For ten years, I co-led groups for violent men.* I sat in a circle with a (usually) male co-leader and anywhere from 8 to 18 men who’d been violent with their wives, girlfriends, dates, sisters, or another woman in their lives—sometimes a mother. Their violence ran from emotional abuse to the most devastating physical viciousness—from … Read more
Woman (me, for instance) weeks (months?) getting ready for a book launch (or any event): Buy a new dress.Return dress.Decide to wear an edgy jagged-hem blouse.Realize anyone using the word ‘blouse’ is too old for edgy. Buy pants.Wonder what the ‘young’ word for pants is.Google.End up teary seeing choices of pants ‘types’ and future as, with … Read more
Perhaps the lure of the bad boy is similar to the temptation of climbing Mt. Everest. It feels so good to conquer it and reach the top—despite all the pain you felt on the ascent. But getting back to that thrilling peak (The glitter! Finding out you are the only one!) means bearing again the sulks, the … Read more
The writer’s code (written into our secret writer club rules) reminds us that day jobs (and only day jobs) stand between us and a published novel. I believed. Thanks for reading Brooklyn Girl Books (etc.)! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Subscribed For years I thought, if only and when and someday. And yes, working one, … Read more
If you love every picture of yourself, or you’re one of those naturally photogenic people, you won’t need this post. And I don’t want to stand next to you in any photo. For the rest of us, there are tricks to make ourselves look less double-chinned, squint-eyed, or serial killer-ish in photos. I know. I … Read more