I've read three middle grade novels by Cynthia Lord over the past few weeks. She has a very distinctive, gentle style. One that features the concerns of Tweens, no matter how small, and makes them seem extraordinarily important. Of the three I read, HALF A CHANCE will stay with me the longest. Synopsis of Half … Continue reading Half a Chance – Middle Grade Book Review
Despite the fact that "salamander" reminds me of slander, and that the definition of "sully" falls in line with slander, I am entering the Sully Competition because I—well, who can resist entering a competition where one of the prizes is an official Sully certificate from the fabulous Mike Allegra, children's book author, playwright, freelance writer … Continue reading The Salamander-ish Sully Competition
So I spent last night in the presence of death and two exes: exhilaration and exhaustion. And with a marvelous improvisational violinist, Shira Kammen, whose ephemeral music was fitting for the occasion. There were others there with me, an auditorium filled with people, to discuss the "usefulness" of poetry as a way of transforming end-of-life … Continue reading Poetry and Death
Jilanne Hoffmann 