Paul Elwork, etc.

Visiting author at Arcadia University Creative Writing Institute

The folks at Arcadia have been kind enough to invite me to participate as a visiting writer at the opening weekend of their Creative Writing Institute. (Special thanks to Josh Isard for this invite.) I'll be doing a reading from The Girl Who Would Speak for the Dead and signing books on Friday, July 8; sitting in on some workshops on Saturday, July 9; and giving a lecture on novel writing on Sunday, July 10. The Friday night reading is open to the public and registration for the institute is open until June 29.

Enough about me: Interview with Michelle Reale at the Bird Sisters blog

Just before Short Story Month 2011 gets away from us, I squeezed in a conversation with short-story writer Michelle Reale, which Rebecca Rasmussen has been hospitable enough to feature on her blog today. Earlier this month I wrote a bit about Michelle's story "What Passes for Normal," my introduction to her work. I found more to praise in her other pieces of flash fiction--her eye for striking, telling details; the compelling emotional dynamics--and asked her to do a little interview with me. Thanks for indulging me, Michelle and Rebecca.

Appearance on the Debutante Ball blog

The lovely ladies at the Debutante Ball blog gave me a guest post, which appeared this past Saturday. The questions are fun and thought-provoking questions; hopefully my answers return in kind. Special thanks to Eleanor Brown for arranging all of this!

Q&A on Good Reading Magazine blog

Here's a Q&A I did for the Australian release of my novel. And, um, crikey. Hell, I don't know--but this is pretty cool to see.

My turn on the Fierce & Nerdy blog

I had fun taking my crack at the recurring Fierce Anticipation column over at Fierce & Nerdy. I am sometimes one and always the other. Not only is this one of the best blog names out there, it's also sported by a site packed with lots of cool content. Take your nerdiness on over, if you've got some time to kill. I talk about a celebrated recent novel (The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown), a thunder-god flick release, and the snubbing of a deserving fast-food corporation.

Guest post on historical accuracy in fiction at C. W. Gortner's Historical Boys blog

I wrote a piece about the whole issue of historical accuracy in fiction, my personal take on the matter, and how it relates to my novel, The Girl Who Would Speak for the Dead. There's even an anecdote from the trenches of reading/signing events. And C. W. Gortner, kindly soul that he is, has featured it on his Historical Boys blog today. Sidenote: This is one handsome blog and every little detail on the page is striking. An example to slackers like myself...

Q&A with Buffy Holt about my novel, etc., at Plain Simple English

Buffy Holt has been nice enough to feature The Girl Who Would Speak for the Dead at her blog, Plain Simple English--both in kind words about the novel and in a Q&A. I say some stuff about some stuff. Please check it out, if you've got a minute, along with the other content Buffy has up on her page.

Short Story Month: Michelle Reale's "What Passes for Normal"

Just read "What Passes for Normal" by Michelle Reale at SmokeLong Quarterly. Wow--I'm still taking it in. The language is careful and tender without being sentimental, brutal without being heartless. Her words are so vivid and sparse; heart-breaking observations from a child's point of view that ring true and sound deep. I could list examples here, but I'd rather you take a look at this flash piece (just over 1,000 words) yourself. Bravo, Michelle. This is haunting stuff I won't forget.

My take on responsible reading at the Girlfriends Book Club blog

Responsible reading? Get the @#%! out of here, right? Wait--hear me out at the Girlfriends Book Club blog. Gosh, that would be nice.

My turn at the 1/2 Dozen on Julianna Baggott's blog

I had fun answering thoughtful questions for the 1/2 Dozen feature at Baggott & Asher & Bode. Many thanks to Julianna Baggott for letting me join in.