It Takes A Village to Birth A Novel Part I: The Coven

My writers’ group doesn’t cast spells or do anything that real witches do, but the chemistry among the five of us has a magic all its own, and we’ve taken to calling ourselves the Coven.   Seven years ago when we started meeting monthly over dinner—eating good food being an essential Coven priority—I wasn’t sure…

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Loving My Mother More Now That She’s Gone

A funny thing happened when my mother passed away: I began to feel more unconditional love and compassion toward her than I’d ever felt while she was alive. During her lifetime Irene was famous for being as judgmental as God. And though I wasn’t her sole target—my father held the number one spot until his…

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My Spaghetti-on-the-Ceiling Theory of Book Promotion

What Jonah Knew, my first novel—a psychological thriller about mothers and sons whose lives intersect in mysterious ways—will be published three months from now. I couldn’t be happier. I first had the idea for the book back in the 90’s. And though I’ve written other books and lots of essays and articles since conceiving Jonah,…

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The Joy of Not Knowing

When I began practicing meditation 30 years ago, I discovered the concept of not knowing, which is at the core of the Buddha’s teachings. The idea is that if we take a break from the habitual thought loops that keep our minds spinning like an out-of-control top, we can actually meet the present moment with…

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