Aaron Tillman's debut novel, Lucy Miles Photogenic Mind, combines literary fiction, mystery, and magical realism—but he never wanted the mystery to overshadow the people at the heart of the story. Read why he chose to leave some questions answered, others unresolved, and let the characters themselves remain the deepest mysteries. What: Currently, the What I’m focused on is my debut novel, … [Read more...]
The calendar doesn’t care about distinctions between grief and joy
What does it mean to celebrate a milestone when someone you love isn't here to join you? My second novel is being released on October 27, 2026. That in itself should not feel emotionally complicated, but it is for me. Is it possible to be excited about something when October is approaching? Does happiness feel different when grief has marked my calendar? September 29, 1979 is my eldest … [Read more...]
Writing eccentric characters in fiction
Many thanks to Barbara Bos for publishing this essay. Women Writers, Women’s Books does a wonderful job helping promote authors and their books. You can be a disaster and still get invited to the fish fry! As a reader, I’ve always been drawn to stories where healing doesn’t arrive as an epiphany or a makeover montage. As a writer, I wasn’t interested in giving Serenity a wise mentor … [Read more...]
The Power of One Well-Placed “F*ck”: restraining profanity for character, tone, and impact in fiction
Going nearly F-free The only “f*ck” in my second novel doesn’t appear until page 180. A character shouts it in anger, punctuating a pivotal moment. The same character, a cantankerous retiree, delivers the only “shit” in the book so casually that it startles. My aim was to give those two scenes power. So for me, the challenge in writing this story wasn’t deciding whether or not to include … [Read more...]
Drunken sailors, sea shanties, and what does “Weigh heigh and up she rises” mean anyway?
A Writer's Curiosity: When I was working on edits for Love and Other Incurable Ailments, I had to research the song, “What Do You Do with a Drunken Sailor.” First, I had to be certain the lyrics were in public domain. But then I began to wonder what this even means: Weigh Heigh and up she rises,Weigh Heigh and up she rises,Weigh Heigh and up she rises,Early in the morning. I’m glad I … [Read more...]
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