Do we have just enough Miep Gies in us? “I am not a hero. I stand at the end of the long, long line of good Dutch people who did what I did or more—much more—during those dark and terrible times years ago, but always like yesterday in the hearts of those of us who … Read more
Fiction is for escape; fiction teaches empathy. In every book, I work to put the story first (“the gotta know”—as per Stephen King’s instructions) while imbuing it with the times that mark the characters. Like the cast of The Many Mothers of Ivy Puddingstone, which goes on sale October 29, 2024, we live in fraught times. … Read more
How could I capture my new novel in one cover? Not that it was my job—but when the warm, welcoming cover designer at my publisher asked me for ideas, the frustrated faux artist in me dove into Canva with the abandon of a kindergartener with fingerpaint. I’m sure all authors feel this way about … Read more
Ah, the picture above—was it taken mid-eye-roll at my junior high school graduation? I never met a book by Ruth Reichl I haven’t loved, and my adoration continued with Not Becoming My Mother (retitled for the paperback as For You Mom, Finally), a deceptively simple snack. (I’m certain that Ms. Reichl, editor of Gourmet Magazine, … Read more
Being invisible is pretty hard for a kid. Crummy childhoods take many forms; usually, it’s an amalgam of yuck. Smacks and screams thankfully have a time limit, but neglect is the gift that never stops. Even the most benign neglect—like being a latchkey kid—can foster loneliness. When trouble fills a family, kids are pushed to … Read more