Laura Benedict's Blog, page 14

No, You’re Crying Because You Read Louise Penny’s Novel, Glass Houses.

How was your weekend? Did you spend it reading, playing, exercising, or working?

I spent a lot of time online tracking Hurricane Irma, worrying about friends and relatives in Florida. I also read stories about thefts of recovery supplies in Texas, and looting in Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando. Who does that? I hope there’s a special a**hole penalty in the sentencing process for the people they catch.

 

Image via Parade.com

 

Last week I wrote about some books that recently made me cry. This first...

Sunday, 10 September 2017

 

“Honor your commitments with integrity.”– Les Brown

The post Sunday, 10 September 2017 appeared first on Laura Benedict.

Saturday Serendipity, 9 September 2017

 

Serendipity makes a life worth living.

 

The Serendipitous Part

Good advice on where to send financial help for Hurricane Harvey victims

Paris thieves steal valuable wine by breaking in via the Catacombs. Sounds like a movie.

We lost two country music stars this week: Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry, and legend Don Williams. And yesterday was Patsy Cline’s birthday.

A piece about Walter Becker, the less vocal half of Steely Dan. He died this week too. One of my favorites.

Happy music makes...

Beethoven and A Lesson In How To Make Pizza

Thanks for all your honest comments about books that made you cry as a kid. So many I had forgotten, particularly Charlotte’s Web. Over at my Facebook page, Where the Red Fern Grows came up many times. I think it wins.

I spent much of today working on my next newsletter. I realized I haven’t had one out since January, and so many great things have been happening. If all goes according to plan, soon I’ll have 2 books and 3 new short stories for you in the pipeline. If you’re subscribed (easy t...

Stories to Make a Kid Cry

I finished three books in the past week that made me cry.

I pride myself on not being a crier over fictional stories–at least I don’t cry because I stay the hell away from stories that might leave me sobbing. Films are often the worst culprits. Sometimes I get trapped into watching tragic films with other people–films that I would never choose to watch on my own–and I have to pretend I’m having a coughing fit and leave the room.  It all started with Dumbo. I was mostly terrified of Dumbo when...

White Shoes After Labor Day: Can You Do It?

I can’t do it. Even though I wore a linen tunic and white leggings today, I could NOT bring myself to wear white shoes. This was going to be the year when I broke one of the biggest fashion rules out there: wearing white shoes after Labor Day.

Why would I even conceive of such an idea? I don’t know. It’s the rebel in me, I guess. Yet there’s nothing safer than rebelling against rules that most people stopped following back in 1985.

It’s nice to have a few fashion rules. Rules separate us from...

I’m Back!

Hello, darlings. Mother is back! (I’ve always wanted to say that. It sounds so 1940s elegant, yes?)

Have you had a fabulous summer? So much has been happening in the world, and I’ve mostly been here, watching it all. Most importantly for me, though, has been time spent with my family. This was my son’s last high school summer, and I drove down to Texas to settle my daughter in her new home. And I saw my parents a couple of times, including a visit from them for the August 22nd eclipse.

I’ve b...

In the Handbasket: J.T. Ellison Gets Scary With THE ENDARKENING

(I’m crazy for this cover! -LB)

Dearest Reader,

As you know, I’m on a break. My BFF, the incredibly talented, bestselling, award-winning writer (too much? nope–she’s all that and more), J.T. Ellison, is here today to tell you the secrets behind her brand new, terrifying story, THE ENDARKENING. Enjoy! –LB

 

The Endarkening of an Artist

Many years ago, I had a terrible, awful, wake-up-screaming nightmare. It was so vivid, so visceral, I felt like I’d tapped into something truly evil, and I mean...

Laura’s Summer Sabbatical: Do Carry On!

 

Begonias–always so cheerful and dignified–mean summer to me.

 

Over the past six months, these daily blogs have become something I very much look forward to writing. Even when I’m traveling, on deadline, or busy at home. Your sweet words and enthusiasm keep me going, and I love hearing about what’s going on with you, too.

After parenting, my biggest job is writing. I love all my jobs. This summer, though, I need to prioritize the novels I’m working on. There are three: One Last Secret which...

Daily Handbasket: Crazy Taxi

 

What my dream was like, except the world was coming at me at 50 mph.

 

Dream: I was in a theater with my daughter watching a horror film I’d seen before. I left my seat, and next thing I knew, I was careering down a NYC street on a cab. Not *in* a cab. My butt was planted in the driver’s open window, my legs were unanchored, and I was hanging on to the roof for dear life. I begged the driver to let me inside, but he kept telling me we were almost there. He slowed to pick up his daughter, bu...