Read Harder, Read Differently
Like many, I find myself falling into book ruts. I'm not talking about while I'm researching a novel—that's unavoidable—but in my pleasure reading. On the Debutante Ball, we listed our favorite books of 2015. Not surprisingly, my list had seven historical novels, one...
Thursday’s Things: Miami Beach
My friend and writing group partner, Sarah, has begun a sort-of daily gratitude journal and my fellow Debutante writer, Louise is posting on Instagram a daily gratitude as part of the 365 Grateful project. The idea is we'd all be happier if we took the time to notice...
Etiquette on Encountering an Authoress
As you are all undoubtedly aware, I am about four months out from the publication of my novel Modern Girls. And once it's out, and I am indeed a published author, you might find yourself thinking, "Self, now the Jennifer is a published author, just how should I behave...
The Relics of the Past for a Hipster Tween
On Thursday, the boy came running in from school. "MOM!" he shouted from the front door. "We saw the coolest thing today. This kid in my class brought in [thing] and it was so amazing. Do we have one?" I was hurrying to get ready for a meeting, and I said, "Yes, we...
Kuchen Kuchen Koo: More Baking Like Bubbe
Because the last baking attempt was such a success (meaning the raccoons that got into the garbage seemed to enjoy the kindlech as no one else in the family did), I decided to try again, this time attempting kuchen, or coffee cake, still using the 1941 Jewish Cook...
Swedish Meatballs and Me
While most of the U.S. population thinks "Swedish," and they imagine Muppets, meatballs, and Ikea, I hope they will now think "literature." Because I'm thrilled that I had an essay translated into Swedish—my first translation! I was approached by an editor who asked...
Squirrels, Revision Dances, and Relief
The other morning, I came back from an early morning run, tired and needing to do more writing. Yet as I walked up to the house, I noticed a squirrel moving oddly. I watched the squirrel as it slowly and carefully made its way to our front yard. Where it promptly...
Revisions, Research, and Why I Have a Tummy Ache
Those who know me, know that my big complaint from when my kids went to camp last summer was that I didn't have a project to work on and I didn't get to have Oreos for dinner. My novel was on submission and I was too antsy to really be working on something new. And...
Cooking with Snow, Making Sport of Mice, and Other Household Tips
I'm revising Modern Girls, and in the course of making changes, I'm doing a lot of research. So far I've looked at an early 1900s NYC streetcar map, researched Socialist speakers in the 1930s, and am trying to draw that fine distinction between a café and a club on...
To Read or Not to Read: The “Go Set a Watchman” Dilemma
The Museum of Science currently has an exhibition on Pixar and the development of their animated films. I took my kids to see it right after we had watched Inside Out. For those in the Boston area, the exhibit is fascinating, with much to see, watch, and try (and it's...
