The Joys and Perils of Writing a Sequel

Before I wrote the first word of my first novel, Virgin Snow, I knew it needed to be a trilogy and what it would be about. The idea was to follow the journey of the main character, Cosi McCarthy, a West Side girl from Buffalo, as well as the trajectory of the city itself, across […]

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Wanakah Country Clubhouse

When the West Side Goes to Wanakah

Every summer, when we packed up the old station wagon and made our annual trek to our summer cottage near Point Breeze, we would pass by a very large property on Route 5 that had a magnificent view of Lake Erie. There are two stone pillars near the entrance of the estate with the words, […]

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Talking to the Dead in Lily Dale

For many years had I heard of a town, just 60 miles south of Buffalo, where you could not only pay your respects to the dearly departed—you could talk to them too. Lily Dale, NY is a small community of people who practice the Spiritualist religion. Founded in 1879 by a group of believers looking […]

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