The Art of Handwriting

My own handwriting was abysmal until I took a few lessons in calligraphy. I never mastered calligraphy, but my handwriting improved and could even look pleasing, as well as legible. Almost all of my published work has been written by hand in its first drafts, and even though I'm able to compose on the screen, I keep getting pulled back to writing by hand. Philip Hensher, in this essay, tells us why handwriting even now, with keyboards and tablets and smartphones and texting, still matters and is worth cultivating.

Birding

This week I came to appreciate that iconic Sesame Street character, Big Bird, all the more. My local NPR station, WAMC, is now in the middle of its fall fund drive and has acquired a great fundraising tool in Mr. Romney's statement during the first Presidential debate. For renewing my membership, I'll be getting a Big Bird beanbag.

A Redesign at E-Reads

E-reads.com, where many of my books are available in electronic and print-on-demand editions, is getting a facelift. The new site will be up on the week of October 8, 2012.

Interview at Heroines of Fantasy

A new interview with me, conducted by Karin Gastreich, author of Eolyn (Hadley Rille Books) is up at Heroines of Fantasy.

UPDATE (September 25, 2012): This interview is now up at Earthseed's Facebook page.

Not Wanting To Have Kids Is Normal

Every so often someone has to again point out the obvious: Not every human being is cut out to be a parent. Jessica Valenti argues, at the Atlantic site, that it would be a lot better for both parents and children if our society acknowledged this truth.