FORENSICS 168: SHINING A LIGHT ON AGE 19 Aug 2013 | 05:29 pm

This essay might be of special interest to writers of detective and mystery novels who would like to enrich their stories by providing their readers with a gift of extra details. It might also be of g...

Nil Illegitimi Carborundum 17 Aug 2013 | 01:57 pm

I first saw that phrase on a “sampler” hanging from the wall in a co-worker’s office some 20 years ago. My mother studied Latin in school—my sister, who is 12 years older than me might have, too—but I...

Thomas Sullivan: DRINKING THE WILD AIR 15 Aug 2013 | 09:32 pm

By popular request, Q & A returns!  Can’t say I blame you for taking control of this column.  Your emails are much more interesting than any direction I would head solo.  As always, I appreciate the m...

Gone again this month. Will catch up when I get back in town. Happy August! 2 Aug 2013 | 10:54 am

DANCING WITH MY FATHER ON THE RIVER ONE SUMMER NIGHT 30 Jul 2013 | 08:00 pm

Forgive me, but I have spent the last two months watching the life ebbing slowly and painfully out of my father. My own life and whatever creative juices there are have been put on temporary hiatus wh...

FORENSICS 167: ANOTHER STAR FOR SOCIAL MEDIA 19 Jul 2013 | 06:00 pm

This essay might be of special interest to writers of detective and mystery novels who would like to enrich their stories by providing their readers with a gift of extra details. It might also be of g...

Reprint: Why go to conventions? 17 Jul 2013 | 02:00 pm

[The middle of the month snuck up on me without warning, so I haven't had time to prepare an essay for July. I decided to go back several years to my July 2007 column, which is apropos because, tomorr...

Thomas Sullivan: UNINVENTING THE TELEPHONE or SAVE THE GAY BABY WHALES FOR JESUS 15 Jul 2013 | 09:41 pm

OK, I admit I had my fun for a long time.  But I never would’ve done it if I wasn’t serious…if I wasn’t thinking ahead to a compatible relationship for the rest of my life.  It was just so…so seductiv...

AIM FOR THE HEART (Due to illness this month, I’m belatedly sharing a reprint from an earlier post on October 2, 2011) 6 Jul 2013 | 11:30 am

There are a few pieces of advice that get bandied about regularly when it comes to honing your craft and Write What You Know habitually tops the list. It shows up as a point of discussion in writing m...

The Mythi(ing) LInks… 30 Jun 2013 | 08:00 pm

So then. Neil Gaiman on ten mythological characters who haunt him. In the Guardian article, he says, “It’s hard to say exactly where myths end and folk tales and religions begin. I like to think tha...