A Tribute to Frank Barnett — and his Pecan Pie
Another thing I managed to fit into my tight New York City schedule was lunch with an old roommate of mine, Carol Barnett-Stark. I lived in Manhattan when I was 25 years old. I had moved back to the U.S. from Nairobi, Kenya and started a coffee import business I called Livingstone Provisions. (Back when […]
My Book, Making Piece, Available for Pre-Order
Here’s an exciting update on my book — it is now available for pre-order on Amazon! Every day closer to the publishing date of April 1 brings new progress. It may be five months until the book is out but the momentum — and, dare I say, the buzz — is starting to build. I’m […]
Teaching New Yorkers to Make Pie
I went to New York City last week to meet with my agent and book editor. Five months out from my book being published (pre-order hardcover here), we had a lot of planning to do for the publicity and book tour. Since moving to Eldon, Iowa — into the American Gothic House — over a […]
Your FAQs Answered
With the Pitchfork Pie Stand closed since Labor Day you would think I might have updated my blog by now. But no. I have been busy. Perfecting the art of downtime. This said downtime — much-needed and well-earned after a demanding summer — isn’t something I am good at, but it doesn’t matter. It won’t […]
Readers Digest Names TWNMP as “Websites We Love”
Readers Digest features my website/blog in its September iPad version. To subscribe to Readers Digest iPad app, click here. Thanks for the nice plug, RD! I especially like how they called my blog “charming” when they could have as easily called it “brutally honest,” “irreverent,” or — ahem — “opinionated.” Now if only I can […]
The Reality of Running a Pie Stand
One of my guest pie bakers, Marcia Mermelstein(left), was an whiz at rolling dough. I just wish she could have stayed all summer! Today was my last day of pie baking for the summer. By “pie baking” I mean mass production of pies for the Pitchfork Pie Stand. Running a humble little weekend pie stand […]
Marcus Two Years Gone: After the Darkness, Light
Marcus died two years ago Friday (on August 19). I remember the day as if it were yesterday. I remember the morning walk with my two little terriers in the searing heat of that Terlingua, Texas desert sun. I remember having some strange heart palpitations and returning to my little miner’s cabin to lie down. […]
One Year in Iowa: A Brief Look Back
I am rushing out the door to the Iowa State Fair this morning. Seems I am always rushing these days between the demands of the Pitchfork Pie Stand, my ongoing book edits (one more round to go), entertaining a steady stream of house guests, and caring for my two dogs. How I’ve managed to create […]
Life in SE Iowa: One Big Cultural Experience
My friends Sam and Lisa and their two kids (ages 8 and 12) visited from San Francisco last week. I gave them what has become the standard Southeast Iowa tour for all my house guests (and, oh, I have had many this summer). As we drove from place to place, through the wide open fields […]
Whatever Happened to The Beast?
The Beast: Happy in its new role as American Gothic House privacy screen/fence. “What happened to The Beast?” some of you have been asking. The Beast is the nickname I gave the RV that Marcus left behind, the 24-foot-long camper that I was originally terrified to drive but proved not only a cinch to drive but […]