On a recent training run for Saturday's half marathon -- my first -- I described the opening scene from Raising Cubby to my running partner who works with special needs students. "Yep, I have a student like that," she responded. (I assume she was nodding in agreement but I tend to look at the road ahead when running.) I was honestly baffled. This is a world I do not live in. But, that's also why I wanted to read this book. I wanted to understand it. Alas, with training for a half marathon, working a full-time job and raising two food allergy kids (a different kind of special needs), I just haven't had the time to read more than the first chapter. What are you busy reading? This post was inspired by Raising Cubby: A Father and Son’s Adventures with Asperger’s, Trains, Tractors, and High Explosives by John Elder Robison. Parenting is a challenging job, but what challenges does a parent with Asperger's face? Join From Left to Write on March 12 as we discuss Raising … [Read more...]
Remembering My Early Days In Publishing: A Post Inspired By “Gone Girl” By Gillian Flynn
I’d arrived in New York in the late ‘90s, the last gasp of the glory days, although no one knew it then. New York was packed with writers, real writers, because there were magazines, real magazines, loads of them….a time when newly graduated college kids could come to New York and get paid to write. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn This was me. Only I wasn’t writing for a magazine, although, that was the original plan. Instead, I was working as an editorial assistant at a well-known (a-hem, romance) book publisher. I sifted through the slush pile; I wrote rejection letters; I answered my boss’ phone. One day, a reporter from Entertainment Weekly called. I can’t remember why exactly. But I do remember her name. It was Gillian. I remember because her name wasn’t pronounced the way I thought it would be. Her name wasn’t Jillian. It was Gillian. With a G, not a J. Like gill, not Jill – I made sure to tell my boss how to pronounce it correctly. And I remember being a little star … [Read more...]
Marketing Your Book With A House Party Tour
It’s National Running Day but this post isn’t about running. Not exactly, anyways. Its about two runners who wrote a book, went on tour, decided a traditional book tour wasn’t for them, wrote a second book and decided to do something different. I’m talking about Sarah Bowen Shea and Dimity McDowell, authors of Run Like a Mother: How to Get Moving--and Not Lose Your Family, Job, or Sanity and Train Like a Mother: How to Get Across Any Finish Line - and Not Lose Your Family, Job, or Sanity. Last week, I had the great honor to attend a house party to promote their new book, Train Like A Mother, and meet Sarah and Dimity in person (that’s us in the photo above). In one word, this event was A-MAZING. And the house party idea – F’ing Brilliant! (excuse my f-bomb). Instead of giving readings at (potentially empty) bookstores across the nation, Sarah and Dimity decided to host house parties and invite their fans to an intimate meet-and-greet. The invite-only event was … [Read more...]
Baking Mac Without the Cheese
I miss cheese. It’s the one thing I haven’t quite found a substitute for. Most of the vegan cheeses at my local market contain caseins and therefore aren’t completely dairy-free for the food allergic. One product that is dairy-free and works well is Daiya; its my go-to when I can’t go without, like on pizza. Or the baked Mac and “Cheese” recipe I tried for lunch today. I was inspired by the novel Julia’s Child by Sarah Pinneo about a mom who makes and sells organic food for toddlers. There are several recipes sprinkled throughout the book, including one for “Mac and Cheese With Plenty of Dairy.” Its like the title challenged me to make it without dairy. Most of the substitutions were easy, with the exception of cottage cheese. I have not found a dairy-free cottage cheese. (If you know of one, please share.) So that’s where I started to improvise. It turned out pretty and tasted fine but I want to work on the recipe before I share it. I kind of threw it together with … [Read more...]
Don’t Quiet the Internet
On this day of the Internet blackout in protest of SOPA/PIPA, I considered not posting. I considered staying offline all day. I considered staying quiet. I am quiet by nature, a classic introvert. I’ve tried rallying against it, tried being an extrovert for others, but that’s not who I am. I accept that I’m quiet – no, I embrace it! But everyone has a voice and this blog is mine. I do not want to silence it. So, while I’m not participating in today’s blackout, I fully support it… …in my own quiet way. Are you an introvert or extrovert? This post was inspired by Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking (Amazon Affiliate link). In her book, author Susan Cain explores how introverts can be powerful in a world where being an extrovert is highly valued. Join From Left to Write as we discuss this book. We'll also be chatting live with the author at 1PM Eastern on January 26. As a member of From Left to Write, I received a copy of the book for free. All … [Read more...]
