I’ve been distracted from my writing lately by all the media brouhaha about same-sex marriage. Unless you’ve been in a coma, or otherwise unavailable, you’ve heard that Joe Biden, vice-president…
Gay or Straight – What Does It Matter?
The New Publishing Universe
On a recent trip to New York, one of the places my husband and I passed by on our daily walks was Random House, one of the Big Six in…
A Writer’s Reflections on Rowing
I had the pleasure recently of rowing a boat in Central Park, New York. While paddling around on the lake, I got to thinking how much rowing is like writing.…
Rebirth of a Masterpiece – Death of a Salesman
Every once in awhile, a piece of writing sets itself apart from the others in its brilliance. The play, Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, written in 1949, is…
Life Lessons in the Garden
When I was a young girl, I watched my mother plant red salvia and white allysum on both sides of our front walk. At the time, I didn’t appreciate what…
Not Your Typical Fairy Tale
Growing up reading fairy tales and seeing films with a happy Hollywood ending, I expected more or less the same kind of ending when I got married. I soon found…
The Curious Appeal of Tragedy
After watching the film, Love Liza with the incredibly talented Philip Seymour Hoffman, I wondered what it was about this story that kept me engaged. It was depressing. And yet,…
A Korean Novel Illuminates Mothers Everywhere
It’s still a few months away from Mother’s Day, the day we publicly honour our mothers. I was reminded of mine, when I read the wonderful international bestseller, Please Look After…
A Holocaust Survivor’s Secret of Happiness
I was sent a video by one of my friends, this one from the U.K. online news site, The Guardian. It got me thinking of how much control each one…
Asghar Farhadi’s Film, A Separation – A Universal Film and Story
I saw Asghar Farhadi’s film, A Separation, the week before it won best foreign film at the Oscars. Shot in a very intimate fashion—no panoramic shots of city or country—this film…