Deborah Adams's Blog, page 33

The dirty power behind clean vehicles

EarthTalk® From the Editors of E – The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: Why is lithium mining so bad for the environment? — Jane B., Atlanta, GA

Lithium is called “white gold” for good reason: the metal’s value has been growing exponentially over the last several years, in large part because it is an essential component of lithium-ion batteries, themselves indispensable in several key sustainable technologies where energy storage is of utmost importance. As electric cars, wind an...

Writing Advice from Lauren Carr

Lauren Carr has written over twenty-five novels in a multitude of genres, so you can be sure she knows something about what it takes to maintain a writing career. In addition to all the other hats she wears, Lauren took time to offer up some helpful advice to writers here. Thanks so much, Lauren!

What books do you recommend for an aspiring writer?

Stephen King’s On Writing. This book is a memoir. But the second half of the book is devoted to Stephen King’s advice to writers about writi...

Creating friendlier skies

EarthTalk® From the Editors of E – The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: You hear a lot about electric cars and trucks these days, but has there been any carbon-saving innovation lately in trains and even planes? — Michael C., Summit, NJ

Many environmentalists consider travel an environmental “sin” given the carbon emissions generated by the cars, buses, trains and planes we use to get from Point A to B, but it’s up to each of us to determine how much travel is enough. In the mean...

Green sails in the sunset

EarthTalk® From the Editors of E – The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: Since when did cargo ships start using wind power (again)? Does this save us from a lot of carbon emissions? — Bill H. Elizabeth, NJ

To many, sailboats invoke either the 18th century “Age of Sail” or preppy regattas. But some environmentalists and engineers are looking past these connotations and rewiring the art of sailing to suit modern technology.

In fact, the 21st century Age of Sail is already in its ...

Arthur Herbert ~ Three Questions & a Cover

Three Questions and a Cover — a short interview with one of my favorite authors, along with one of the author’s covers.

I know you’re going to love reading this interview with Arthur Herbert almost as much as you’re going to love his new book, The Bones of Amoret. Thanks for being so generous with your advice, Arthur!

What did you remove from the final draft that readers might like to see?

That’s easy, and my answer is making me smile as I type this. The main character in Bone...

Ocean front property may be closer than you think.

EarthTalk® From the Editors of E – The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: What are the most recent projections about sea level rise around the world as a result of climate change? And is there any hope of turning back the tide if we rein in emissions as planned under the current iteration of the Paris agreement? — M. Frey, Milford, CT

As temperatures rise around the world, frozen glaciers and sea ice in the poles are melting at unprecedented rates, inundating the world’s oceans...

Winona Kent ~ Three Questions & a Cover

Three Questions and a Cover — a short interview with one of my favorite authors, along with one of the author’s covers.

Winona Kent is the author of the Lost Time series. Believe, Winona, when I say that your time spent helping the readers here is not lost on any of us. Thanks so much for fitting this interview into your busy schedule.

Have you ever been surprised by a plot or character that doesn’t go where you expected?

Absolutely. And it’s especially true with Ticket to Ride. Yo...

This is your head on climate change

EarthTalk® From the Editors of E – The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: Could climate change really be making my allergies worse?

– – L. Pulaski, New Bern, NC

Pollen may be an unfortunate contributor to poor health in the first place, but there are signs that this nuisance will become worse. Warm weather contributes to an uptick in pollen count, and air pollution can concentrate it. Climate change is now a known contributor to changes not only in the seas and atmosphere but als...

You ain’t woman enough to take my (yoga) mat

This originally appeared in 2017, and is reposted here by request

 Here’s a sentence I never imagined I’d see: There’s a yoga festival at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch!

 
So how on earth did THAT come about? Well, it started several decades ago when Loretta Lynn, the coal miner’s daughter from Butcher Hollow, Kentucky, bought a house and land in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. Over time, this evolved into Loretta Lynn’s Ranch, an open-to-the-public venue that hosts several events throughout the year...

The Challenges of Writing About Babe Ruth

I’m thrilled to have this guest post from Jonathan Weeks, author of a new collection of stories about legendary baseball player Babe Ruth. Thanks so much, Jonathan, for making time for this blog.

There is a wealth of material available about the life and times of Babe Ruth. He generated more literature than just about any player in baseball history. But it wasn’t always easy for me to get my hands on it. Since Ruth played in the early part of the twentieth century, some of the best books writ...