Who’s in charge around here?
I’m a former daily newspaper journalist who worked in the Pacific Northwest and New England. Now a book reviewer, writer, editor, iMac user. I founded Rich Litho Media, which provides writing/editing and publishing services for authors and small businesses.
Read more in the About section.
Email me at kimberly@typelikethewind.com
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Category Archives: Writing & Words
New book review: “Reality Hunger: A Manifesto” by David Shields
(Published first by The Seattle Times, Feb. 28, 2010) As I work my way through a review book, I often stop and picture the sort of people who will fall in love with it. By the end I’ve assembled a roomful of imaginary party guests. Sometimes it’s festive; other times I just want them the [...]
End of a chapter
Two writers died this week, both proof that the approval of the so-called academy has little to do with pleasing readers or selling books. Erich Segal, the Yale classicist who wrote the wildly successful “Love Story” and Robert B. Parker, whose nearly 40 lively novels delivered a memorable, wise-cracking detective named Spenser and a succession [...]
In my opinion…
Something author John Irving said at a reading here in Portland last week stuck in my mind. During the Q&A, Irving was asked how he handles a “poor review.” The questioner could have been referencing any one of several critiques of Irving’s latest novel, “Last Night in Twisted River.” Irving answered with some venom, in [...]
Also posted in Authors, Books Leave a comment
There’s a word for this
I had no sooner finished reading the obituary for William Safire, fearless commentator, tireless writer and unparalleled language-czar, when a faint beep sounded, warning me of an incoming job opportunity in my email. I wish I’d never signed up for all those “career feeds” in the first place, but that’s what a day with a [...]
Also posted in Advertising Leave a comment
It’s all Latin to me
One of my freelance clients is a scientist-turned-writer who is crafting two very different manuscripts, one based on the fascinating story of his father, an immigrant to this country who lived a remarkably rich life, and the other a young-adult work about development encroaching on wildlife habitats. Both works, even in draft state, are very [...]
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Over and Out
E-mail, like so many of life’s short-cuts, turns out to be a little more complicated than it first looked. You can’t beat it for speed, of course. Those of you who find it too taxing to cross the room and lift that heavy box of writing paper can toss off a heartfelt thank-you note via [...]
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I, blogger
“Microcelebrity” is what we bloggers want, and each of us defines that evocative term in our own way. I discovered that word in a terrific piece of commentary by author Bill Wasik in The New York Times. Wasik compares internet ventures with a young adult’s idealistic move to New York City. He writes: “The experience [...]
Also posted in The Press Leave a comment
Ledes and me
When I went to back to college at 40, one of the hardest things was letting go of the “news lede” style of writing. My professors, who almost to a person looked thoroughly constipated when I proudly revealed my profession, immediately pounced on my snappy opening paragraphs. Professor: “This reads like a sell job.” Me: [...]
Posted in Writing & Words 1 Comment
Language matters
When I saw the headline in The New York Times that promises the answer to “Hispanic, Latino or What?” I was delighted. At last, I thought, I’ll know which word is correct, and when to use it. Well, not quite. There’s still a lot of disagreement among editors as well as those to whom the [...]
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Something I made up that sounds smart.