Alien in Israel
For the past two days, I’ve taken the train from Rehovot into Tel Aviv to explore a bit on my own. I especially liked Jaffa, with its views of the Mediterranean Sea, its ancient port, and its hilltop garden. I arrived as the adhan was called from the minaret tower around noon, and sat by the clock tower eating a pear pastry. Unhindered by an official guide or an abundance of facts, I let myself cross to another time around every corner. It’s an odd feeling. You know, rationally,… Continue reading
Imaginary Friends
You know the way your dead grandmother can pop up in the car with you? You know just what she’ll say about slowing for the stop sign, and how she’ll cross herself when you pass St. Luke’s. Her chortly, spontaneous laughter will float right through you. It’s memory, but it’s also alive, fluid. It’s strong because it’s yours alone, in your own mind, especially if you practice bringing your grandmother forward.
If you’re not a writer but you know remembered real people, that’s what characters feel like. My… Continue reading
Priorities and Resolutions
Priorities
1. Family
2. Writing
3. Friendships
4. Healthy Body
5. Singing
6. Fun
7. Community
8. World
9. Church
10. Home Upkeep
Resolutions
A. Be a better friend
B. Eat healthily
C. Find meaningful ways to contribute in my community
D. Streamline home upkeep
Third Day of Christmas
On the Third Day of Christmas, we started exercising again, exchanged a sweater for the right size, baked potatoes and picked up a roasted chicken, mailed a late gift, worked the jigsaw puzzle, secured the back door against high winds, listened to Adele again, consumed more caramels, took out more recycling, and invited three guys to play computer games and spend the night. I am not working. I have a friend who chucks out her tree on the 26th every year, but we keep ours until Epiphany, and… Continue reading
The Magnifying Glass
December Sunlight
I have this theory that the problems of our lives expand to fill our attention. Whatever the scale of the problem–how to pay the bills, or grade a pile of papers, or manage the withdrawal of troops from Iraq, or clear out a house to sell, or medicate a child’s fever–we focus our energies on that problem and try to solve it. The nitty-gritty problems of our lives fill up our concentration and our hours, like ants under the lens of a magnifying glass. … Continue reading
Dear 168 Book Pirates
Dear 168 Book Pirates,
Perhaps you feel an extra bit of joy as you read my book, knowing you outsmarted the system and took it for free. You might think that I’ll never know, or that it’s a compliment when you want a book enough to steal it, or that I don’t need the $2.49 I would have earned if you’d paid to buy Prized on Kindle. You might think there’s nothing wrong with downloading pirated books for free since so many others do it, too.
Share Term… Continue reading
Ari & Milo, my serial novel, is now up on Wattpad! I drew illustrations to go with each chapter, and best of all, it’s free! Because of problematic themes, this novel is for mature readers age 17+.
Book Trailer for Promised