Linda K Sienkiewicz

Writing life, line by line

I Deleted My Book Trailer Three Times — Here’s What I Learned

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What making a 50-second trailer taught me about revision: When I set out to make a book trailer for Love and Other Incurable Ailments, I didn’t expect the hardest part would be deciding when it was finished. A book trailer is a different kind of storytelling, since it’s built from images, rhythm, and music as much as words. For Love and Other Incurable Ailments, I worked on mine until I … [Read more...]

Creating Community, One Chalkboard Message at a Time

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A coping mechanism that began in 2021: At the height of the pandemic, uncertainty filled the air. We searched for ways to cope, to connect, and to hold onto hope. For me, that came in the form of a simple chalkboard. Every month, I picked up my chalk and lettered a new message—sometimes uplifting, sometimes humorous, but always with the intent of bringing a little light to friends and strangers … [Read more...]

This Self-Checkout Queen Needs a Crown

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Adulting like a pro I just self-checked a boatload worth of groceries at Kroger, and I deserve a trophy. At the very least, I should get a discount and key to the break room. Do you know how hard it is to coordinate that much food without the system accusing you of theft? You have to scan every item just right. You have to look up every vegetable. And not once did I need help finding a bar … [Read more...]

Small Talk: the Social Ritual We Pretend Not to Need

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Are we really doing small talk wrong? The ads on Instagram for coaching people in conversation so you don't sound "weak"—i.g. never ask “how’s it going” or “what’s new”—make me wonder if I'm talking small talk wrong. I'm not alone in stumbling through small talk. I attend a yearly benefit where I know one couple fairly well and a handful of people only marginally. Those once-a-year … [Read more...]

What, Why, How: Jan Rydzon on writing a small-town mystery, female sleuths, and the secrets that bind us

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What: I write small-town mysteries and suspense, featuring female amateur sleuths. Most of my stories grow out of family dramas and close relationships, where the tension between secrets and loyalties fuels the stories. I’ve always loved elegant old houses and mansions, and they often become characters in my books, but in Misery Cove, a rundown lakeside motel drives the action. My novels … [Read more...]