Bridges DelPonte's Blog, page 3

The Heat Is On!

It seems like the whole world is living in a roasting oven this summer. I’m accustomed to the hot, humid, and wet Florida summers, but this year has been very hot and unexpectedly dry. I feel very lucky to have great air conditioning in my condo, unlike my prior New England home that had noContinue reading "The Heat Is On!"

Finally, A Ban on Book Bans!

As an author and former law professor, it’s been so disturbing to see continuing efforts to ban a wide range of books from schools and libraries. Those organizations and politicians who claim to only be protecting parental freedom or liberty are doing so at the expense of everyone else’s freedom and liberty to read materialsContinue reading "Finally, A Ban on Book Bans!"

Tiffany in the Gardens

Since I was a kid, I’ve always loved stained glass. Raised Catholic, it’s an integral part of most Catholic churches, from colonial Spanish missions in California to the Rose Window at Notre Dame, stained glass is both an artistic and spiritual form of art. My homes in Massachusetts and Florida have all been decorated withContinue reading "Tiffany in the Gardens"

A Non-Fiction Bend in the Road

Sometimes you’re motoring along with your writing projects. I’ve been working on two women’s fiction novels the past couple of years and querying agents about them. It’s a glacially-slow process that drags on for months, sometimes years. I often wonder if I’ll ever hear from those who are reviewing my manuscripts. Will it be aContinue reading "A Non-Fiction Bend in the Road"

It’s Surreal at the Dalí

The first time I visited the Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg was in 2003. At that time, I was scouting out cities in Florida where my partner and I might move in the heat of the summer. Back then, the museum was housed in a refurbished marine warehouse next to USF on the harbor. OurContinue reading "It’s Surreal at the Dalí"

Rising Star? I’ll Take It!

Happy 2023! With the holidays firmly in the rear view mirror, it’s back at the keyboard in earnest. I’ve been gently nudging agents who are looking at full or partial manuscripts of my latest work, The Remade Bridesmaid. I’m also querying like crazy to other agents and meeting with my fellow authors in the SWContinue reading "Rising Star? I’ll Take It!"

Turning No-Show Lemons into Lemonade.

A book signing can be a good news/bad news situation for any author. The good news is that you still have a bookstore in your community and the bookstore is willing to stock your book and hold an author signing event. The bad news is after all of your marketing efforts and RSVP responses areContinue reading "Turning No-Show Lemons into Lemonade."

Appreciating the Creative Impulse

This year, in the wake of COVID, I made a concerted effort to explore the arts scene in SW Florida. Throughout the year, I checked out a variety of different art exhibits and installations with friends and family. The Venice Chalk Festival, Ringling Art Museum, Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, Stickwork at the Naples BotanicalContinue reading "Appreciating the Creative Impulse"

Persistence Finally Pays Off!

Like a lot of authors, I’ve been writing since I was a kid–poems, family Christmas plays, short stories. A career as a lawyer and then a legal educator required a great deal of reading and writing in my daily work life, including publishing a slew of non-fiction legal and business articles and textbooks for traditionalContinue reading "Persistence Finally Pays Off!"

Keeping Up with Copyright!

On September 10, 2022, I made an educational presentation about Copyright Basics for Authors to Southwest Florida members of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. As a former law professor, I really enjoy helping authors learn more about their rights to their works. It was a highly interactive session with a great group of women who are writing inContinue reading "Keeping Up with Copyright!"