Sally Whitney's Blog

Only rarely do most of us find ourselves in the presence of brilliance. Last Sunday I was fortunate to attend a presentation by the brilliant Tayari Jones, author of four novels, including Silver Sparrow and the recent Oprah’s Book Club selection An American Marriage. Let me assure you she is equally gifted both behind the keyboard and in front of a crowd. She held us all spellbound from the time she started talking until the moderators sadly ended the talk.

I was first impressed by Jones whe...

A few months ago, I sold my home of the past 11 years, packed my bags, loaded up my furniture, and moved to a new town in a different state. As soon as the bags were unpacked and the furniture arranged, I looked up from all the work and was amazed at the literary opportunities I found around me. My life and my writing needed some new inspiration, and I’m convinced I’ve come to the right place.

My first adventure was to investigate the Bryn Mawr Film Institute, a great organization that offers...

Do you have your book ready for reading on Wednesday? Everybody else is going to be reading then, and you don’t want to be left out. A recent survey by Barnes and Noble found that Americans turn to books and periodicals on Thanksgiving Eve more than any other day of the year, primarily to help ease the stress of traveling.

The top five reasons respondents said they turn to reading while traveling are

Questions and answers about what it’s like to publish your first book will be bubbling over at the next meeting of the Maryland Writers’ Association Annapolis chapter. The group’s president, Jenny Yacovissi, a debut author herself, has gathered three newly published authors to share their experiences with finding a publisher, working with a publisher, getting involved in marketing, and any other area of publishing that may arise. I’m happy to say I’ll be one of those authors. Others are Lisa...

Calling all book lovers in the Baltimore-Annapolis-Washington area. “Celebrating Hometown” at Old Fox Books in Annapolis will feature seven local authors, including national award winners, to talk about books, writing, and all things literary. I’ll be there, along with Priscilla Cummings, Erika Robuck, Lucia St. Clair Robson, Marcia Talley, Ralph Crosby, and Mike Kaminski. We’ll be happy tell you about our books and answer any questions you may have. The party is from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Sun...

In the past two months, I’ve been fortunate to have opportunities to meet and talk with readers and potential readers of Surface and Shadow. The point of a novel is to communicate, so it’s great to learn a little about how the story is being perceived and received.

My first opportunity was on February 26 when I gathered with other members of the Lit & Art Reading Series to read from our work at the Bird in Hand café in Baltimore. Bird in Hand is a popular spot, so it was filled with happy din...

As the Lit & Art reading series makes its debut appearance at The Ivy Bookshop’s Bird In Hand location in Baltimore, I’m pleased to say I’ll be one of the featured readers.

Earl Crown, David Eberhardt, Lauren Beth Eisenberg Davis, Danuta Kosk-Kosicka, Manzar Rassouli, and I will join hosts Eric D. Goodman and Nitin Jagdish to read from our recent publications and other writings at the new bookstore/café.

The fun starts at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 26, and will include music by The Limestone C...

Holidays are a time for surprises, and I received a great one this year. My short story “Everything Happens for a Reason” was awarded Honorable Mention in the 2017 Saturday Evening Post Great American Fiction contest and has been published in an anthology that includes the top 16 stories selected from more than 200 entries.

Entitled Best Short Stories from the Saturday Evening Post Great American Fiction Contest 2017, the anthology is available now from Amazon.com in Kindle format for only $3...

Every writer dreams of having unlimited time to write without the interruptions of everyday life. During November and the first week of December I found that special gift at the Virginia Center for Creative Arts in Amherst, Va.

The “corn crib.”

For nine days, I had my own private studio in a quaint little brown building that was known as the “corn crib,” and I never had to leave the space unless I wanted to. It was equipped with a desk, two lamps, an easy chair, and a bed, so I could stay the...

Eager to try your hand at creative writing or looking for some help in putting new energy into your current literary work-in-progress? Join me and other authors, including Lucia St. Clair Robson, Jennifer Bort Yacovissi, Andrew McDowell, and Leigh Goff, at Write-In Right Now at the Annapolis Regional Library, 1410 West St., Annapolis. The fun starts at 2:00 p.m. on November 12.Bring your computer/pen/paper. Challenges, prompts, refreshments, and prizes will be provided.

And, if you want to ta...