American author, journalist, naturalist, and social activist -- Jack London It's difficult to write almost anything -- a story, an essay, a poem, even a grocery list -- without doing some research. You might need to know a respectable performance time for bronco-riding or perhaps the date of the Parliament Hill Fire in Ottawa. Perhaps you need to spend an afternoon watching the rhythm of ocean waves, or check a recipe to make sure you have all the ingredients. There are so m

There are many thousands of writers out there, and each one approaches storytelling in a different way. That's a good thing. It means that all readers can find books that appeal to them -- though not every book will appeal to all readers. Some readers love description. They want to know every variety of flower in a garden and every outfit the protagonist wears. Some crave action. For them it's the plot that grabs their attention, and they're likely to skip over the descriptio

Happy New Year! I offer this greeting with sincere good wishes, for what can be better than a new beginning -- a chance for a do-over, a magic eraser, a fistful of plans, and renewed hope? Some might claim it's just another day, and to them I say, "Ppllllllllpp!" (Not sure how to spell the sound of a raspberry, but I'm sure you get my drift.) It's time to put the disappointments of 2025 behind us, gather up the parts we wish to carry forward, and venture into the unexplored