Linda K Sienkiewicz

Writing life, line by line

The Buster Brown Shoes that I hated and loved

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Orthopedic shoes: As a kid in the early sixties, I wore Buster Brown orthopedic shoes because my ankles rolled inward and my feet were flat as pancakes. The shoes had padding around a stiff heel cup to keep your foot from rolling. And it worked, too. Buster Brown shoes were constructed of the thickest, toughest leather imaginable. They took weeks to break in. Parents wanted their kid's … [Read more...]

Memorial Day

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On this Memorial Day, we thank the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for ours. As we look ahead to the future, let's not forget the courage and dedication of these honored service members. May their courage and spirit continue to guide us. May we as citizens continue to uphold American values in the fight for equal rights and freedom for all. This is my porch sign for the … [Read more...]

Lawsuit Takes Aim at Book Bans

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Don’t tell me what my kid can’t read “It’s one thing for you to say, ‘I don’t want my child to read this,’” mother Lindsay Durtschi said. “But if you take it from the library altogether, you’re also telling me that my child can’t read this.” To prevent overzealous book censorship, Florida parents filed a lawsuit in federal court on May 17 to stop book bans in school libraries in red-leaning … [Read more...]

Spelling matters

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You want a bar with that bra? "You need a bar that suits you..." with an attractive senior woman next a row of lacy, front closure bras. I spotted this ad on my computer and took a screen shot (note I did not write that I screenshotted it. Screenshotted has to be the most awkward made-up word I've ever heard.) Screen shots aside, it’s true you need a bar that suits you as well as a good … [Read more...]

What, Why, How: Shannon Bowring

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What: Like a lot of aspiring authors, I used to have that dream of one day sitting down, writing a novel, and becoming an instant success. But that’s not how it goes. You’ve got to work your way up to a novel, and I believe writing short fiction is the best way to do that. So many of the basics begin with the short story: Sense of place, tight dialogue, surprising twists, subtle yet poignant … [Read more...]