“Make It Mean Something”

The sky and air felt charged this week when I walked Hannah and Maggie, the chocolate Labs.  The moon was already up while the sun hung low and cool in a fading denim sky.  Too early for twilight!  The scent of crushed leaves was strong as the dogs hunted in the dry...

On Zusak, Gadhafi and Surprise

An unexpected ludicrous moment, a twist into tragedy, a flash of tenderness:  surprise by a character is a crucial element of a riveting story.  Speaking yesterday at the College of Mount Saint Joseph in Cincinnati, Ohio, Marcus  Zusak discussed this as well as...