A Small Press Life: Books. Art. Writing. Life. Tea.

Not just a blog, a philosophy

Leo Tolstoy on Plans and Projects

Posted on March 27, 2017 by maedez

Leo Tolstoy Quote

Let’s Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with George Bernard Shaw

Posted on March 17, 2017 by maedez

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Caricature of George Bernard Shaw by Max Beerbohm

“You use a glass mirror to see your face; you use works of art to see your soul.”–George Bernard Shaw (Back to Methuselah)

Ernest Hemingway on Good Stuff

Posted on March 14, 2017 by maedez

“You know you’re writing well when you’re throwing good stuff into the wastebasket.”–Ernest Hemingway

William Godwin on Reading

Posted on March 4, 2017 by maedez

William Godwin Quote

Happy Birthday, Edward Gorey!

Posted on February 22, 2017 by maedez

Edward Gorey was born on 22 February 1925:

Edward Gorey Quote

[Alternative Muses] Birthday Mashup: Charles Dickens/Sinclair Lewis/Laura Ingalls Wilder/Gay Talese

Posted on February 7, 2017 by maedez

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.”-Charles Dickens (born 7 February 1812)

Sinclair Lewis by Arnold Genthe, 7 March 1914

Sinclair Lewis (born 7 February 1885) by Arnold Genthe, 7 March 1914

And:

Laura Ingalls Wilder (born 7 February 1867), circa 1885

“I am a documentarian of what I do.”-Gay Talese (born 7 February 1932)

P.G. Wodehouse on the Ideal Life

Posted on February 4, 2017 by maedez

P.G. Wodehouse quote

Iris Murdoch on Being Amazed at One’s Luck

Posted on January 26, 2017 by maedez

Iris Murdoch Quote

[Alternative Muses] Coming and Going: Simone de Beauvoir/Katherine Mansfield

Posted on January 9, 2017 by maedez

Simone de Beauvoir was born on 9 January 1908:

Simone de Beauvoir

“Make it a rule of life never to regret and never to look back. Regret is an appalling waste of energy; you can’t build on it; it’s only good for wallowing in.”-Katherine Mansfield (died on 9 January 1923)

Gertrude Stein on Loafing

Posted on January 2, 2017 by maedez

“It takes a heap of loafing to write a book.”-Gertrude Stein

After three years of “loafing” (researching, living, philosophizing, and planning things in my head), I started writing my first book today.

Wish me luck!

Here’s to a creative 2017 for us all.

R.I.P. Norman Lloyd (1914-2021)

Norman Lloyd, long a personal favorite of mine, was a fascinating man and performer. Norman Lloyd Dead [THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER]

R.I.P. Geoffrey Scott

Geoffrey Scott was from a younger generation than the performers I normally write about, but his handsome presence was ubiquitous during my 1980s childhood. From Dynasty to The Love Boat, Night Court, and Battle of the Network Stars, his charisma and acting ability lit up the small screen for decades. He will be missed. Geoffrey […]

Kirk Douglas: 1916-2020

[2019 Reel Infatuation Blogathon] But Baby Think of Me Once in Awhile: On Andy Travis as Television’s Best (and Hunkiest) Boss

Welcome to the 2019 Reel Infatuation Blogathon! Baby, If You’ve Ever Wondered: It still seems like yesterday that the idea for RI popped in my head. It was actually in December 2015, while in a hotel room getting ready for a holiday party, when it occurred to me that there was a gap in the classic […]

Announcing the 2019 Reel Infatuation Blogathon!

This is one of my favorite events of the year, and not just because I’m the co-hostess. It’s simply that good. And fun. Oh, so much fun! Here’s my original announcement. ANNOUNCING THE 2019 REEL INFATUATION BLOGATHON I hope you’ll join us!