Frances Hodgson Burnett had serious issues with the children of the Edwardian British upper class. Both The Little Princess and The Secret Garden featured wealthy girls whose parents had some connection to British rule in India. Sarah Crewe (Little Princess) is abandoned at an English boarding school (Miss Minchin’s) by her father and spoiled Mary …Read More
Who wouldn’t want Elizabeth Montgomery’s signature character Samantha Stephens as a mother? She was as beautiful as a storybook princess, calm, occasionally silly, loving, forgiving and–in a pinch–she could wiggle her nose and conjure up ice cream or a pony, take you back in time to meet real royalty or turn neighborhood burglars into pigs …Read More
(marc chagall’s adam and eve) Everything is derivative. I can’t speak for other writers–but it’s been painfully obvious to me for a long time now that there hasn’t been a truly original idea in our little garden since the snake offered Eve that apple. Every literary idea flows from that moment (metaphorical or not–you pick), …Read More
Did I post this review already? Sometimes I’m pretty dreadful at promoting my own work–I still like to imagine that my work will magically attract an audience and I can just sit home and write and blog and eat bon-bons! This was in the 10/27 issue of Publisher’s Weekly….btw, they really disliked Isabella Moon, so …Read More
This weekend we’re putting the finishing touches on my spankin’ new website. I can’t wait for you to see it! The trailer for Calling Mr. Lonely Hearts is delightfully terrifying–A.Beedle and his crew have outdone themselves once again. This time, though, I’m not going to gather the family ’round the computer for a viewing. Last …Read More
As I write this, the clock is creeping up on midnight. Back in the day I routinely stayed out until two or three a.m. partying and made it to work (almost) sober by 8:30 or so. (Though as my husband and BFF Maggie can attest, I shouldn’t be allowed to talk to anyone after 10 …Read More
Thank you so much to everyone who commented during Octoberguest! Here are the winners: CarMar–Any book from Allison Brennan’s backlist Carolyn Burns Bass–Amanda Stevens’s novel, The Devil’s Footprints Becky LeJeune–Petiquette by Amy Shojai, or Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul (or Cat) Chester Campbell–Bill Cameron’s Chasing Smoke The Walking Man–Jennie Bentley’s debut novel, Fatal …Read More
If you’re a fan of the excellent online ‘zine Plots With Guns, or Best American Mystery Stories 2008, or even Surreal South 2007, chances are you already know of Kyle Minor. Just yesterday was the pub day for his first collection of stories, In the Devil’s Territory. Kyle has a poet’s heart and his work …Read More
Happy Halloween! I find myself a little stunned to realize that it’s Halloween already and we’ve come to the end of Octoberguest!. I’ve had so much fun this month and am very grateful to all of the wonderful writers who so generously contributed their work to the Handbasket. And I’d also like to thank everyone …Read More
Rebecca Cantrell’s debut novel, A Trace of Smoke, won’t be published until May 2009, but she’s already a very busy woman. Her screenplay, The Humanitarian, was a finalist at Shriekfest 2008: The Los Angeles Horror/Sci-fi Film Festival , and she’ll have a story in MISSING, an anthology which will be released in February 2009. I’m …Read More