On Seasoning

Earlier this year, MAKING UP THE GODS received a lovely review in The Source , a community newspaper available digitally at this link . February 6, 2025 issue In the February 6, issue (page 7), John Pateman, former head of the Thunder Bay Public Library, says many nice things, mostly about the book's characters. I very much appreciate any review, of course, and it's especially nice when a reader likes the characters I'm also infatuated with (imaginary though those characters may be). I've also been mulling over John's flattering assertion that I come across as a "seasoned novelist with a strong grip on plot and character." As someone brought up to turn aside praise, of course my first instinct was to say, "Ha! Fooled someone!" Although at my age, with my years of experience working with words in many settings, I do acknowledged the "seasoned." There's a joke in there about sporting salt-and-pepper hair now, but I'll spare u...