Yes, I was gone from this blog for over a month. Why? Because for the past month and a half I have been deep into writing my third novel, The Cabinet’s Spell. And when I am deep into writing a long piece, everything else seems irrelevant. Which, of course, it’s not. Besides ignoring my blog, I also ignored my Twitter account, my Facebook page, and every social media I am on. The truth is, I get so involved with my characters and their tribulations, I feel I am living in a different world. But I’m back, as you can see. As for the Cabinet’s Spell, it starts in 2006 Brooklyn, where Madeleine, a 66 year old woman, has a very predictable, organized, routine life. Something happens to her on her way to work, and her life will never be the same. Then, in chapter 2, the story goes back in time to 1916, the year Madeleine’s mother was born in Genoa, Italy. Both stories continue on in parallel and by the end of the book they come together. I have one fourth of the novel done, and a long way to go. Keep reading this blog to see the progress! It’s a fascinating story, which took me a long time to conceive. I’m excited!

Now, let’s move on to singing. I like music and singing in particular, so I follow the singing competitions on TV. This year, I was shaking my head when I watched American Idol: the contestants were so bad I couldn’t believe it. Even the final three, who were so much better than everyone else, turned out to be pretty forgettable. By now, I don’t  know their names anymore, and their faces are a blur. Worst of all, their music is a blur. When Phillip Phillips and Scotty McCreery won, I was so excited. I downloaded their music, listened to it over and over. They were both unforgettable, and they continue to be relevant presences in the music world. On the other hand, there’s nothing left in me from this year’s competition. Zero. Zilch. Now I am following The Voice, and I am amazed by the incredible talent being showcased. So many “meaningful” artists are competing, even some who were eliminated. So, here is my question for you. Why are the Voice’s contestants so much more talented than the Idol’s contestants? And let’s talk for a moment about the format of the two competitions. Idol has four judges who sit on their chairs and basically do nothing other than repeat the same silly sentences, like “over the top”, or “this girl is in it to win it”, or “it was too pitchy for me”. BORING!!! But in The Voice there are no judges, only coaches who are deeply involved with the contestants and invested in their performances and success/failure. And they compete with each other. So much more interesting. Perhaps Idol needs a facelift? I say it does. And: am I rooting for someone on The Voice? You bet I am. My favorite singers are Michelle Chamuel and the Swon Brothers. I could listen to them all day long. Hope one of them wins!