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Blog
THE HEAVEN AND EARTH GROCERY STORE by James McBride
THE HEAVEN AND EARTH GROCERY STORE by James McBride is an exuberant, sharply observed journey through the richly detailed lives of the residents of Chicken Hill of Pottstown, Pennsylvania in the 20’s and 30’s. The plot is loosely structured around a mystery in a well...
THE MARRIAGE PORTRAIT by Maggie O’Farrell
THE MARRIAGE PORTRAIT by Maggie O’Farrell is a richly drawn novel that reimagines the short, tragic life of Lucrezia di Cosimo de’Medici. By bringing Lucrezia’s fictionalized story to life in the pages of a book, O’Farrell not only tells a captivating tale, but she...
Roundtable Discussion; Structuring Your Novel
Several months ago (I’m behind on updating my blog!), I moderated a roundtable discussion with members of the Columbia University community on the topic Structuring Your Novel. Writers gathered on Zoom to share techniques from initial concept to completed first draft....
Panel Discussion with DeFiore & Company
This past February, in collaboration with Columbia Fiction Foundry, I hosted a panel discussion with agents from DeFiore & Company. This was an exciting opportunity to learn from industry experts Brian DeFiore, Miriam Altshuler, Caryn Karmatz Rudy, and Reiko...
THE ANNIVERSARY by Stephanie Bishop
THE ANNIVERSARY, by Stephanie Bishop, is a mesmerizing, challenging, subversive book that keeps the reader off balance until the very last page. The digressive passages go on too long, but the cumulative effect is powerful. Lucie is a successful novelist, married to...
ANIL’S GHOST by Michael Ondaatje
ANIL'S GHOST, by Michael Ondaatje, is an ambitious, haunting mosaic of a novel. This is Ondaatje at his best, the story told through the alternating voices of enigmatic and deeply seen characters who reveal themselves in gorgeous, startling prose as the novel unfolds....
What if Your Agented Novel Isn’t Sold?
It took a long time to write a post about disappointment. It’s not a story I wanted to tell, but discouragement—and resilience—are part of a writer’s life. I hope that in sharing honestly my experience, I can shed light on an aspect of publishing that’s rarely spoken...
BEAUTIFUL WORLD, WHERE ARE YOU by Sally Rooney
BEAUTIFUL WORLD, WHERE ARE YOU, by Sally Rooney, entertains, perplexes, and made me think. Rooney has a fabulous ear for dialogue, and her precise details and a courageous vulnerability beneath the awkwardness drew me in as her characters navigate friendship and love....
Frances Cha Zoom Interview, IF I HAD YOUR FACE
I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Frances Cha, author of the debut novel, IF I HAD YOUR FACE for Columbia Fiction Foundry. Frances’ novel, published by Penguin Random House, was named best book of 2020 by NPR, TIME Magazine, USA Today, Bustle, Esquire, New...
IF I HAD YOUR FACE by Frances Cha
IF I HAD YOUR FACE is a fascinating exploration of contemporary South Korea told from the alternating points-of-view of four friends, Kyuri, Miho, Ara and Sujin. As they make their way in the hyper-competitive world of Seoul, they face daunting obstacles, including...
Completed Novel Sneak Peek
TRAVELING LIGHT, upmarket literary fiction, 85,000 words. June Colter, 17, equestrienne in the Byrd Family Circus, thunders around the ring on horseback as she yearns for a different life. She defies her parents by studying in secret, helped by Jeta, an aged...
The Waiting Time: Your Book is Out on Submission. Now What?
You’ve finished your book and braved the querying trenches. You’ve signed with an agent who has begun the process of submitting your novel to publishing houses. The process can take months, with no guarantee that there will be a publication contract at the end of it....