Robin Brande, Author, Dog Lover, Coffee and Chocolate Addict. Living an Interesting Life.

Fiction author Robin Brande talks about writing, reading, and other vital matters

For writers, readers, and independent thinkers–book and story reviews by writers and readers, writers’ motivational articles, war stories from the publishing trenches, literary trends, religious controversies, free chocolate, and more.

Archive for the 'Reading' Category

Tuesday Book Club

Tuesday, February 19th, 2008

I’ve seriously been in a non-fiction mood this whole year so far. Maybe it’s because I was writing my own novel into January, and now I’m about to start writing another one next week, as soon as the workmen leave my house and I can think of something clever besides BANG BANG BANG POUND […]

Tuesday Book Club

Tuesday, February 12th, 2008

I wasn’t sure if I’d like it, and I loved it.
Julia Cameron’s latest book, The Writing Diet: Write Yourself Right-Size.
Why did I think I wouldn’t like it? I’ve loved all her creativity books, beginning with The Artist’s Way, which completely transformed my life as a writer. In fact, it made me a […]

Tuesday Book Club

Tuesday, February 5th, 2008

Hey, I read a book! Two, in fact! What’s that like?
Seriously, after too long without time to sit down and read, it feels SO good to spend a week or two catching up on books and magazines. Now I remember why they’re so popular.
This was a non-fiction week for me, with I […]

Just curious

Monday, February 4th, 2008

Are any of the rest of you having this problem? I have a HUGE To Be Read pile, stacked high with all the books I’ve meant to get to for the past two or three years, and yet this morning I just ordered seven new books.
Is this another case of the new shiny thing […]

If you’re a fan of Looking for Alaska

Thursday, January 31st, 2008

I’m a fan, for sure. Loved that novel.
But look what’s going on with that right now. I answered the call, and just sent this e-mail:
To whom it may concern:
I am a big prude. I write for teens, but I’m deathly afraid of using the f- word. I don’t write about sex. […]

Do we want a nation of readers, or don’t we?

Thursday, January 31st, 2008

You may have seen the latest School Library Journal article about what’s happening with the Donnell Library in New York City. The library is scheduled to be demolished in May to make way for a new hotel. Fine. Fancy people need a place to stay–we get that.
Not fine is the notion that […]

Tuesday Book Club

Tuesday, January 29th, 2008

Didn’t read a dang thing all week, but I did see sixteen movies at Sundance, so I’d say it was a week well spent.
But I know the rest of you are doing much better on your reading goals for the year. So what did you read this week?
Technorati Tags: Tuesday Book Club, Book […]

Great writing advice from great teachers

Sunday, January 27th, 2008

Our pal Patrick recently attended a writing conference with my favorite writing/business of writing teachers ever, Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch. Also making appearances were best-selling author Stuart Woods and Lori Foster.
Read Patrick’s two posts on the conference. There is some excellent, excellent writing advice in there.
Technorati Tags: Dean Wesley Smith, […]

Tuesday Book Club

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008

I’m like Sara this week, in that I’m going to have to count re-reading my own manuscript four separate times as my reading accomplishment for the week.
And the only thing I’m taking with me on my trip this week is three months’-worth of O Magazine that I’ve never gotten around to yet. […]

Tuesday Book Club

Tuesday, January 15th, 2008

Been a little busy writing my own book, so this is the first book I’ve managed to read this year. But it’s a doozy: Walking the Gobithe latest true-adventure memoir by my heroine Helen Thayer. Thirteen years ago, when she was 50, she was the first woman to travel solo, on foot, […]