My favorite memories of pencils are going to the school store in seventh grade. Gathering dimes and nickels to buy a new "writing instrument" as some of the teachers called them. The look of them all long and glossy with their shiny collars and clean pink tops. And the selection was amazing. Sparkly pencils, red-white-and-blue … Continue reading Pencil obsession of a graphite groupie

What I didn't know about writing historical fiction back in 2014 could have filled a book. And I guess it did. This wasn't intended to be a how-to, exactly, but I had no idea just how much stuff would come out of my head when I began to retrace my steps this week. Those of … Continue reading How I wrote a historical fiction novel

I did something I haven't done in a very long time yesterday—I baked for the pure pleasure of it. Might sound weird to people who aren't into that sort of thing. But, for those who've come to appreciate the zen qualities of doing a load of dishes, mopping linoleum, dicing onion, peeling carrot, sifting flour, creaming … Continue reading The kitchen is my church

Not that long ago, a man named Eric, someone I don't know, e-mailed me asking how to break into the news business. I've worked a great number of jobs in my life so far. I've done everything from attack dog dummy to cook to mechanic to blackjack dealer to vacuum cleaner salesman. But, this is … Continue reading How to become a (paid) freelance writer

It was in the Spring of 2005, and on one of my first few days on the job. I’ll never forget the call from my boss, who was busy getting that week’s paper off to print. Editor: “Gohs, there’s a 10-77 on the north side of town.” Me: “What’s a 10-77?” Editor: “It means the … Continue reading Getting my first murder right