Writer’s Notebook: Collaborative Interview with Pat Bertram
 One of the joys of online communities is the chance to meet other writers.  I met Pat Bertram when she entered the Tru TV Crime contest on Gather.com and immediately liked her writing.   She also started a writer's group on Gather.com called No Whine Just Champagne which brought together writers to discuss writing craft, building stories, getting published, how to promote writing and a myriad of other topics related to writing.  She's currently doing a whirlwind tour of the blogosphe

Writer's Notebook: Writer Idol at the Boston Book Festival
In my last post, I talked about my fun experiences attending the Boston Book Festival.  The event brimmed over with sessions that were helpful for writers who are on the path to publication.   The first of these sessions was called the "Guided Open Mic," with our expert guide being author and investigative TV journalist Hank Phillipi Ryan.  Here's a picture of the Arbor Room of the Boston Public Library, where that session was held.  I

Writer's Notebook: Boston Book Festival
Saturday I treated myself and took the train into Boston for the first ever Boston Book Festival.  What a great event.  I hope there will be many more which follow.   I found out about the festival from the excellent folks at Grub Street, who also sponsored several of the sessions.  Despite a shaky weather forecast, thousands of people were in attendance.  I grabbed a quick lunch, then headed over to one of the main venues, the amazing Boston Public Library.   I headed for the Abbey Room, soon to be the site for a session called "Guided Open Mic."  On the way, this is what I saw: 

Writer's Notebook: Signs of the Seasons
Fall in New England is one of my favorite seasons.  I've lived in New England most of my life, but never tire of the variety this season brings to us.  Yesterday, I rode with a business colleague through New Hampshire and Vermont.  It was Columbus Day, sometimes celebrated as a holiday in the United States, and often touted as a great weekend for viewing foliage.  Well, in most years, you won't see much but bare trees in Northern New England by the time that weekend rolls around.  Happily, this year is an exception.  We had copious amounts of rain in the Spring and enough during the summer so that the foliage this year is rich in colors of gold, harvest brown, and

Writer's Notebook: Creative Blogs
It's been a busy Fall for me and I've been enjoying the transition from the summer here in southeastern Massachusetts.  I got back from a trip last weekend and discovered, much to my surprise and delight, that my friend Pat Bertram, author of Bertram's Blog, had received a Creative Blog award for her blog AND passed on that same award and recognition to this blog.   The award looks like this: