Category Archives: Annapolis

James Bond, Agent 007 and the Spy Fiction Genre

The writer in me, wants to challenge myself to figuring out a new approach to an old genre—the spy novel.

Memorial Day, Father’s Day, Are You Tracking the Holidays?

One of my favorite picture books as a child was about a little girl who doesn’t understand time, seasons, or the days of the week. She vaguely recalls holidays: the flowers blooming, baby chicks , a basket with a fluffy bunny. She remember a cracking walnuts in front of a warm fire, relatives gathering andContinue reading “Memorial Day, Father’s Day, Are You Tracking the Holidays?”

Writing Shortcuts, A.I. and the Future of Creativity

Before there were computers and artificial intelligence, there were file cards.  Writers producing nonfiction used the cards to organize their facts. Writers churning out vast quantities of genre fiction, such as a series of detective novels, also used cards and charts to vary plot lines. Because often they were paid little per book,  these writers figuredContinue reading “Writing Shortcuts, A.I. and the Future of Creativity”

Fairytales Inspire Modern Fiction, Writing Prompts and More.

Perhaps it was the illustrations that captivated me when I’d pour through the fairytale books, the dragons and the princesses with long gowns and tresses, but of all the picture books in my room when I was a young child, I liked the fairytales the best. I can still remember many of those books, theContinue reading “Fairytales Inspire Modern Fiction, Writing Prompts and More.”

What Exactly is Tango and Why Do I Want to Learn this Dance?

The dance we call Tango evolved gradually, out of the music and dance gatherings of enslaved peoples brought to South America from Africa who then shared these dances with fellow workers and immigrants.  It is literally a street dance,

My Dog Has Extra Sensory Perception. Does Yours?

I was having difficulty staying asleep. The room felt hot. I kept tossing and turning. Worrying about my grandson’s upcoming surgery. Worrying about manuscripts I’d emailed to various literary journals, wondering would they eventually result in publication? Finally, I resorted to the one mental exercise I turn to when attempting to initiate slumber, which isContinue reading “My Dog Has Extra Sensory Perception. Does Yours?”

Unexpected Guests

I almost threw them out. The unidentified shoots popping up in last year’s vegetable garden, not yet tilled and planted were destined for the compost pile, until I took a second look. Lettuce, I repeated to myself. Tiny leaves of lettuce. Cilantro. I recognized the familiar leaf, the shape and the fringe edges. We hadn’tContinue reading “Unexpected Guests”

Missing: A Fugitive on the Run. Storytelling from Multiple Perspectives.

Breaking News. Man charged with white collar crimes elects not to board plane to Maryland for his arraignment. Police search his Florida home. Wife claims no knowledge of his whereabouts. Where is he? The news story captures my imagination. Where is Roy McGrath, former Chief of Staff to former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, hiding? IContinue reading “Missing: A Fugitive on the Run. Storytelling from Multiple Perspectives.”

Lindy Hop, Swing, The Spanish Ballroom and Learning to Let Go

Saturday night I went swing dancing.  I didn’t see any zoot suits, but being that it was St. Patrick’s Day weekend, I saw men in green derby hats sporting suspenders and women wearing emerald glitter headbands,  full skirts and short crinolines.  We weren’t just anywhere, we were at the Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo locatedContinue reading “Lindy Hop, Swing, The Spanish Ballroom and Learning to Let Go”

Have The Thought Police Arrived?

Banning books is one thing, but what about rewriting books?

The Joy of Being Published

Writers are writing because they have a compulsion to write. They want to be heard.  More important to writers than money, is a following of readers.

Finding The Right Words to say I Love You

It is Valentine’s Day tomorrow and traditionally it’s a day when love is often expressed in the form of a poem. The one, constantly used and overused goes: Roses are Red Violets are Blue Sugar is Sweet And so are You! The original old English version from Gammer Gurton’s Garland published in 1784 sounds aContinue reading “Finding The Right Words to say I Love You”

What Happens When Three Bad Things Happen at Once?

No hot water. No heat. Covid. All three of these things descended on our household at one time, on Thursday morning. What is the likelihood? It began with my husband Peter feeling lousy on Wednesday evening and deciding he didn’t feel like going to his swim practice at the County Pool. After dinner, I suggestedContinue reading “What Happens When Three Bad Things Happen at Once?”

The “S” in Sci-Fi is for Surprise

I’m specifically attracted to work that contemplates philosophical and spiritual questions…