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Words I Wish I’d Written

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Select a Month September 2016 August 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013

April 2015

April 30, 2015

Ngaio Marsh on Stoic French Ladies

She was fifty and tall for a Frenchwoman. Her figure was impressive, her hair rigidly...

April 23, 2015

Paarfi of Roundwood on Errands

“This is the camp of Lord Adron?” said Khaavren. “None other,” said the Dragonlord. “Well,...

April 09, 2015

Ngaio Marsh: Bad Makeup on a Bad Face

She painted her face, but with such inattention to detail that Roberta was reminded of...

April 02, 2015

A Cloak and a Sombrero like G.K.C.

‘He’s a dear little man,’ said Lady Alleyn emphatically. ‘The nicest possible little man.’ ‘Not...

March 2015

March 26, 2015

Ngaio Marsh on Sophomores

The cub, as Hambledon had called Gordon Palmer, was seventeen years old, dreadfully sophisticated, and...

March 19, 2015

The Saint’s Girl on Cocktail Parties

The cocktail party ploughed on through a syrupy flood of mixed alcohols, mechanical compliments, second-hand...

March 05, 2015

Leslie Charteris on What the Well Dressed Man is Wearing

Golter’s head snapped round as though it had been jerked by an invisible wire. He...

February 2015

February 26, 2015

Archie Goodwin on Eye Strain

Maria went, back inside, and shut the door. It was just as well, since it’s...

February 19, 2015

Leo Marks on Deciphering Mangled Codes

‘The road to hell is paved with good intentions’ caused forty-eight hours of purgatory when...

January 2015

January 29, 2015

Aaron Lansky on Being like Moses

We are who we are, where we are, when we are. And in that sense...

January 15, 2015

Fr. Ronald Knox on Sheepdogs and the Clergy

The shepherd doesn’t run after the sheep when they get straying; he shouts to his...

January 08, 2015

Harry Dresden on Elevators

My office is in a building in midtown Chicago. It’s an older building, and not...

December 2014

December 11, 2014

Paarfi of Roundwood: On Brevity

Paarfi of Roundwood is the supposed author of Steven Brust's "Khaavren" romances, which begin with...

December 04, 2014

Jack Aubrey on Valued Servants

Every captain in the Royal Navy had his personal steward, a manservant responsible for attending...

November 2014

November 20, 2014

Jack Aubrey on Midshipmen

In the Royal Navy in Jack Aubrey's day, there was no naval academy. Boys from...

October 2014

October 30, 2014

Stephen Maturin on Losing at Chess

Captain Jack Aubrey is on a mission in the Baltic, and accompanying him is a...

October 23, 2014

Jack Aubrey on Proper Table Manners at Sea

Captain Jack Aubrey of His Majesty's Navy has invited several officers and guests to dinner;...

October 09, 2014

Stephen Maturin on Grumbling

I chose this quote from Patrick O'Brian's Desolation Island because it seems to me to...

October 02, 2014

Patrick O’Brian on Unsuccessful Interior Design

Lord Clonfert had the cabin of his sloop-of-war decorated in the Eastern style; now he...

September 2014

September 25, 2014

Patrick O’Brian on Having Your Cake

Jack Aubrey sometimes misspeaks, and Stephen Maturin is always ready to help. Here, all hands...

September 18, 2014

How to Describe Characters

Magrat arrived at as near to a run as was possible in the queen outfit,...

September 04, 2014

Hedy Lamarr is a Beautiful Gal

I panned Jack McDevitt's Ancient Shores a couple of days ago (I won't add injury...

August 2014

August 28, 2014

Terry Pratchett on Consumerism

Magrat put on her best dress, the green silk one that was unfortunately now a...

August 21, 2014

Terry Pratchett on Family Feuds

The Oggs were what is known as an extended family—in fact not only extended but...

August 14, 2014

On Tyranny

Being an absolute ruler today was not as simple as people thought. At least, it...

August 07, 2014

Words I Wish I’d Written: The Check’s in the Mail

If, somewhere, any possible world can exist, then somewhere there is any letter that could...

July 2014

July 31, 2014

Words I Wish I’d Written: On Using Magic

Oh, you could do it all by magic, you certainly could. You could wave a...

July 24, 2014

Words I Wish I’d Written: On Murder

“You mean you knew there was going to be a murder before it even happened?”...

July 17, 2014

Words I Wish I’d Written: Cat Maintenance

After we do the washing-up, I get to spend the rest of the evening reading...

July 10, 2014

Words I Wish I’d Written: The Meds Don’t Need Adjusting

I stretched my legs and studied the intricate architecture of the building. It was a...