Finding Inspiration on the Shores of Lake Erie
This summer, I will find a comfortable piece of driftwood and sit and stare at the water for a while.
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Do People Still Read Physical Books? You Betcha!
This was my first street festival where books, and the readers who love them, were the main attraction.
The Hidden Beauty of Spring Ephemerals in the Appalachians
Why is finding these small, delicate flowers so satisfying that I go looking for them every year?
After Fifty Years, a Different Vietnam
When I was developing the character of Joey, a despondent Army veteran for my novel Virgin Snow, I found it necessary to research and reflect upon the sad time in American history when we were engaged in a war with North Vietnam. The conflict had long-term and debilitating effects on many American military members who served there in support of South Vietnam in the […]
For the Buffalo Bills, It’s Like Groundhog Day
The morning after the Buffalo Bills lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game, I saw the “Agony of Defeat” on many faces.
My “Big Rocks” for the New Year
My New Year’s Resolutions are a way to remind myself that if I don’t make the “big rocks” a priority I’ll never get them done.
Why “La Famiglia e Tutto” (Family is Everything)
Sicilians have a saying—La Famiglia e Tutto (Family is Everything)—and they live by what they say.
What is More Precious than a Lifelong Friend?
I was overlooking an essential ingredient in a long and happy life—the love and support of friends.
The Never-Ending Life of the Veggie Garden
I prefer not to think of the end of the summer growing season as the “death” of our vegetable garden, but as a transition into something new and different.
The Joys and Anxieties of “Stresstember”
I recently learned that September is a month of great trepidation for some people.
Fingy Conners, Wild Bill Donovan, and the “Irish” First Ward
On my most recent trip back to Buffalo, I decided to take a walking tour through a different part of the city.
Saving the Life of a Friend
I sang to the bird, told it not to fear the unknown, and that it was OK to let go of life, whenever it was time.