Here we come a-wassailing. The Welsh have much better wassailing traditions than we do.
December 6, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Here we come a-wassailing. The Welsh have much better wassailing traditions than we do.
I got to catch up with Kimberly McBroom at WDBJ-7 last week and talk about my new novel about the Hollywood blacklist and why we ought to be paying attention to what went on then.
www.wdbj7.com/2025/11/25/h...
www.wdbj7.com/2025/11/25/h...
Hometown author to release new book on the 1950s Hollywood blacklist
Roanoke-based writer tackles the Hollywood blacklist of the 1950s.
www.wdbj7.com
December 1, 2025 at 2:54 PM
I got to catch up with Kimberly McBroom at WDBJ-7 last week and talk about my new novel about the Hollywood blacklist and why we ought to be paying attention to what went on then.
www.wdbj7.com/2025/11/25/h...
www.wdbj7.com/2025/11/25/h...
I had great time talking with Rob and Jen. s3qx53.podbean.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:54 PM
I had great time talking with Rob and Jen. s3qx53.podbean.com
Backyard wildlife report. We’ve had possums, and the groundhogs and skunks are regulars, but this is the first raccoon I’ve seen in the yard and I fear the days of goldfish pond may be numbered.
November 12, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Backyard wildlife report. We’ve had possums, and the groundhogs and skunks are regulars, but this is the first raccoon I’ve seen in the yard and I fear the days of goldfish pond may be numbered.
Happy to be among the bunch of authors having a book sale (and holiday shopping opportunity) this Saturday, November 15, 11:30-1:30 at the Salem Museum. Portraits by the brilliant Patrick Harrington, who will have his own books there.
November 9, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Happy to be among the bunch of authors having a book sale (and holiday shopping opportunity) this Saturday, November 15, 11:30-1:30 at the Salem Museum. Portraits by the brilliant Patrick Harrington, who will have his own books there.
The traditional “unboxing” video!
November 1, 2025 at 5:00 PM
The traditional “unboxing” video!
We have moved the papyrus indoors for the winter. Because the cats insist on chewing on it, which makes them throw up, but they don't care, the papyrus lives in the bathroom, thus adding that air of swamp chic that we all strive for. 
October 28, 2025 at 1:12 AM
We have moved the papyrus indoors for the winter. Because the cats insist on chewing on it, which makes them throw up, but they don't care, the papyrus lives in the bathroom, thus adding that air of swamp chic that we all strive for. 
I really love shepherd.com’s book lists. Here’s my new one on censorship.
https://shepherd.com/best-books/government-censorship-and-the-hollywood-blacklist
https://shepherd.com/best-books/government-censorship-and-the-hollywood-blacklist
October 27, 2025 at 8:03 PM
I really love shepherd.com’s book lists. Here’s my new one on censorship.
https://shepherd.com/best-books/government-censorship-and-the-hollywood-blacklist
https://shepherd.com/best-books/government-censorship-and-the-hollywood-blacklist
I was heartened by the huge turnout in Roanoke yesterday. Lots of kids, dogs, silly costumes, and determination that we have had enough.
October 19, 2025 at 7:18 PM
I was heartened by the huge turnout in Roanoke yesterday. Lots of kids, dogs, silly costumes, and determination that we have had enough.
I had a great conversation with Rob Fredette on his podcast Hodgepod: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a...
October 15, 2025 at 3:09 PM
I had a great conversation with Rob Fredette on his podcast Hodgepod: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a...
Kristina Gorcheva-Newberry, author of The Orchard:
“Inspired by true events, rich with historical detail, a profound, unsettling, and captivating look at Hollywood and the Red Scare. In this harsh reality, this era crumbling under the weight of hatred and authoritarianism, as timely as memorable.”
“Inspired by true events, rich with historical detail, a profound, unsettling, and captivating look at Hollywood and the Red Scare. In this harsh reality, this era crumbling under the weight of hatred and authoritarianism, as timely as memorable.”
October 9, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Kristina Gorcheva-Newberry, author of The Orchard:
“Inspired by true events, rich with historical detail, a profound, unsettling, and captivating look at Hollywood and the Red Scare. In this harsh reality, this era crumbling under the weight of hatred and authoritarianism, as timely as memorable.”
“Inspired by true events, rich with historical detail, a profound, unsettling, and captivating look at Hollywood and the Red Scare. In this harsh reality, this era crumbling under the weight of hatred and authoritarianism, as timely as memorable.”
I have tremendous admiration for Peter Coyote as a writer, an actor, and a social conscience, so I am extremely grateful for this review of "Are You Now or have You Ever Been?"
September 20, 2025 at 7:57 PM
I have tremendous admiration for Peter Coyote as a writer, an actor, and a social conscience, so I am extremely grateful for this review of "Are You Now or have You Ever Been?"
The WGA has seen this before. If you don’t know what the Hollywood blacklist was, please look it up.
September 18, 2025 at 4:43 PM
The WGA has seen this before. If you don’t know what the Hollywood blacklist was, please look it up.
Thrilled by this review from Elizabeth Poliner.
…Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been? reveals
the heartbreak behind a legendary film star’s desire to be buried in her backyard…with the sweep of history—especially the McCarthy era’s “Red Scare”—and remarkable sense of place…wonderful, unique read.
…Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been? reveals
the heartbreak behind a legendary film star’s desire to be buried in her backyard…with the sweep of history—especially the McCarthy era’s “Red Scare”—and remarkable sense of place…wonderful, unique read.
September 16, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Thrilled by this review from Elizabeth Poliner.
…Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been? reveals
the heartbreak behind a legendary film star’s desire to be buried in her backyard…with the sweep of history—especially the McCarthy era’s “Red Scare”—and remarkable sense of place…wonderful, unique read.
…Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been? reveals
the heartbreak behind a legendary film star’s desire to be buried in her backyard…with the sweep of history—especially the McCarthy era’s “Red Scare”—and remarkable sense of place…wonderful, unique read.
This promo video I made for the new book seems horrendously prophetic.
September 14, 2025 at 5:02 PM
This promo video I made for the new book seems horrendously prophetic.
The new blacklist. The last time we were asked to turn in people who didn’t agree with the government line, teachers lost their jobs and freelance writers and such lost their careers. I just wrote a damn novel about it. It’s hideously familiar.
September 13, 2025 at 4:24 PM
The new blacklist. The last time we were asked to turn in people who didn’t agree with the government line, teachers lost their jobs and freelance writers and such lost their careers. I just wrote a damn novel about it. It’s hideously familiar.
From Midwest Book Review!
www.midwestbookreview.com/mbw/aug_25.h...
www.midwestbookreview.com/mbw/aug_25.h...
September 10, 2025 at 6:30 PM
From Midwest Book Review!
www.midwestbookreview.com/mbw/aug_25.h...
www.midwestbookreview.com/mbw/aug_25.h...
Are You Now…? takes us into and through the Hollywood blacklist, several love stories, a posthumous set of illegal instructions, bonds of family and friendship. Most of all it’s about Liza Jane, a heroine changing from decade to decade, always five strides ahead of her time.
—Liz Rosenberg
—Liz Rosenberg
September 8, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Are You Now…? takes us into and through the Hollywood blacklist, several love stories, a posthumous set of illegal instructions, bonds of family and friendship. Most of all it’s about Liza Jane, a heroine changing from decade to decade, always five strides ahead of her time.
—Liz Rosenberg
—Liz Rosenberg
Thanks to Elizabeth Dulemba for letting my adult novel visit her kidlit blog! hollinskidlit.substack.com/p/amanda-coc...
Amanda Cockrell's ARE YOU NOW OR HAVE YOU EVER BEEN?
Hollins children's literature professor is celebrating her latest book
hollinskidlit.substack.com
September 4, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Thanks to Elizabeth Dulemba for letting my adult novel visit her kidlit blog! hollinskidlit.substack.com/p/amanda-coc...
Now available for pre-order! At all the usual sources but bookshop.org will benefit a local bookstore.
September 4, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Now available for pre-order! At all the usual sources but bookshop.org will benefit a local bookstore.
My father was a man ahead of his time. He rigged an on-off switch to a cable long enough to reach from the TV’s sound outlet to his recliner. He used it whenever a commercial came on. We called it the blab-off.
Here he is attempting to skin his friends at poker.
Here he is attempting to skin his friends at poker.
August 24, 2025 at 11:18 PM
My father was a man ahead of his time. He rigged an on-off switch to a cable long enough to reach from the TV’s sound outlet to his recliner. He used it whenever a commercial came on. We called it the blab-off.
Here he is attempting to skin his friends at poker.
Here he is attempting to skin his friends at poker.
I love the way water hyacinths just pop up out of nowhere and the next time you look at them they’re gone again.
July 6, 2025 at 11:28 PM
I love the way water hyacinths just pop up out of nowhere and the next time you look at them they’re gone again.
Oooh, ARCs are here! Out in December!
June 18, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Oooh, ARCs are here! Out in December!
Skunk youngsters at Hollins at the end of our faculty house walkway. Others may not be as charmed as I am but they’re awfully cute, at a respectful distance.
June 10, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Skunk youngsters at Hollins at the end of our faculty house walkway. Others may not be as charmed as I am but they’re awfully cute, at a respectful distance.
Bart's Books is an Ojai institution, beloved of valley insomniacs. When I was a teenager the sign was just a handwritten card with instructions to take what you wanted from the outside shelves and throw a nickel over the fence.
May 29, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Bart's Books is an Ojai institution, beloved of valley insomniacs. When I was a teenager the sign was just a handwritten card with instructions to take what you wanted from the outside shelves and throw a nickel over the fence.