Hello and Happy Friday,

I wrote last blog about discovering new writers which is a great thing, because it of course means great new novels to read; yet new books aren’t the only things out there to grasp and discover. There are still many types of information to peruse—even listen to—to gather information or just enjoy. One of the sources I still rely on for information, “ah ha” moments, entertainment are newspapers. I love reading various ones each day, those I get on line and those I can touch. I read on-line: USA Today, MSNBC News (though this can’t be gotten in hard copy) and the New York Times; I will once in a while read my local paper, The Cleveland Plain Dealer.

My favorite though is The Wall Street Journal, most know how good the business writing is but the everyday, unusual and profound stories and articles are the reason I love the journal. I remember stories to this day I read years ago from the paper; one about glass blowing and the other about Cannary Row and the fishing industry, both were—as you can tell—very memorable because I learned a few things and the stories were brilliantly written. From the journal I keep an essay by the late author David Foster Wallace which I’ve read numerous times, it gives me hope and sustenance every time I read it and it has also prompted met to order his novels. Today, I read a story on MSNBC about the CIA that highlighted and sustained some information in the Owen Story novel I ‘m finishing up; when this happens it’s always a plus because it just grounds the reality of my story and backs me up.

Reading is fundamental” and more so for writers than anyone else and we’re blessed there is still so much material out there to chose from; it’s encouraging isn’t it? So read all you can, all different things; our choices are varied and will only enhance our writing.

“The skill of writing is to create a context in which other people think.” Edwin Schlossberg

If you have any comments or suggestions please e-mail me at my new address:

mathewsla@hotmail.com

Until next time, God willing

Lori