After I read in the New York Times that The Golden Notebook author Doris Lessing, who won the 2007 Nobel Prize for Literature, passed away this morning, I …
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Harriet Scott Chessman: The Beauty of Ordinary Things
I am so delighted to host Harriet Scott Chessman on the occasion of the publication of her stunning new novel, The Beauty of Ordinary Things. Her previous …
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Sara J. Henry: Learning to …
Today's guest author, Sara J. Henry, is a LONGtime friend. We were in a writing group together in Nashville two decades ago, working on our first novels! Her …
Dan Chaon: The Continually Humbling Process of Writing
To celebrate the paperback publication of Dan Chaon's story collection Stay Awake (named a best book of the year by the San Francisco Chronicle and the …
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Ann Mah: Mastering the Art of French Writing
I had the great fortune to get to read Ann Mah's gorgeous new memoir, Mastering the Art of French Eating, in galley. It is such a lovely mix of travel, food, …
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6 Literary Quotes & a Bouquet of Newly-Sharpened Pencils on this 1st Day of Autumn
On this autumnal equinox - the perfect balance of day and night as the sun dips below the equator and we in the northern hemisphere move into autumn - I thought …
Three Things I Learned from Alice McDermott
Early in my writing career, I had the incredible good fortune to study with National Book Award winner Alice McDermott. The story of how she got started writing …
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5 Fun Tips on Writing and on Life – from Agatha Christie on the Occasion of her Birthday
Agatha Christie was born 123 years ago today--an old bird by any measure, and yet she remains one of the most read authors ever. Here are a few tips from the …
Nick Taylor: How to Put Women Where There Were None
I'm delighted to welcome Nick Taylor back to 1st Books. Nick did the 4th post ever here back when his first novel, The Disagreement, was published in May of …
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Writing Advice and Inspiration from Elmore Leonard (1925 – 2013): #10. Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip.
I heard on NPR this morning that Elmore Leonard passed away, and immediately thought of his wonderfully funny - and simply wonderful - 10 Tips for Writers. What …
