Early morning in Havana Nothing about Cuba is as expected. As the Cubans say in describing their own country, “it’s complicated.” Even a cup of breakfast coffee can be complicated. […]
One-fruit compote, or the last Christmas Eve standing
I came from a family where the less said about religion the better. My Polish Jewish mother had suffered unspeakable cruelties at the hands of the Nazis, and survived by […]
Yes, please speak!
I’m still reeling from shock regarding #charlottesville, as so many of us are. But it sure didn’t take long for the “circular firing squad” to load up and start firing […]
Fewer Hassles? Don’t make me laugh.
This summer I’m traveling by air on five separate trips. One for family needs, two for business, and two for pleasure. So I figured it’s about time I enrolled in […]
No chocolates or roses. Equal living-wage pay, please.
No roses, chocolates or congratulations, please! Do you know these women? Guess why not! Who was Anita Whitney? Leader and early founder of the American Communist Party, she was an […]
Spotlight: 7 easy places your readers can discover you
I interviewed my book club last night. All are women 50 years old or more, and very much part of my reader demographic. They all read at least a book […]
A new view of old news: Anti-Muslim Fervor is Anti-Semitic
The Facebook-Twittersphere is awash in worry over the current, very ugly anti-Muslim rhetoric. Trump’s comments are only the tip of this nasty iceberg. What’s left unsaid is how the ground […]
Dropping the F-bomb in a poem
I’ve been reading and hearing a lot of poetry lately. I had the incredible honor of hearing our new US Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera a couple of weeks ago, […]
Showing our face to the world
One of the oddest things about being a writer today is the need to post, blog, publicize and talk, not about our books, but about ourselves. Gone are the days […]
Coming out Jewish on Passover
And the best matzo brei recipe ever… In 1967 I came out Jewish with matzo brei. I was twelve when I first tasted the delicacy. Why so late, you may […]
Did you expect the Spanish Inquisition?
Ah, the deathless #MontyPython line! Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisitionnnnn! But in Mexico in the 1600-1700s they most certainly did. I had the great honor of addressing the conference The […]
Heart-wrenching Tale of A Midwife in Puerto Rico, early 1900s
Today I have the rare pleasure of interviewing a famous blogger (The Writing Life) and soon to be famous author! Please enjoy this conversation with Eleanor Parker Sapia, author of […]
When Art Matters #jesuischarlie
As a writer I join the thousands of voices responding to the horrors in France yesterday. I should be better at putting into words the anger and disgust I feel […]
History to Story: touring the blog
If you’re new to my blog, let me introduce myself. I’m a very energetic writer living in Northern California. I spent my childhood in Mexico City, and I write about Colonial Mexico in the late 1600s and early 1700s, and San Francisco in the 1920s. Pretty broad range, you might say, but there are strong connections between the two times.
Adapting and Assimilating: the brilliant photos of Judah Passow
Last night I had the incredible pleasure of visiting an exhibit of photos by Judah Passow, featured in a photography exhibit at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco. The […]
Impermanence, and the more things change
It’s not surprising, at the end of the High Holidays, that my thoughts turn to change. Return again, we sang, return to the land of your soul. So I mused […]
The Worst Violinist in the World
I have been following the release of Living By Ear by Mary Rowen, and thinking about music. She suggested we post videos of ourselves singing. Ahem. You really don’t want […]
Living By Ear
I am delighted to present a book by the mighty fine author, Mary Rowen! Launching on September 16—LIVING BY EAR Living by Ear, a women’s novel by Booktrope author Mary […]
Full moon, new inspiration
Supermoon August 2014 The giant moon (no, I know, it just seems bigger due to some scientific explanation…) rose as we watched from 8200 feet, at the #SquawValley ski resort. […]
Just how published are you?
Very well published, thank you! I spent Saturday at San Francisco’s Litquake #Digi.lit2014, and had the pleasure of meeting writers at all different spots in their careers. Like me, some […]
