So very close to finishing the first (of several) drafts for the new book in progress, my days look like this.  

The most common axiom about writing is to “write what you know.” Have you ever driven behind a school bus full of fifth grade boys? Have you ever seen them press their faces to the back window so their noses looks like snouts and their breath fogs up the glass and their tongue lolls out…

I’m off to the Pacific Northwest to research my next book, and packing is a challenge. My LA-based wardrobe isn’t suitable for weather of any kind, neither rain nor sleet nor snow nor wind. Probably not even a light breeze. For one thing, I own no galoshes and nothing with a hood. I’m pretty sure…

I like resolutions. I do. There. I said it. Although, you can call them plans if that makes you more comfortable. Here’s what I’m planning in 2013. Write Fun I’m writing a new book right now, and OMG, I plan/resolve to make it the most fun book I’ve ever written. There’s so much potential in…

Whenever I’m asked to speak to a group, the one story I always tell is how I came to write Losing Clementine. I wrote it because the previous book was rejected by every publisher in New York. All of them. One even wrote my agent twice — just in case I had any illusions. “No,…

  Amazon is no longer allowing authors to review books. Any books. Their argument is that an author will either write undeserving praise of other authors they know or undeserving critiques of authors with whom they feel in competition. And, by their definition, every author is in competition with every other author. That last part…

The Santa Anas are blowing. The devil winds. Chandler wrote of them: “those hot dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch.” Whoever first spoke of an ill wind must have been from Los Angeles. We all knew they were…

Word geeks, rejoice! This thing exists! It’s called “Mysteries of Vernacular” and it explains, in adorable stop-motion animation, the etymology of all the best words – words like “pants.” Who doesn’t like pants? That’s right. Nobody. We all love pants, which is why we all love “Mysteries of Vernacular.” (See how I did that? Just…

I have found it. My favorite word. It is the best word. No other word will ever be as wonderful as this. In the past, I have loved “defenestrate,” “smock,” “Tchoupitoulas” and “Apalachicola.” Fine words all. They were lovely and passionate affairs of the heart while they lasted. But this is better. Are you ready?…

I turned in a round of edits to my agent last week. “Ha!” I thought. “Now I get to take a break.” The euphoria lasted about two hours. Okay, ten if you count the hours I was asleep. By the next morning, I was already in the in-between place. Experience, patient teacher that she is,…