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Blog postA friend told me she does not plan on voting in November 2020. She's sick of the corruption in Washington, has lost faith in the system, and believes her vote will not count. Why should I waste my time going to the polls or mailing in a ballot, she asked. I attempted to explain why that was a really bad decision but she wasn't hearing me. Now, as I write this, I realize I wasn't hearing her either. As the adage goes, voting is a right and not a privilege. Likewise, not voting is equally a right
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Blog postChoosing which book to read on our 4th president was a bit challenging, but I settled on Richard Brookhiser's "James Madison" partially because it was only 250-pages versus the 800-page tomes I have been tackling. I opted for this "beach read" (as one reviewer called it) and I was not disappointed. There was little about Brookhister's book I did not like, including the length. I have read books by other accomplished biographers including McCullough, Isaacson, Chernow and
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Blog postA little over fourteen years ago I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I never cried over fear of dying. Instead, I cried because I missed my childhood poodle, Jennie. A couple of days after I completed my final chemotherapy session, I set out to buy myself a gift. It took a few weeks to find him, but I eventually came home with Frisco, a ten-week-old, three pound grey poodle. He was a fiery sort. The veterinarian told me at our first appointment that if he were a Rottweiler she would suggest I
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Blog postOna Judge was enslaved by the Washingtons. When she was to be given to Martha's very difficult daugther, Ona escaped. Despite the Washingtons' efforts, she was never recapatured. "Never Caught: The Washingtons' Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge" by Erica Armstrong Dunbar tells the story of this amazing woman. My friend told me about Ona Judge and I knew learning about her was a necessary detour from my presidents project. As you know if you have been following my blo
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Blog post"Thomas Jefferson, The Art of Power" by Jon Meacham was the 4th book I have read in my quest to read a biography on each president in order, with some detours. Having read and blogged about Chernow's book on Washington, McCullough's book on Adams and Isaacson's bio of Benjamin Franklin, I was not looking forward to reading about Jefferson since the predecessor books did not always paint him in a favorable light. I was pleased, however, to find Meacham's book to be thorough, though
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Blog postFor the third book I've read in my passion project on the presidents, I chose "John Adams" by David McCullough and complimented it by watching "John Adams", the mini-series on Amazon Prime (never going ahead of the book) and by reading letters written between Adams and Abigail published at the Massachusetts Historical Society website. (Letters by Jefferson are there too, plus a host of other interesting stuff). McCullough crafts a sentence
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Blog postIn my quest to read a book on all the presidents, I finished Chernow's "Washington, A Life" and decided to detour to Walter Isaacson's "Benjamin Franklin, An American Life" to get the full flavor of this time in American history. Isaacson's writing style is conversational, not pedantic, and challenging enough for me to have to look up a few words. This book was the perfect meat between a George Washington and John Adams literary sandwich. I most enjoyed Isaacson's conclusions
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Blog postBook: "Washington, A Life" by Ron Chernow Podcast: American History Tellers, Season 5, Revolution If you have been following my blog series on American History: President x President, you are aware that I have been wondering, how did we get from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution to where we are today? How have our political parties evolved into a torrent of conflict and violence? How has our country become so divided? Or, I wonder--4 presidential biogr
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Blog postI don't know exactly how I came up with this idea but it involved Laura Linney, one of my favorite actresses. Perhaps it was an article about her that I read, or an interview I heard, but she talked about her role as Abigail Adams in the HBO miniseries "John Adams" and how reading about our founding fathers was learning about American History. Maybe she said something about reading biographies on all the presidents or maybe she didn't, but I decided that's what I would do. I would read
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Blog postI was a young prosecutor when I wrote Forbidden Room, rising at 5 each morning to write and then heading to work. With a red carpet beneath my feet and stars in my eyes, I thought I had the world figured out. I’ve learned since then that we actually know nothing, that each day is unpredictable and brings a surprising mixed bag of happiness and sadness or, if we’re lucky, contentment. When my dad would call and ask what was going on and I would respond, “nothing,” he’d say, “that’s good.” Th
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Blog postI am proud to announce the publication of Bee King, my ninth book. Bee King is a historical novel about the first person diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease in the United States. I wrote it as my thesis while I attended the University of Tampa's low residency program in creative writing and where I obtained my MFA. It was a wonderful program taught by talented writers. I met many amazing fellow students. Bee King is the culmination of my more than thirty years attempting to gain a stro
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Blog postThe swath of Hurricane Irma was so wide that while the storm did not directly hit South Florida, where I live, its effects were devastating. Once again, South Florida made national and international news. Not for all the good we do, but for the bad. This time, it was really bad. Eight residents of a nursing home in Hollywood, Florida died after power went out due to the storm. The story of how a heroic nurse at the hospital acros
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Blog postI always wanted to be a novelist but knew it wasn't a sure way to make a living. I figured I would follow my sister's footsteps and go to law school. That way, I reasoned, I could make a good living and pursue my passion on the side. I hated every moment of law school. I dreaded the Socratic method. Most of the professors and other students were pompous and unfriendly. I went to school, and went home to my apartment where I studied. I tried to join a few study groups, hang out in the
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Blog postI had a friend named Ellen growing up who copied everything I did. She was one year younger than me. Like a sibling who mimicked my every move, she annoyed me. When we were eight and seven years old, respectively, we took showers after a day at the beach. After getting out of the shower, I put the towel around my chest like how my mother did. She copied me. I scoffed and she put it around her waist, like our dads. I bring up this
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Blog postRecently I made my first Muslim friend. Aakifah and I met during a writing workshop. Amid conversations on character development and plotting, we discussed her culture including Ramadan and prayer rituals. We also talked about lone wolves and terrorist groups who massacre in the name of Islam. I didn't mention the American president. I was too embarrassed. Instead, I asked a question that had plagued me about the Muslim community. “Where is the Muslim leader that speaks to the non-Muslim m
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Blog postDuring my first semester at UT, I read “All the Light We Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr and “The Name of the Rose” by Umberto Eco. My goal in studying these novels was to begin to dissect what is historical fiction, what are the elements that make up a historical novel, and why I wish to write in this genre. As I am dedicating my time at UT to studying the historical novel, this annotation is the beginning of my exploration into how I can be the best historical novelist possible. Reading these tw
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Blog postRecently a friend said to me that Hanukkah was a made-up holiday so Jews could get presents like Christians do at Christmastime. I explained that wasn’t true, Hanukkah was for real, and I quickly told him the story of how over 2000 years ago the Jewish Temple was overtaken by Greek-Syrian oppressors and Judaism was outlawed. Jews rebelled and the temple was liberated. To celebrate the event a menorah was lit, however there was only enough oil to burn for one day. The miracle occurred when the c
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Blog postI have a ten-pound gray poodle and two cats. They are sweet and affectionate, adorable and playful. From Frisco, I get unconditional love and writing breaks when we go for walks. Bruno is my big gray and white striped baby who loves to cuddle and Dante, my black cat, is a gentle angel. Like most siblings, they fight. It’s why I’m glad they don’t have cell phones, and thumbs. Not only would I have to endure their endless texts, they’d use up all the minutes on our family plan and leave none for
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Blog postIt is said that everyone has one true love in life, but I have learned this is not true as I have fallen in love many times. As a child, I was in love with my parents who protected, nurtured and guided me. Dad made up bedtime stories that carried into daytime hours. Mom encouraged me to be brave and try new things: food, activities, and friends. They told me I could achieve anything. When I was eight years old, I wrote my first book about the weather. I covered two pieces of cardboard with wa
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Blog postI like cemeteries. There are names for people like me such as tombstone tourist, cemetery hunter, and graver, which are not to be confused with a taphophile who is someone who loves cemeteries and funerals. I dislike funerals. The first rural cemetery, also called a garden cemetery, was Mount Auburn (1831), near Boston, Massachusetts. The second was Mount Hope (1834) in Bangor, Maine where my sister and nephews live. Recently I took a tour of Mount Hope conducted by the Bangor Historical Socie
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Blog postI strive to write the best books and essays possible. I hope my words matter, entertain, make people think, encourage and motivate. I write a weekly blog post to hone my skills and to share my thoughts on topics that intrigue me, concern me, anger me, or make me smile. I write novels to share stories that my brain can no longer corral, and to have an excuse to research topics that interest me and, hopefully, that interest my readers. I attend an MFA program in creative writing to be the best wr
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Blog postMy cell phone rings each weekday morning at 8:30. It is My Person on the other end. “Hi there. How are you?” she asks. “Good. And you?” “Good.” Our chats begin in this mundane fashion each morning. Sometimes we speak for a few moments as one of us has to go, or the connection is bad and we’re frustrated. Other calls last longer. Our conversations contain fluff with details of the evening before, or particulars of what the new day may bring. Our talks are also substantive as we share secrets
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Blog postIf Hillary Clinton were a man and Donald Trump were a woman, this election season would still be remembered as one of the most interesting and absurd presidential campaigns ever. This isn’t because of Donald’s irresponsible statements, it’s not because of trust issues involving Hillary, and it’s not because of Bernie Sanders and the rise of the progressive movement. If our presidential nominees’ genders were switched, with 92 days until November 8th, future civics classes would view this elect
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Blog postThe other day I drove my blue Ford Mustang along Broward Boulevard when, at a stoplight, I heard honking. To my right a twenty-something man in a red Mustang frantically waved for me to roll down my window. I figured he needed directions so I put down the passenger window and leaned toward it, ready to send him on the right path. Instead he said, “Nice car. What year?” “2010,” I told him. “It looks great, but you drive like an old lady.” He cracked up. And so did I. As he got a better look at
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Blog postOur nation is experiencing a tumultuous time of divisiveness, terrorism, racism and prejudice. Over the last half-century, which is my lifetime, we have witnessed countless disturbing images in photographs and videos, on newscasts, over the Internet, and in person. The current polarization seems inevitable due to all we have seen, and has damaged many of the bridges that unite us. Confrontations during the civil rights movement,
Books By Joanne Lewis
Wicked Good
Dec 17, 2013
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