Linda K Sienkiewicz

Writing life, line by line

What, Why, How: Laura Hulthen Thomas

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What: I’m a fiction writer and I’ve also written essays. And, like all writers, I do so many other things that, while writing is absolutely central to who I feel I am, it’s only a small part of who my friends, family, and students see. I’m very, very lucky to teach creative writing at the University of Michigan’s Residential College, so most of what I do is read and talk to undergraduates about … [Read more...]

Hungarian Cursing and Humor

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You never know where research will take you: My friend and fellow poet Olga Klekner taught me about Hungarian cursing when I was writing In the Context of Love. As the Hungarian heartthrob Joe tells young Angelica about his immigrant father, “Hungarians curse better than anyone else. No one bothers sending anyone to hell. That’s too gentle. They say, 'May God’s horse put his dick up your ass.' … [Read more...]

What Not to Ask an Author

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The questions that some people think are okay to ask of authors is astounding! How many? How many books have you sold? It's a surprisingly common question authors get asked. Sometimes it's from people who most likely don't know what the numbers even mean. Exactly how many book sales equal "success"? 1,000? 10,000? 100,000 or more? Do they want to know if being an author has made me rich? Do … [Read more...]

First Rehearsal for Listen To Your Mother

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I was so excited - I hadn’t seen the Listen To Your Mother producers Angela Smith Youngblood and Angela Amman since my audition several months ago. The Angelas, as they like to call themselves, filled us in on the production while, one by one, a photographer ushered cast members outside to have our portraits taken. Meanwhile, we casually chatted as we passed cookies and veggies around the table in … [Read more...]

Unlikable Female Characters to Love

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Women who refuse to play nice: Jamie Canaves, author of the list 100 Must-Read Books with Unlikable Women, writes that she loves unlikable female characters in novels: "They refuse to be boxed into the idea of what girls, women, mothers, sisters, and girlfriends should be. They refuse to smile through their problems, to not be a burden, to make the right decisions, to play nice. They are human. … [Read more...]