Long before televisions flickered to life in living rooms, before radios brought voices through the air, and long before board games came in glossy boxes, entertainment was something people made for themselves. Cards were one of the most reliable ways to do it. Around 1900, few card games were as widely played—or as socially important—as Euchre.
It was fifteen months ago—yes, way back in October the year before last—when I decided to write a book called The Mosquito God—Theodore Roosevelt’s Spy Game. All that I knew then was that it would be set in the waning days of the French attempt to dig a canal across the Isthmus of Panama.
Anyone who knows me will know that I'm a passionate amateur guitarist, and this week the fabled C. F. Martin & Company featured me (with a couple funny stories) in their Spotlight profile.
The short answer is no, or at least not ‘robots’ as we think of them today. Yet automation and machine-like systems absolutely mattered during the Gilded Age.
An examination of New Year’s resolutions reveals striking parallels across two eras: the glittering, fast-changing Gilded Age and our own modern moment. What did people more than a century ago hope to improve, reinvent, or leave behind—and how different are their ambitions from ours today?
It’s small, familiar, and (too?) easy to say . . . yet it carries an enormous weight. Love shapes our live, our relationships, our fears, and our hopes. It can heal, divide, inspire, and undo us. It’s one word, with a multitude of meanings.
My hope for the book trailer for Winter in the High Sierra was simple: to find a piece of music that felt beautiful, atmospheric, and true to the world of the story.
Let’s go behind the scenes of the story, inspired by your questions and comments.
For those of you who know me (even a little), you probably know that I am a near-lifelong fan of James Douglas Morrison, better known to lovers of rock-and-roll as Jim Morrison—lead singer of, and chief lyricist for, the rock band The Doors.
What did Thanksgiving look like in the decades of opulence, rapid industrialization, and spirited social change known as the Gilded Age (roughly 1870–1905)?
Thank you to all of you who sent in your questions. Read on for my answers!
Why This Year’s Star Thanksgiving Dish Might Be . . . Sourdough Stuffing
If you’ve noticed more friends swapping starter tips and photos of their sourdough loaves, you’re not alone—it seems like we’re in the era of homemade sourdough. And as Thanksgiving approaches, all that tangy, crusty bread is finding its moment in a dish that’s already beloved: stuffing.
Winter in the High Sierra Theatrical Trailer Launches with Original Composition!
You read that right, folks. Laurence Juber, world-renowned guitar virtuoso and former lead guitarist for Paul McCartney and Wings, recently joined me and Ashwood Press to create today's big reveal, the theatrical trailer for Winter in the High Sierra.
In this video, I’m tasting a wine that’s easy to love — the kind you can enjoy any day of the week, whether you’re writing, reading, or just unwinding.
