Why I wrote a book about a guy who wants to kill himself

At the end of the “Parts Unknown” Berlin episode, Anthony Bourdain quoted Samuel Beckett: “You must go on, I can’t go on, I’ll go on.” Except he didn’t go on. Shortly before this episode aired, he hung himself in a French hotel room. I read Kitchen Confidential a few years after it was published and became an immediate fan of — Read More

Throwback Thursday: The AAUW Literary Luncheon

On March 10, I had the honor of speaking at the AAUW Literary Luncheon in Laguna Beach. I’m always a big ball of anxiety leading up to these events, even though I end up having a great time. I never learn. My fellow authors included Elizabeth Letts, New York Times bestselling author of The Eighty-Dollar — Read More

Drumroll, please. Book #2 cover is here!

I am so excited to share the cover for book #2! The release date for Cherry Blossoms is October 30. It will come out as a hardcover, paperback, and e-book on the same day so you can take your pick. Here’s the official synopsis (I consider it “official” when it’s on Amazon): From the author — Read More

My favorite female authors

In honor of International Women’s Day, I wanted to share some of my favorite contemporary female authors. Who are your favorites? Here they are (from top, left to right), along with the books that made me love them: Maggie O’Farrell–After You’d Gone; The Hand That First Held Mine; I Am, I Am, I Am Liane — Read More

When the muse drops by and you’re like, “I’m busy”

Most creative types know that a visit from the ever-elusive muse is a welcome and wonderful thing. You can’t always control when inspiration strikes. It comes and you take advantage of it because you don’t know when it will come again. Unless you’re busy. Then it might not be realistic to strike while the proverbial — Read More

The beat goes on

The little one is napping, so here I am. One of the most humbling things about motherhood (and there are lots of humbling things) is admitting that I have so much less control over my schedule. I used to pride myself on my productivity. I would wake up with a specific to-do list and if I — Read More

Women writing men

My next novel, Cherry Blossoms, has a male narrator. I didn’t plan to write a story with a man’s voice; it just came to me that way. This story, like most of my stories, started with one line: “I have eight months to live.” And the character saying that line in my head just happened — Read More