Insight Into Development of The Valley of American Shadow

Insight Into Development of The Valley of American Shadow

After almost two years of work, The Valley of American Shadow launched yesterday. I thought it prudent at this time to talk a little about how this project got here, for other writers who are working (and perhaps struggling) on theirs. The big thing, for me, was being...
Thoughts on the Children of D-Day

Thoughts on the Children of D-Day

(This one is for my new Twitter friend Ann Bell Feinstein.) I just can’t imagine the carnage at Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944, although I admit Saving Private Ryan got close. Photographer Robert Capa got even closer, landing with the first wave and taking pictures...
Thoughts About the Illinois State Lacrosse Tournament

Thoughts About the Illinois State Lacrosse Tournament

They say you shouldn’t be sad something is over – you should smile because it happened. I can appreciate that, but I’m still a little melancholy today that last weekend’s Illinois state lacrosse tournament is over. I started covering the season...
Where I Get My Story Ideas

Where I Get My Story Ideas

People ask me from where do I get my story ideas. Let me give you an example. I was reading this AP story in today’s Chicago Tribune about how D-Day witnesses are dying one by one. You can (and should) read the story, about a World War II and D-Day vet who died...
What I’m Thinking About

What I’m Thinking About

That’s the whole point of this blog. It’s the stuff that interests me on a daily, and sometimes hourly, basis. People ask me how I wrote a book with my busy schedule, working days and evenings. I basically gave up watching TV and a lot of time on social...
Unallocation and the Fourth Estate

Unallocation and the Fourth Estate

Over last weekend, I read a fascinating article/photo essay in New York Times Magazine about the the GM plant in Lordstown, Ohio, that up until recently, made the Chevy Cruze. GM decided to “unallocate” the plant, which is a fancy way of saying that the...