Writing projects that don’t want to end can be hellish for writers. Winston Churchill’s advice to the British people during the London Blitz comes to mind: “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” One way forward is to read great books about great strugglers, like The Splendid and the Vile. Thirty-six years ago, I began … Continue reading Churchill’s Advice Holds For Writers Too/Raving for THE SPLENDID AND THE VILE.
Tucci’s TASTE: MY LIFE THROUGH FOOD Provides Food for Thought for Readers And Writers
Fiction writers benefit from reading books on craft, but they also can learn from books about routine yet important activities we humans do—like eating. Even tongue-tied fictional characters can “talk with their hands” when they cook and eat. The scene I enjoyed writing most in Mortal Things features two such widowers, one old and one … Continue reading Tucci’s TASTE: MY LIFE THROUGH FOOD Provides Food for Thought for Readers And Writers
First pre-publication interview to share!
Enjoyed being this week’s guest on The Brian And Lee Show on WWDB-AM Talk 860. Here’s the link for the podcast of Saturday’s show. https://wwdbam.com/episodes/the-brian-and-lee-show-interview-with-ned-bachus/ Hit Play then slide the little time cursor to 19:30, where the interview begins. Runs to 52:19. Had a great time talking with the father-son hosts about MORTAL THINGS and … Continue reading First pre-publication interview to share!
Under Neon Light
A mighty neon-lit Shout-Out to KYW Newsradio in Philadelphia for their excellent podcast series, “The Jawncast.” If you grew up in Philly, you’ll love this series. If you just moved there and want to hasten your orientation to the area, this is the podcast for you. Whether or not you have Philly ties, you’ll be … Continue reading Under Neon Light
Your Work Space: In Three Words (or more)
I love the Tree of Life Tweet that shows the work space I used when writing MORTAL THINGS. Well, ONE of the places where I worked on the novel. Like most other writers and readers, I roam from room to room, nook to nook, sometimes from state to state, but this one anchors me in … Continue reading Your Work Space: In Three Words (or more)
Moments That Matter: A Look at Kent Haruf’s BENEDICTION
Years ago, a poet friend exclaimed, “How did he do that?” after reading a short story by the late Andre Dubus. He didn’t quite see how those relatively few pages had built to such dramatic effect. I’ve had similar reactions after I’ve read novels by Kent Haruf. Kent Haruf 1943-2014 Haruf’s fictional terrain was the … Continue reading Moments That Matter: A Look at Kent Haruf’s BENEDICTION
A Good Read and a Good Dog
About a month ago, Kathleen and I attended an author program featuring author Craig Grossi and his well-traveled canine brother, Fred. The amazing story he shared in his maybe half-hour of comments has stayed with me. Turning points in people's lives always get my attention, and this book chronicles some cosmic ones for this young … Continue reading A Good Read and a Good Dog
MORTAL THINGS Publication Date & Cover Reveal!
Mortal Things has been a constant in my life for more than three decades. It began in the late eighties as a short story, which morphed into a novella then into a novel. Set during a time of changing values and beliefs and in a Philadelphia neighborhood known for its diversity of ethnicity, race, and social … Continue reading MORTAL THINGS Publication Date & Cover Reveal!
TURNING POINTS—”Finding Our Voices”
We all experience points in our lives that prove pivotal. Those moments are not always obvious to us at the time. For a woman in Maine’s town of Camden, it is not difficult to identify a particular occasion when everything changed. Patrisha McLean’s personal horror that night immediately and permanently impacted her personal life. Since … Continue reading TURNING POINTS—”Finding Our Voices”
TURNING POINTS—THE DIG: Two Ways
Every once in a while, Kathleen plants a book in my hands and gives me that You’d be a fool not to read this immediately look. “It’ll be a break from the other stuff you’re reading,” she said the other day, handing me her library copy of John Preston’s The Dig. “There’s a movie … Continue reading TURNING POINTS—THE DIG: Two Ways