Linda K Sienkiewicz

Writing life, line by line

What, Why, How: author Kate Woodworth on writing climate change

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What: Little Great Island tells the story of a small Maine island community needing to reinvent itself in the face of climate change. Told from the point of view of a handful of community members, the story focuses on Harry Richardson, a recent widower and a long-time summer visitor, who wants to sell his family home so he can escape painful memories. Island-born Mari McGavin, on the other … [Read more...]

Magical Realism: Blurring the Lines Between Reality and Wonder

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Why veer into magic realism for a third novel? Magic realism is a literary style that blends the real and the fantastic, presenting extraordinary elements as a natural part of everyday life. Unlike pure fantasy, which creates entirely new worlds, magic realism is rooted in reality, often featuring ordinary settings and characters who accept the magical as normal. Author Susan Sage's previous … [Read more...]

How Diversity in Literature and Teaching Strengthens America

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Missing Voices in High School Lit This post about teaching diversity comes from fellow writer, retired teacher and Detroiter John Jeffire, who graciously allowed me to share it here. As a young person studying American Literature in grade school, I was led to believe that the only literature produced in our country was written by white males. In high school, everything was basically … [Read more...]

When Writer Meets Reader: Intent and Interpretation of Theme

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Theme's the Thing: 5 Points Themes are the universal lessons and abstract ideas that we draw from our own experiences when writing and creating art, as well as when we read, and interpret art. If a friend asks you, "What's your novel about?" you can tell them about the plot, or you can describe the theme. Theme is the main idea, the concept or message in the story. I recently found my notes … [Read more...]

Strangers on the Bus: Public Transit in Lake Effect Snow

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Working in Cleveland in the 70s Powered by a phenomenon called Lake Affect snow, northern Ohio can transform to a hellish snowscape in mere hours. Winters there aren't just challenging, they are relentless and unforgiving, and many are etched in my memory. I went to art school and worked in downtown Cleveland in the seventies. My first job was in the art department at Gallo Displays, and … [Read more...]