Thank you, Dorothy Parker
Dorothy Parker in 1924, photographed in the backyard of her New York residence
Cheerful Words of Wisdom from Falstaff
During these cold dark days of winter, with ice and sleet in the forecast and Spring more than a month away, we could all use some cheering up. For Ishmael, in the opening paragraph of Moby Dick, that meant it was “high time to get to sea as soon as I can.” For me, it…
From Sancho Panza to Saul Goodman: More Thoughts on the Cage-Free Character
As many of my readers know, I am a big fan of what I have named the Cage-Free Character. Those fictional free-range characters occupy a special place in my library, my own novels, and my heart. What exactly is a Cage-Free Character? He or she typically starts off as a minor character in a novel…
My Answer to the Question of the Month
The editor of Clues, the publication of the Midwest Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America, reached out to me with the following question for its members: “What are your top tips for finding readers once your books are out in the world?” Given that I haven’t been able to quit my day job, I…
Upcoming Appearance at the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival
I am pleased to announce that I will be one of the featured speakers at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, November 12th at the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival, held each year at the Jewish Community Center on 2 Millstone Campus Drive in St. Louis, MO 63146. I will part of the annual “Missouri’s Own!” panel…
Life Lessons from My Dog
Nearly a decade has passed since our beloved dog Kirby died. Just the other day, as I was searching through some old files, I came across a column I wrote on Kirby that was published 20 years ago in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Those lessons he taught me back then remain as true and important…
5 Essential Habits of Successful Writers — A Guest Post
Our guest blogger today is Daniela McVicker, a freelance writers and a contributor to RatedByStudents. Daniela has a master’s degree in English Literature and is truly passionate about teaching. She works with students to help them reveal their writing talents and find one true calling. So join me as we learn more from Daniela. I’ll…
Reality Check for an Aging “Hipster”
{Originally published in the St. Louis Jewish Light.} This happened several years ago: I was gripping the phone, trying to come to come to terms with what I had just heard and, even worse, what it meant. The man on the other end of the phone–a financial officer on the cusp of retirement–had shattered my…
Awesome Role Models for Rachel Gold–and All Women
As I would imagine is true for most authors, by the time we write that very first paragraph of our very first novel, our brains have absorbed massive amounts of fiction in the form of novels, comic books, fairy tales, short stories, motion pictures, and television shows. And this huge warehouse of information will impact…
Just Published: My Latest Book
I am delighted to announce that my latest book, The Art of Conflict: Tales from the Courtroom, has now been published. Co-authored with Alan C. Kohn, the godfather of St. Louis litigators and the veteran of more than 100 trials, our book provides a unique set of perspectives on the trials and tribulations of the…