How deep do I dig into my own experience, in my own voice, when crafting a story? If I go too deep, will the reader disconnect?Take The Fish Dress, where a mother caught in an abusive marriage tries to hold the family together for the sake of the child and in a needy way, the …
An experienced sailor knows what to do when a sudden strong wind hits straight on, threatening to take her off her desired course. Rather than abruptly turning away from the wind, the sailor turns the bow of the boat toward and through the mighty gusts. By doing so, the direction from which the wind blows …
In early 2020, my publisher confirmed that The Fish Dress, my debut novel, would be released on October 27, 2020. I booked the perfect place for my launch event right away—near the ocean, in keeping with the setting of the book. I had worked hard on The Fish Dress for ten years and was more …
With the shift from summer to autumn upon us, I’ve been thinking about nature’s seasonal archetypes. Winter, the Sage, the wise woman elder; she discards all that no longer serves her and holds onto the powerful life force necessary for rebirth. Spring, symbolized by New Beginnings. Summer, with its bold Warrior spirit, and soon to …
I’ve been pregnant with The Fish Dress for over ten years. One day, while living in Maine, my sister and I were on a hunt for used dishes, books, and vintage clothing at the local thrift shop. I spotted a black and white dress etched with fishbones and mysterious symbols, and I had to have …
Note: Read more about Jodi Picoult and her paperback book launch of A SPARK OF LIGHT, in my previous blog post (10-02-19) Jodi Picoult shared her writing process with us. She experiences a “moving visual”, scene by scene, and describes it as “like watching a movie”. She imagines her characters walking through a stream of …
Sharing Our Abortion Stories Recently, I had the pleasure of catching Jodi Picoult and author Louann Rice at Guarde Arts Center in New London, Connecticut. It was a casual conversation around Jodi’s latest novel, A SPARK OF LIGHT, but it spanned much more: issues around women’s reproductive rights, the writing process, Jodi’s next book, and …
Read more “Author Jodi Picoult Launches Paperback Book Tour”
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