THE MYSTERY OF THE HARD BACK Since I published my first novel, I’ve grown wiser about the publishing industry and as I continue to write, I hope to learn more. One practice that baffles me, however, is the continued existence of the hardback book. I heard or read somewhere that hard

ERUDITION AT THE DOLLAR STORE Monday, I went to the Mall on an errand. As I walked back to my car, I noticed a sign in the Dollar Store window that read: “Martha Grimes and other books for $1.00.” As I am a Grimes fan, I hurried in on impulse. In the corner several works were on d

THE BAROMETER OF BOOKS On Saturday, I did the unthinkable. I turned down the armload of books a friend offered me when we met for coffee. She’s a reviewer for a small newspaper so she receives a steady stream of new arrivals. I know how quickly new releases can accumulate when a per

AS FORD WENT SO GOES THE PRINT NEWSPAPER? A lot of debate is going on about the future of print newspapers. People aren’t reading them as much anymore and revenues are down. The electronic media is blamed because TV and online news are free. Rupert Murdoch, the media mogul, wants to

A SKULL AND CROSS BONES DOESN’T ALWAYS MEAN POISON I added a new link to my section on Writers Resources recently; or rather Mark did at my request (Mark is the brains behind the layout of this blog). The link I added belongs to a writer named Jack King. His page is called “Spy Wr

SELLING PIECES OF MYSELF On Monday, I went to a bookstore that buys and sells used books. I wanted credit to apply toward a new purchase. It’s a simple commercial transaction but every time I do it I leave feeling uneasy. Some of the clerks behind the counter behave as though they a

THANK YOU MRS. ROOSEVELT Here’s a story every writer will marvel at and probably everyone else. It’s about a woman called Laura Munson and her struggle to become a published author. During the first twenty years of her career, she produced fourteen books and all of them were rejec

ONE GRAIN OF SAND AT A TIME I decided to buy a new book last week. I can afford the luxury because I don’t spend much on clothes, my mortgage is paid, I own my car and I’ve done most of the major repairs on the my 113 year old house – I hope. I won’t give away the title of the

HOLDEN CAULFIELD ALL OVER AGAIN I’m sure being a lighthouse keeper ranks right up there with being a shepherd on the list of the world’s loneliest jobs, but writing is probably in the top ten. Even when a writer is in a crowd, a part of his brain functions as an observer. After al

THOUGHTS ON AN ORDINARY LIFE Tuesday was one of those days when I felt I accomplished little. I’d risen early to squeeze in three hours of uninterrupted writing before my haircut appointment; but we all know what happens to best laid plans. A visitor dropped by to see how I was doin