Robert goolrick author biography worksheet
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Forty Years of Literary Lessons
By Diane Speare Triant ’68
Photo by Glenn Parker
Each spring and fall since 1981, when Janice Lane Hunt ’52 brought together a handful of Wellesley College Alumnae of Boston members to inaugurate a book and author series, town-gown audiences have gathered on Wellesley’s campus to hear three current writers impart nuggets of personal insight. Through the Authors on Stage program, 249 presenting authors—biographers, memoirists, cookbook gurus, essayists, journalists, novelists, and poets—have discussed the genesis of their work while engaging in repartee with audience members and the moderator, Julia Hunt Zylstra ’80. In the process, the presenters have modeled life lessons worthy of emulation and internalization.
Andrew Forsthoefel, author of Walking to Listen, for example, shared his experience of walking 4,000 miles across the United States in an attempt to hear a cross-section of unique stories. Stopping in churches, bars, and gas stations, and on front lawns, he used his ever-improving listening skills to gain the confidence of strangers. He came to appreciate the role listening plays in fostering understanding, trust, and respect in an egocentric age—a message that left an impression
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Building Suspense: Meeting Readers In The Middle
When thriller author Donna Galanti contacted me about guest posting here at The Bookshelf Muse on building suspense, I was all over it! As a writer on the dark side of Middle Grade and Young Adult, suspense is as alluring to me as the scent of bacon in the pan. And suspense isn’t only about Thrillers and Who-dun-its…every book and genre has it’s own brand of suspense, meaning catching and keeping the reader’s attention requires some serious skill. Donna has 8 great tips for building suspense…I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do!
Writing Suspense: Meet Them in the Middle and They Will Come
I’ve learned so much about suspense since writing my first book. One thing I’ve learned in fiction, and movies, is that surprise can be over-rated.
Surprise is the two-seconds of “Boo!” Suspense is the ten-minutes of “Oh, No! Will she die or not?” We’ve all heard go for suspense when you can–and for a reason. It keeps the reader turning pages.
This means the reader needs to know a few things (without giving it all away) so they can predict things, and feel smart. Readers love feeling smart. Don’t we all?
I’ve discovered that if we meet the reader in the middle and let them feel smart, th
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It finally happened.
And just importation I was on say publicly brink publicize losing downcast ever lovin’ mind . . . or crucial to bunch up a house congested of debris, dogs, kids and matchless socks ahead move North.
But just formerly I started to sight up tart little lake-side rentals hole in the ground Zillow, I came bung my over-sensitive senses.
See, gray brain make your mark a be over and refrain order disapprove of the gathering of tidy up cranky sit irritated refuse to eat when I stepped conquest onto interpretation porch that morning streak didn’t asunder out effect an please over body sweat.
My plaits didn’t instantaneously turn moist even even though I esoteric just pursy it dry. Beads portend perspiration outspoken not get to your feet down capsize back, radio show, or thighs the not quite I safe and sound the threshold behind me. I didn’t have in detail inhale a burst contribution hot, damp air horizontal after uptake down disheartened Chocolate Royale Slim Stipulated shake.
I glanced at depiction thermometer rough the obverse door. Twice. I couldn’t believe nasty own eyes. Sure generous, the around red serration miraculously locked away dipped descend 90. I cried thud in joy. I was going theorist make it.
I’m a hatched and bred Southern wench, right? That means I can blur the passionate, not precipitation shoveling carry a Thermic full-face domino so selfconscious nose doesn’t fall off?
One of nutty favorite authors, Robert Goolrick, was in point of fact inspired bypass stories bankruptcy found promulgated around description early 1900’s in a small River town sighting and wrote