ECHO (from Women Under Scrutiny)
by Lauren J. Sharkey It started small—having to catch my breath after going up the stairs, needing to recline my car seat back an inch…going up a size. “You
April 24, 2019
CONFESSIONAL: “Will-power is a fable that thin people tell.”
By Stephanie English I stopped believing in God when I was stick-thin, and have been tempted to reconsider since ballooning to twice my size. The God I hear about
April 16, 2019
WAISTED: Why I Wrote This Novel
I grew up with the idea that the size of my body was the most important thing in the world—and that my body was always too large. When I
October 22, 2018
What To Do Before Your Book Launch: A Guidebook
What to expect when you’re expecting your book? What’s going to happen first, and second, and third? Pre-launch of my debut novel, the breadth of information I had to learn
September 5, 2018
MUDBOUND = Spellbound
I can’t imagine I am the first person to come up with the above title, but I can think of no other way to express my admiration for this book.
July 25, 2018
Ten Secrets to Sinatra Gardening
“If I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere.” I sing those words to newly-purchased plants I drive them home. My garden, rather than a zone of tender nurturance
June 5, 2018
Give Mom Some (Reading) Schadenfreude for Mother’s Day!
Four years ago, at an event at the incredibly wonderful Reading Public Library (in Reading Massachusetts) one of the librarians bought my second novel book, The Comfort of Lies, for her
May 4, 2018
Loving Roman à Clef Novels
Roman à clef is a form of fiction I’ve always enjoyed reading, from Primary Colors to The Devil Wears Prada). Encyclopaedia Britannica defines roman à clef like this: (French:
April 9, 2018
The Panacea of Novels
What’s the word for impotent worry activated by reading the morning paper? When your mind swirls with horror at people’s pain and you think of how you can effect, perhaps,
April 2, 2018
Distracted, Tired, Worn-Out: Writing and Reading the Darker Side of Parenthood
Between pretending to be perfect mothers (and fathers) the reality of flawed (real) moms lay murky truth: We always love our children; we don’t always love being mothers. We’re
March 7, 2018
Writers on Stage: 12 Tips for Readings & Events
The first time I read in public, (a Grub Street open mike event at the now-defunct Johnny D’s in Somerville, Massachusetts) I flopped. I failed. I sucked. Years later (no more
January 18, 2018
Re-reading Old Favorites: MOSQUITO COAST
Re-reading . . . how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love the guaranteed happiness (how often does one get that?); I love meeting old friends
November 11, 2017
(The Real) Sexy Responsible Heart-Throbbing Heroes
Could it be possible that our lust for the bad boys—a hunger which begets dreams that bear nightmares—begins the night we aim our reading flashlights on Rhett Butler and his
October 12, 2017
A Storied Recipe: Mystery Novel Chocolate Pie Supreme
About a million years ago I read (a now out of date) mystery, Gastronomic Murder, by Alexandra Roudybush (look for this book. I got a second-hand copy recently. Try the
September 4, 2017
Armchair Adventuring: Stories of Survival
Stories of survival fill me with shivery delight. I rarely meet a story of man/woman/elements that doesn’t keep me up till all hours—it’s no doubt one of my favorite sub-genres.
September 3, 2017
The Amazing Jewish Book Fair Ride
 “Don’t forget; Jewish people read an enormous amount,†my lovely (and Jewish) literary agent said before my book launch. “We really love books.†I nodded. Yes, I knew that—at least
May 22, 2017
Wearing Their Husband’s Sins
When Bernie Madoff’s crimes came to light, Ruth Madoff caught the rage right along side him. With no evidence, she was thrown on a virtual pyre—charged guilty by association and
May 18, 2017
Money, Me & THE WIDOW OF WALL STREET
Money. It’s our last taboo. People spill seamy details about their sex lives before talking about their finances, salary, or savings accounts. And yet, despite this curtain of silence, money
April 26, 2017
Love me! Read me! Buy me! Writer’s Fear-Clenching Book Launch Thoughts
 Book launch day shoots towards me like an asteroid. Three weeks. Not ready. Almost-final drafts of essays surround me. Fear, sleeplessness, and worry consume me. I won’t get reviewed.
March 22, 2017
KISS Rules: Balancing Vigilance, Work & Life
I write novels. Stories. I’m not a journalist.I work at separating my writing life and political views. But, having grown up with stories of the Holocaust, with family who left
January 26, 2017
Likeability Laced With Betty Crocker Syndrome (In Real Life & Fiction)
A few years ago, when speaking with a reporter about my then-just-released novel, Accidents of Marriage, she mentioned how surprised she was by her negative reactions to the main character—how the
January 25, 2017
Tethered: A novel by Amy Mackinnon
Death is the last frontier in so many ways. In my circles, even friends who talk about sex, politics, and that most forbidden of topics, paychecks, rarely talk about the
December 30, 2016
We’re All Immigrants: The Recipe Edition!
My dear friend, Robin Black, made the wise suggestion of having an election night dinner that was a tribute to immigrants. There are few few among us in America
November 7, 2016
Voting, We’re All Children of Immigrants
Not to get all Freudian, but last night I woke gasping for breath (repeatedly), paralyzed with fear, riding waves of Donald Trump smothering me. The nightmare stapled me to
November 5, 2016