the betterment of each other. Since I write fiction, I read mostly fiction, often selecting books that explore the complexities of relationships and the undercurrent of essence...