One of my favorite lines of Bob Dylan is in his “You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go” from Blood on the Tracks (1975). Never mind the Dylan-style defeatism of outlining a perfect partner, an effortlessly satisfying relationship to…
Blog Archives
Married to a painted porch
When we moved to Knoxville, Tenn. from our apartment outside Naples, Italy, Maurizio and I were charmed by the white picket fence and white wooden porch of our new house. The reality of upkeep dawned soon enough. Surprise! Mildew creeps…
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Victims
In researching garment worker conditions in 1911 for my next novel, I came upon a list of the victims of the March 25, 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in New York City and can’t get it out of my head.…
Posted in WWWS
Factoids learned whilst writing
Now on the tenth chapter, maybe 60% through the plot of my next historical novel, due at HarperCollins in early November (very early, Nov.1), I discover that writing on a deadline is 1) very hard on the back; and 2)…
Posted in WWWS
Panna cotta, pure & simple
Some of the seeming classics of Italian post-dinner cuisine — tiramisu’, torta caprese, limoncello, and panna cotta (lit. “cooked cream”) are in fact rather late, post 1980’s entries on the popular culinary scene. Renaissance folks didn’t eat them. Little Sofia…
Fridays in Florala
Some Friday if you find yourself near Florala, on the (get it?) border of Florida and Alabama, you could do worse than stop at Sara’s Big R, “Southern Cooking at its Best,” for the Friday seafood buffet. For $11, heap…
What about those parties?
I was talking to a neighbor who’d been talking to her neighbor whose backyard has a partial view of ours. She (the second neighbor) was complaining about “that gay couple with the drunken hot tub parties.” Now that could only…
Here’s to the paraprosdokians
Somewhat convoluted start to this blog. I’ll be doing some interviews for work of young boys who have brothers in their school, which got me thinking of the song and the line: “He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother,” then remembering…
Posted in WWWS
Writing with a dog
A good and patient, caretaking dog helps in novel writing I believe. Jesse the dog normally sleeps in a small bed by the foot of our bed. But on nights when I’m up late writing, he won’t officially retire with…
Twilight Zone on Hiawatha Street
I often walk Jesse the Dog on Hiawatha Street, a winding, tree-lined suburban street, not much traveled. On a 15 minute walk a couple cars may pass or none, if it’s early. This is good because Jesse prefers to walk…
pamelaschoenewaldt.com 