Category Archives: Essay

Republican Book Bans

Posted on January 12, 2023 by A. L. Kaplan

Originally posted on Tom Glenn, Writer:
Republican and conservative efforts to ban books they disagree with are taking off. PEN America, an organization devoted to protecting free expression in literature, reports that there are at least 50 groups across the…

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Cabbages Not Kings

Posted on January 11, 2023 by A. L. Kaplan

Originally posted on Jane Lindskold: Wednesday Wanderings:
Two Great Tastes This week has shaped up busier than I expected, even as I wrote about my busy start of the year last week.? The page proofs for A New Clan in…

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Brady PAC Data on Gun Violence

Posted on January 8, 2023 by A. L. Kaplan

Originally posted on Tom Glenn, Writer:
The Brady PAC was formed leading up to the 2018 midterm elections. It was created to serve as a counterweight to “dark money” Super PACs created by the gun industry. It upholds the policy…

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The Power of Magical Thinking

Posted on December 22, 2022 by A. L. Kaplan

Originally posted on rachelmankowitz:
??????????? In this season of miracles (for Hanukah) and magic (for Christmas) I’m always inspired, and a little bit confused, about what’s possible and what’s not. I don’t think Santa is going to come down my…

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The Barnett Menorah

Posted on December 19, 2022 by A. L. Kaplan

The first day of Hannukah sounds like the perfect time to share a small bit of my family history. I remember the beautiful silver menorah pictured above from my great grandma Celia Barnett’s apartment. Fast forward several decades, and the … Continue reading →

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Reading Fantasy and Science Fiction

Posted on December 18, 2022 by A. L. Kaplan

Originally posted on Andrew McDowell:
Many thanks to author Jamie Adams for this opportunity to discuss the appeal of reading fantasy and science fiction stories. I enjoyed his work The Fathers, The Sons, and The Anxious Ghost. Reading Fantasy and…

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Book Review: Sons of Darkness – Gail Z. Martin

Posted on December 17, 2022 by A. L. Kaplan

Ex-priest Travis Dominick, and ex-special ops soldier Brent Lawson have both been disillusioned by their former employers and struck out on their own to battle demons, monsters, and nasty things that go bump in the night — Until they discover … Continue reading →

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Spotlight

Posted on November 28, 2022 by A. L. Kaplan

Originally posted on Andrew McDowell:
When a writer’s work is published, it not only goes out into the spotlight, but so does the writer. People who read books are pretty much guaranteed to be interested in learning more about the…

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It Is Time For The November Self-Promotion Party!

Posted on November 18, 2022 by A. L. Kaplan

Originally posted on charles french words reading and writing:
(www.pixabay.com) Hello to all the writers out there and reading this blog! It is well into the month of November, so it is time for a shameless self-promotion party; please do…

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Have A Happy Halloween And A Blessed Samhain!

Posted on October 31, 2022 by A. L. Kaplan

Originally posted on charles french words reading and writing:
(https://pixabay.com) I want to wish everyone both a Happy Halloween and a Blessed Samhain! (http://lubuntu.me/blessed-samhain/) On the pre-Christian Celtic calendar, October 31 was Samhain, pronounced Soo-when or Sow-when, and it marked…

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