Posts by Gin Phillips

I’ve adjusted my Christmas shopping strategy this year. Usually I spend the end of November and the first part of December trying to get my work done, feeling guilty about not doing my shopping, and, ultimately, being totally distracted from work because of the aforementioned guilt.  Also the stress–there’s plenty of stress, too. (Especially because…

We drove to Columbus, Ga., this weekend for a soccer tournament, and we invented a new car game along the way. Really, it’s not a game. It’s basically making up limericks, with each person doing one line. So If I start, my husband does the second line, then the kids do one line each, and…

A little over a week ago, I went to speak to a class at Lawson State Community College. One of the students had written to my publicist and asked me to come, saying her teacher loved my book and several of the students had chosen to write on it. I was impressed. I’ve had plenty of…

I love Halloween. I love the costumes and the lights and the gorey-bloody decorations (not so much the cutesy ones–I want bones and spiders and eyeballs and intestines). And I love Halloween parties. So every year we have a themed costume party: This year the theme was “Night of a Thousand Cliches.” The trick to…

The group of authors at the Beverly Hills Literary Escape had plenty of interesting conversations–on-stage and off-stage–last weekend. A few of them have stuck in my head. One of the nonfiction writers mentioned that writing is “abject misery.” It was a man, not that gender is necessarily important there. Another male writer on stage agreed. I…

I got back late last night from the Beverly Hills Literary Escape, which was filled with great authors and equally great readers. (Really, I’ve never met a more enthusiastic, charming group of readers.)  I’ll talk about the weekend a little more tomorrow, but today I’m here to add a recipe.  I had several conversations this…

Headed to Los Angeles today for the Beverly Hills Literary Escape this weekend. On Friday night, there’s a cocktail party and Story Slam. So I have five minutes to tell a story to an audience. No notes. The story has to be on one of these topics: True Love, Revenge, or Home for the Holidays.  Judges…

So I grew up going to the Alabama National Fair–I have no idea why it’s called “National”–every year in Montgomery. I’ve been back a couple of times as an adult, but never to stay for hours, ride the rides, and in general recreate the whole experience. We took the kids and assorted family down this…

A couple of great music experiences lately: First, we had a phenomenal cab driver take us to BWI when we were leaving DC. He was, I can comfortably say, the most intersting and engaging cab driver I’ve ever had. (That title was previously held by a driver in New York, who, once he found out…

A couple of great music experiences lately: First, we had a phenomenal cab driver take us to BWI when we were leaving DC. He was, I can comfortably say, the most intersting and engaging cab driver I’ve ever had. (That title was previously held by a driver in New York, who, once he found out…