A Writer’s New Year’s Resolutions

by | Jan 6, 2013 | Uncategorized

I admit, I like making New Year’s Resolutions every January. I’ll make resolutions about teaching my dog to play fetch, about taking a trip to Italy, about going to bed early rather than watching old episodes of “The Walking Dead” until 1:30...

Top Reads for 2012

by | Dec 21, 2012 | Uncategorized

Two things hold true at the end of each year: all book bloggers must, by federal mandate, post a “Top Ten Books of the Year!” list on their blogs, and all of us whether book bloggers or not still have holiday shopping to do. So why not combine the two?...

I Want A President, Not A Buddy

by | Nov 7, 2012 | Uncategorized

Thank God the election is over. If one more automated pollster called me during dinner, I was prepared to go live in the wild on raw deer meat like Sam Gribley in My Side of the Mountain. I have zero interest in recapping the results, exulting or tooth-gnashing over...

Empress of the Seven Hills: The Movie

by | Oct 15, 2012 | Uncategorized

Chris Hemsworth turned 29 not long ago, and I’d like to offer him a belated birthday present: the starring role of the upcoming movie of my latest book, “Empress of the Seven Hills!” Sigh – if only. The fact is, I doubt HBO will be burning up...

2012 Olympics, Ancient Roman Style

by | Aug 3, 2012 | Uncategorized

I don’t know why, but watching sports really brings out the historian in me. Maybe it’s because I edited all of Mistress of Rome with the Tour de France in the background, so the gladiatorial games and the cycling commentary started to mix in the strangest...

Take A Moment On Memorial Day

by | May 27, 2012 | Uncategorized

I admit I have a weakness for warriors, both in real life and in books. In real life I married a 6’2 sailor who boxes and sword-fights in his free time; between the pages of a book, I am drawn to Bernard Cornwell’s unapologetically alpha male soldiers and...