Late on a Sunday night and I am writing in my journal at the kitchen table. I have just finished “The Sun Also Rises,” the debut novel by Ernest Hemingway which caused such a stir back in 1926. But I was not imressed. A bearded, ghostly presence is at my shoulder. And he is notContinue reading “Bustin’ It With Ernie H.”
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A Cautionary Tale
As part of my Sisters In Crime membership, I take part in a book club once per month. This month we were to read a novel which is about the 20th in the series. I am not going to name the novel, as I don’t have good things to say about it, and why startContinue reading “A Cautionary Tale”
Had it.
I’ve spent the last two months revising a novel I wrote about eight years ago. For being the product of my young and impressionable mind (I was sixty), it’s pretty good. Except. Well, I have this quirk. I use the word “had” a lot. I mean, a lot. I mean at least three times aContinue reading “Had it.”
A Character’s Character
Reading a mystery book for my Sisters In Crime book club. (Yes, little one, I am a member of SIC. It’s an excellent organization and is broad-minded enough to allow the stinky men in the door so long as we don’t cause trouble and clean the dishes after the meeting.) In this book, which IContinue reading “A Character’s Character”
Mozart In Barstow
For those of you starving for fiction, here is a link to a short story recently published on the web. I think we can all relate. Mozart in Barstow Have a good trip.
Ten Mistakes You Make On A Job Interview
A friend of mine recently went through a job interview. She thought she did great until I asked her some questions. Turns out, she made some classic blunders, like invading Russia in late autumn or assuming those trees on the hills weren’t really archers in disguise. So as a service to my readers, here areContinue reading “Ten Mistakes You Make On A Job Interview”
Just Add Chocolate
The cat ran off with your wallet. The dog brought home a friend. Your boss won’t answer your calls and your keys to the office don’t fit anymore. Got a problem? Just add chocolate. Oh, sure, those stuffed shirts in psychology will tell you to go get therapy. They’ll tell you that your problems willContinue reading “Just Add Chocolate”
An Old Friend
The lady in the photo above is my old friend Minerva. Back in 2017 she saved my writing life by inspiring me to write a novella which won the Black Orchid Novella Award. Good timing, too, because I had just lost my job in Placer County. But I have vowed never to utter that firm’sContinue reading “An Old Friend”
The Devil and Me
The Devil and I are old friends, though we disagree on politics. I like the party that wants to help people live better lives. He likes the party of chaos. These days, though, the Devil is having a hard time. The internet has made him irrelevant. Every time I see him, he’s grumbling about theContinue reading “The Devil and Me”
Why Dreams Don’t Come True
In Greek mythology, Sleep and Death are twins. All I can say is, I hope not. When I sleep I have dreams. I’d like to say “weird dreams,” but all dreams are weird. They’re nothing like the dreams we see in movies or read about in books. They never point the way, answer questions, tellContinue reading “Why Dreams Don’t Come True”
Mark Bruce, Writer 