Author Archives:

Originally Posted: March 1, 2023 After retiring from a long career in the home furnishings business, likemany of us, I had a desire to write about an industry that I worked in formost of my life. I grew up in the business as my father was amanufacturer’s sales representative and a retail furniture store owner.Continue reading “It’s A Good Day To Liquidate”

Originally Posted: October 15, 2019 Elements of Writing: Orientation “Whatever the central idea, it should immediately raise an important question that needs to be answered. Well-crafted plays and novels raise important questions that the reader or audience wants answered. A question that will arouse curiosity, cause people to think, take sides, root for or againstContinue reading “Elements of Writing: Orientation”

Originally Posted: October 29, 2019 Synopsis: Here I discuss the relationship between motivation and writing, and describe the ways in which we can be ignited by the spark of a story idea (or, infected by its germ!). I also briefly touch on the reason why NaNoWriMo may not be your next step – yet. Motivation &Continue reading “Motivation & Writing: The Initial Spark that Captures the Writer’s Imagination”

Originally Posted: September 30, 2019 This germ infected me about eighteen years ago. I met the store owner who was also the mayor of a small border town in Arizona situated somewhere on the Arizona/Mexican line. The mayor of the town said to me pointing, “You see that air force base over there, that’s aContinue reading “Elements of Writing: Orientation (Part I: The Amazing Life of Art Lemon)”

Originally Posted: May 1, 2019 How many literary works by American novelists have “Mongolian” in the title? Not many but my recently published book happens to be one of them. I thus looked to the obvious route to promote my book, contacting via email the Executive Director of the American Center for Mongolian Studies. TheContinue reading “The Strange, Wonderful Roads We Travel…”

Originally Posted: August 25, 2018 Many people ask me how on earth I came up with the idea of The Great Mongolian Bowling League of the United States of America. Here’s the story behind the story—including why it’s really a spiritual novel that “strikes” the heart with profound reflections on the meaning of life. AtContinue reading “I Stood at the Intersection of Soul-Searching + Fiction Writing… That’s How I Came About “The Great Mongolian Bowling League””

Originally Posted: October 9, 2018 In the story of the Great Mongolian Bowling League, Murray Schwartz, the protagonist Harold Kushner’s best friend and roommate of 30 years, is a mechanical genius. He can fix anything and is always looking for ways to make his fortune on his next best invention that will change the world.Continue reading “Murray’s Famous Checklist”

At the time when I picked the name Harold Kushner for the name of my protagonist, I didn’t think of the renowned Rabbi Harold Samuel Kushner. I just picked a name that came to mind and one that would work with his sidekick, Murray. I hate to admit it but I had no idea whoContinue reading “On Harold Kushner: Fictional Character Names and Real-Life Coincidences”

Originally Posted: November 15, 2019 Spark: The Mongolian-American Taxi Driver The spark zapped me when I was coming home to Orlando, Florida, from my sister’s house in Chicago. I hopped into the taxi and the taxi driver asked me where I was headed. I said, “Home, Orlando.” He replied, “I’m going to Orlando next month.”Continue reading “Elements of Writing: Orientation (Part 3: The Great Mongolian Bowling League)”