Linda K Sienkiewicz

Writing life, line by line

On Being Contrary in PT: No way am I doing that

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I once asked my husband if he thought I was contrary. “What, are you kidding?” he said. When I think about it, my mother could be quite contrary, too. She was generous and loving, but she did not like being told what to do. I remember when she was in her nineties and living in assisted living. She ended up in the hospital with compression fractures of the spine and came home with a … [Read more...]

The John B. Sails: From Bahamian Folk Song to Beach Boys Classic

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All in a day of doing writer's research What writer hasn't fallen down a rabbit hole of research? This one started innocently with song lyrics from Sloop John B, used in my novel Love and Other Incurable Ailments, a story set in the fishing village of Ocracoke. A fellow writer cautioned me that I might need permission to use the lyrics, supposedly from The Beach Boys. Many a writer has … [Read more...]

Author Robin Blackburn on Midlife Reinvention and Writing in Big Chunks

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What happens when a lifelong writer finally decides it's time to tell the stories she's always wanted to write? In this edition of What, Why, How: Inside Writing, Robin Blackburn shares how journaling, blogging, and a love of Lake George inspired her debut novel, Second Courses, why she embraces writing in big bursts instead of every day, and what readers can expect from her heartfelt stories of … [Read more...]

My husband doesn’t read my books—and why it doesn’t matter

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Confession: I don't ask my husband to read my books. They aren’t the kind of books he enjoys. Loving me doesn’t require loving my sentences. I’ve learned reading isn’t the only proof of support. Take that photo above: he’s fixing my standing desk, wearing a sweatshirt that reads Warrior Strong. What counts as support, really? And what if your loved ones don’t support what you do? For me, … [Read more...]

The human at the other end of the dog’s leash

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Obviously this dog is love-starved: Cowboy has never met a stranger. I can't say the same. I still hesitate before talking to people I don't know. Cowboy has no such concerns. He simply assumes everyone is worth meeting. Meanwhile, I'm not sure they want to meet me. They ask, "How old is he?" "What's his name?" "Is he always this friendly?" I'm happy to answer, but there's always that moment … [Read more...]