If I have set down roots, it was less from intention than from the combined forces of time, circumstance, and inertia. The spirit of a vagabond still resides within me. But somehow, the years have passed, and I find myself living in a house with a lush, mature garden that I alone designed, planted, and … Continue reading Beauty in the Blunder
A Lazy Man’s Load
When I was in college, I worked part-time in a family-owned coffee-roasting and gourmet food store. We had loyal customers, who appreciated the quality of the merchandise and the low prices. I made it a point to greet people warmly, as they entered the shop. It became my mission to get the cranky ones to … Continue reading A Lazy Man’s Load
The True Protest
Years ago, my experience as the senior designer at a theme-party production company led to a contract with an architectural firm that was developing a multimillion dollar resort for a client in Japan. It was up to me to direct a team in planning the function and decor of the interior common spaces, including everything … Continue reading The True Protest
The Essence of Liberty and Love
Sifting through source materials in my quest to find meaning and cohesion in someone’s long-forgotten life is one of my favorite pursuits. I have traveled thousands of miles to sit in the quiet rooms of faraway libraries and archives, poring through antiquated books or binders filled with thick parchment pages. But there is nothing like … Continue reading The Essence of Liberty and Love
Benevolence
It was a joy to see Catherine, Princess of Wales, out and about today, raising a glass of Guinness in celebration of St. Patrick's Day with her regiment, the Irish Guards. While other members of the British Royal family were also taking part in the day’s festivities, scandal-plagued Andrew, Duke of York, continued to keep … Continue reading Benevolence
False Friends
In an attempt to provide relatable context for my latest historical novel, I have been organizing a portrait gallery of some of the colorful characters who lived, loved, fought, and died during the reign of George III. The King’s eldest son, George, Prince of Wales, was an untamed, big-hearted, self-indulgent force of nature, and his … Continue reading False Friends
Sunset on the Gulf of America
My day in Cozumel didn’t turn out like I had expected. It was the second day of the Gilbert family cruise. At Dad’s invitation, 25 of his kids, grandchildren and great grandchildren had gathered in South Florida, from various locations in the United States. We boarded a cruise ship in Fort Lauderdale, then sailed to … Continue reading Sunset on the Gulf of America
Men and Myths
If you get your news online from the BBC or Sky News, you wouldn’t know that there was a massive demonstration in Central London on Saturday, February 1, 2025. Tens of thousands of people turned out in support of the independent journalist and anti-rape-gang crusader known as Tommy Robinson. Some estimates put the number as … Continue reading Men and Myths
Memories and Montmartre
Last Saturday, a photo service emailed me a “memory.” It was a picture I took of tombstones in a Paris cemetery. The caption, “Bring your memories to life,” made me laugh. Six years ago, I had finished writing the draft of A Moon Garden and was becoming frustrated at my lack of success in finding … Continue reading Memories and Montmartre
A Pathway to Perdition
There is a writers conference coming soon to a city near me. Wouldn’t you know it? The first literary agent listed among the panelists is the New Yorker I wrote about in November (see Flying Blind), who proudly announced on X-Twitter that she categorizes people by race and prioritizes manuscripts submitted by People of Color … Continue reading A Pathway to Perdition
Roxane Gilbert 