Monthly Archives: July 2010

Flawed Characters and Conflict

By Richard | Published July 21, 2010

One major problem that I face in writing for the late-middle grades is that I’m so far removed from them. I’m not only over the hill, I’m way down the hollow. We don’t have children, and I don’t really remember what it was like to be 12 or 13, although I do remember hating it. [...]

Posted in Author, Author, Books, Writing | 2 Comments

25 Questions With Author Sarah Hina

By Richard | Published July 15, 2010

Sarah Hina • Plum Blossoms in Paris I knew that Sarah Hina and I could be great friends on the day she called me a cocksucker. But I need to back up. I met Sarah online; I know a few members of an online writing circle, and when I decided to finish my young adult [...]

Posted in 25 Questions, Author, Author, Books, Writing | 15 Comments

True Blood — The Artwork

By Richard | Published July 14, 2010

Recently, Aerin Bender-Stone was asking about my family and one of my nieces in particular because she currently appears in my Facebook profile picture. I am lucky. I have nine nieces and nephews, and I am immensely proud of each and every one of them. Until fairly recently, I suffered through a long illness and [...]

Posted in Family, Life | 5 Comments

Plum Blossoms in Paris by Sarah Hina

By Richard | Published July 13, 2010

Sarah Hina and I both went to medical school, both hate the smell of formaldehyde with a passion, and both dreamed of being writers. Sarah is living that dream with the release of Plum Blossoms in Paris, and she’s launching her blog promotion tour today at Travis Erwin’s blog. Sarah is wonderfully talented. You should [...]

Posted in Author, Author, Books, Writing | 2 Comments

The Cape Breton Highlands

By Richard | Published July 12, 2010

For one unforgettable day, I enjoyed the gift of quiet. In the Cape Breton Highlands. It was a timeless day of subtle miracles. Following a narrow forest trail cut by my Acadian ancestors generations before, I was initially overwhelmed by the solitude. But my senses embraced the challenge. Slowly, a delightful change took hold. An [...]

Posted in Canada, Nova Scotia, Writing | 4 Comments

Parsley and Oregano

By Richard | Published July 9, 2010

It really was the wrong thing to say. During one of our trips to the ENT Clinic, a nursing friend of my Mother’s asked me if she had been a good cook in my youth, perhaps knowing that I wrote about food and wine. “Solidly mediocre,” I answered truthfully, right in front of the woman [...]

Posted in Family, Food & Wine | 9 Comments

25 Questions With Author John DeMont

By Richard | Published July 5, 2010

John DeMont • Coal Black Heart John DeMont is just the best guy. That’s not a throw-away line or a pat introduction. It’s what I thought from the first time that I met him. You’d think the same thing. Within minutes, you’d describe John as self-effacing, personable, witty, and quick to laugh. But after you’d [...]

Posted in 25 Questions, Author, Author, Books, Canada, Writing | 3 Comments

Barrett’s Privateers (Happy Canada Day!)

By Richard | Published July 1, 2010

The late, lamented Stan Rogers gave Maritimers an unofficial national anthem that we all sing with reverence and gusto today, our 143rd birthday. Happy Birthday, Canada! As an aside, one of the men in this video — Dennis Ryan — sang a gorgeous Irish ballad at my mother’s funeral that left nary a dry eye [...]

Posted in Canada, Entertainment, Nova Scotia | 3 Comments