Literary Excursions

03/24/2023

I've always wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail and at the end of one end it is a another hop skip to go visit Faulkner country. Here is something to whet the appetite!

“The only evidence of discord in the Faulkners’ bedrooms was the window AC unit in Estelle’s, installed the day after William’s funeral, because he hated air-conditioning so much he wouldn’t let her install it while he was alive.”

12/27/2017

Sadie Smith's writing here is delicious. She works the floating metaphor in the piece with brilliance

"Most of us float in the direction of the current, swimming a little, or walking, or treading water."

11/16/2017

Richard Branson talks with Fidel Castro's grandson about why the US is suffering from the Cuba embargo. https://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/visiting-cuba-and-scientific-advancements

Enjoyed a fascinating visit to Cuba recently. We’ve been flying to Cuba for many years with Virgin Atlantic, and it was great to take a look at local landmarks like the famous Hotel Nacional. I was in Havana with Virgin Voyages CEO Tom McAlpin discussing future opportunities. As we investigate optio...

10/13/2016

For Whom the Bell Tolls.... when do you write "who" and when do you use "whom"? Take the questionnaire here: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/who-versus-whom

06/12/2016

Hemingway quotes that a writer should not spoon feed his readers. "The dignity of an iceberg is due to only one-eighth of it being above water."

03/23/2016

Obama makes history. Things are going to get a whole lot busier in Cuba. Let's hope someone doesn't buy up all the old cars!! Cuban exiles in Miami will be so happy to travel easily between homes.

http://www.newsweek.com/obama-cuba-speech-439622

12/22/2015

An update on the situation between the US and Cuba
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/21/opinion/a-new-cuban-exodus.html?emc=edit_ty_20151221&nl=opinion&nlid=73669133&_r=0

01/21/2015

Great article showing at what age a number of famous authors wrote their break out book. There's hope for us all yet! http://electricliterature.com/infographic-what-age-do-writers-publish-their-most-famous-works/

Writers often worry about not publishing earlier enough. Our culture fetishes youth, even in literature. We talk about 5 under 35 and 20 under 40, but not the geniuses flowered later in life. Lucki...

11/03/2014

I am reading and will be writing a review of Ken Follet's latest novel, the third in a trilogy, "Edge of Eternity", which deals with the turbulent 60's, the Cuban missile crisis, the civil rights movement and Pres Kennedy - it brings the era to life with what feels like an insider's view of events as told through the characters - many close to historic figures like Martin Luther King, Kruschev, Kennedy, etc. Well worth the 1098 pg behemoth (holding the book reading in bed is difficult - get the ebook!) http://tinyurl.com/p5jnue6

07/16/2014

Some interesting perspectives from Valerie Hemingway (Hemingway's secretary-turned daughter-in-law in Havana) in this Smithsonian feature. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/hemingways-cuba-cubas-hemingway-159858952/

His last personal secretary returns to Havana and discovers that the novelist's mythic presence looms larger than ever

07/14/2014

Check out The Saratoga Hotel - "the only place to stay in Havana"... says http://www.hotel-saratoga.com/

Saratoga Hotel, Rooms for rent in of the luxurious hotels of Havana, Cuba.

07/07/2014

New book out set in Keys at the Florida Hotel with characters like Hemingway and his wives and wanna-be's http://www.fsgbookkeeping.com/excerpt-hotel-florida/

Martha had finally found the fresh start she’d been yearning for, and she entered into these plans with gusto. “This is very private,” she said to Hemingway in a letter about their arrangements: “We are conspirators and I have personally got myself a beard and a pair of dark glasses. We will both s…