Author, Compulsively Readable Thrillers
Of the 4 cities we visited last month, Prague is definitely the most vibrant, western, and energetic… in fact, there is almost a frenetic energy to the city. I’m told the city has changed dramatically since its days under the Soviet umbrella, and when you pass the luxury designer stores that have sprung up (I … Read more
I’m going out of order of our itinerary…mostly because Vienna was my favorite of the four cities we visited. Unfortunately, it was also the one we spent the least time in. It’s a little slower than the other cities, more sophisticated and charming, and the pastries are, of course, out of this world. I love … Read more
As some of you know, I just came back from Europe. It was the trip I’d hoped to take last year, but life got in the way. Happily, I was able to go this year to Budapest, Vienna, Prague, and Berlin. What a trip! If you’re a history lover, particularly of the two World Wars … Read more
My most recent blogpost was about the shooting in Northfield at rapper Chief Keef’s house. And while we still don’t know a lot of details about the incident, I made some comments about the Northfield police that were—well— kind of smart-ass. And inaccurate. And because I really admire and like Bill Lustig, Northfield’s current Police … Read more
If I could write a song and sing it I would. But I can’t. So words are going to have to do. I want to thank librarians for the difference they’ve made in my life… and it’s huge. A magical place right from the beginning When I was a little girl — no more than … Read more
If you have read Havana Lost you’ll have noticed the way I’ve woven the Santería religion through the plot. A potent mix of European Catholicism and African Voodoo, it is a constant backdrop to the Cuban psyche. My character Carla Garcia believes in it more than any of the other characters in the book, not … Read more
Today, more than three million tourists visit Cuba every year (except for Americans, of course). In fact, tourism is the country’s #1 source of revenue. People are drawn by Cuba’s climate, beaches, attractive prices, and remarkable history. It wasn’t always this way. Poor post-revolution relations After the revolution, relations between the US and Cuba deteriorated. … Read more
As you know, I’ve been talking about Calle Libro, the first English language bookstore that’s opened in Havana since the revolution. While they’re wildly popular, like many businesses in Cuba, they do not have the funds to buy books. So, for those of you who want to help, whether you’re planning a trip yourself or … Read more
Cuba’s book selling world is almost wholly state-controlled. And politics sells the best, no surprise when the government controls the books available. Take 100 Hours with Fidel, an incredibly lengthy interview with Fidel Castro. Or Che Guevara’s Bolivian diary, another big seller. If you live in Cuba and want to broaden your reading, you face … Read more
I call it the “Depression Nobody Knows About” — at least here in the U.S. Cuba suffered a severe depression in the early Nineties that makes our “Great Recession” look like a walk in the park. Some say the Cuban economy still hasn’t recovered, and there is some truth to that. Today I talk about … Read more