Coming April 2024: A New Novel, Fire Music
Some things are years in the making, and that’s especially true of books. My novel Fire Music has been one of those long projects, and I used to wonder how I’d ever finish it. But now I’m delighted to announce that this huge labor of love is not only finished but has...
Scriptoria Workshop for Writers
This June 20-24 in Grand Rapids, MI, I’ll be attending a wonderful new writing workshop. Scriptoria is a joint effort of three universities: Calvin, Cornerstone and Aquinas. It follows the format of an MFA residency, with critiquing workshops in the morning,...A Year After Publishing, What Has Changed?
A few months ago I read a blog post by a woman trying to become a professional writer. The post is funny yet communicates the frustration and embarrassment of the not-yet stage. The blogger, Sandra Ebijer, describes how you feel reluctant to tell people what you do...Creating the “Soundtrack” of a Novel
As a writer I’m often asked how I chose my novel’s setting or how I came up with the story line. Last fall, for the first and only time, I was asked how I chose the musical pieces in my book. It’s a great question. Naturally, the person who asked is...
Welcome!
I am a writer who loves good music and good stories. It’s been my privilege to combine these loves by writing fiction that honors the creation of beauty, even in the bleakest of circumstances, through the creation of music. Writing has also led me to a deep interest in the recent history of central and eastern Europe.
Come and explore with me!