Red Room Where the Writers Are

Why do I write? »

Orhan Pamuk, Nobel Prize Lecture, 2006...

A Gift for Those of you who Write »

My neighborhood bookclub met tonight to discuss Julie and Julia, by Julie Powell.

At Deptford & Stratford _ Scene Three »

The room at Deptford again, a month or two later.

An author's tic »

So, tomorrow is the Big Launch Day, and I've been warned by my fellow writers not to take it too much to heart if the Day ends up being . . . well, pretty much like any other.

I'm published in Brazil. And looking for women for a survey. »

Imagine my surprise yesterday to get a package from my publisher containing two copies of the Brazilian co-edition of

It's the Berries! Red Room Authors Mix at S.F.'s Tosca »

Comedian Will Durst (whose first book, The All-American Sport of Bipartisan Bashing, has just hit the stands) co-hosted a first-ever Red Room Writers' Mixer last week at Tosca on Columbus

I've Kept My Heart in San Francisco »

O cool, grey city of love!                          -George Sterling 

Hit by a Truck  »

If you've met me in person, especially if you've met me at a party, you might be stunned to hear me call myself an Introvert.

A Serious Case of the Blogs »

So I've been trying to think of what the most appropriate kind of opening post (beyond the usual Greetings fare, which doesn't really count) would be for this brand new

Big Sur is burning . . . »

. . . we get calls these days from people south of Carmel, they want to know how to get paintings appraised so they can be insured.

Our Corner of the World (www.voicesatvona.org) »

The Publishing seminar takes place in the VONA Writers Room. A glass encased lounge in Phelan Hall at the University of San Francisco.

Another Great SBWC »

Well, another Santa Barbara Writers Conference has come and gone, and a lot of happy, exhausted writers have traveled back home, inspired, motivated and ready to tackle another year of writing and,

In Praise of Writing Friends »

The history of my writing starts with a purse.

Bestseller Dreams »

  So, last week, I'm just going along my merry way, planning meals, working on laundry, trying to write. Just another day in the life of a writer.

What happens at a writer's conference? »

     The last week in June is my favorite week of the year and has been for more than 15 years. That's because it's time for the Santa Barbara Writers Conference (http://www.sbwriters.com).

Happy Birthday, Readerville »

Today's is Readerville's 8th birthday --  and I wanted to thank Karen Templer for creating a wonderful writers and readers communi

$5 for a Gallon of Gas: When Will the Hogs Get Slaughtered? »

Below is a blog entry that my husband, Martin, posted back in April, in SingleMindedWomen.com

John Searles to Keynote at the Backspace Writers Conference »

On Your Way to the Incinerator »

If you think writers are born rather than made and brilliant writing is recognized immediately, those rejection slips for your novel—or story or nonfiction query, or (he

QUOTATIONS FROM EDMOND JABÈS 2 »

THE WRITER can get free of his writing only by using it, that is, by reading oneself.  As if the aim of writing were to use what is already written as a launching pad for reading the

The Art of Living in Rome Da Alfredo »

Thanking the greedy-little-bastards or, how high gas prices helps writers »

I have left my Jeep under the house (I live in a stilt house, I didn’t bury it) and bought a 2001 Miata. The Jeep got 15 mpg, on a good day, and the Miata gets 30 mpg most any day.

When will writers start waking up? »

It drives me absolute batshit.

The Writing Process »

My blogmates and I are discussing the different ways that writers write.  Please pop over to Type M 4 Murder (http://typem4murder.blogspot.com) and see

Blogging for Life (or Death) »

How can a writer not be lured by the idea of blogging?

AP Stylebook and language »

I am up early each morning, to the chagrin of Celine, and usually switch the TV news shows between the local ABC and Fox news programs.

The Colleague Express »

The best part about RedRoom so far (in addition to the fact that it's so easy to add photos to my site), is the ease of access to other writers: my heroes and heroines, along with new acquaintances

Making New Friends »

As a RedRoom newbie, I was delighted just now to discover that John Kremer is also a member of this community, as I have been reading his book, 1001 Ways to

Disagreeing with Smart People »

Charlie Rose, as he is wont to, did a retrospective on

Alice in the Red Room »

My new book, The Third Angel, is about to be published and I've been thinking about the angels in my own life.

Why I'm glad the writers are back »

"I have not seen a Black man give out this kind of a beating since Ike Turner died" - regarding Barack's wins from Some dark and funny Real Time with Bill Maher writer.

a dream weekend... »

Readers often tell me they wish they could visit Willow Lake, because it's such a beautiful place in my books. Well, thanks to my publisher, here's your shot.

You Shouldn't Buy a Book »

You shouldn't buy a novel because the writer has cancer.

Join the Peace Corps and Write the Great American Novel »

I’m not surprised that Peace Corps produces writers. It’s a sure-fire

One Sentence: What is a blog. Then more. »

Think that you are writing excerpts of your thoughts and anecdotes that is not on paper.  

Five Minutes, A Bag & Blowing Money: Just Pay Us. »

Theater. The land of non-payment. "Well don't you do it for the love?" "I'm sure you have a day job" "Aren't you selling out when you get paid".

Like, OMG!: Your Text Edited For A Funeral »

When I started this blog that dear friend (who has a thing about grammar and spelling) offered to edit my blog. He says it is as "Close to Compulsive" as he gets.

The Next New Publishing Thing? »

Hello, Red Room!I'm brand-new here, but not to writing. I've published 13 self-help books since my first one in 1980.

When the Pretty Kids Help out the Nerds: The Writers Strike. »

"It feels like the nerdiest, ugliest, meanest kids in the high school are trying to cancel the prom.

More reasons why I hate health insurance companies »

I admit I have been ranting about this at my other blog, but I think I need to rant about it here as well. I know, I know. My health insurance saga is not a pretty one.