Over The Dam

Gere and me at Giant's Causeway Ireland tales and stories do show up regularly in pieces I write here and sometimes in posts on my Facebook page . I hope you get something out of them. This week, I'd like to tell you why I have become such a Hibernophile.   In 1993, when I graduated from Radcliffe Seminars (now Boston Architectural College ) with a Certificate in Landscape Design, it seemed like a good idea to visit Italy and see all of the classic villa gardens that I had st

For the last few months I have been sharing links to articles about King Philip’s  War published by Bristol Historical and Preservation Society in Rhode Island. The horrendous conflict between European colonists and Native American nations (1675-76) in southern New England serves as the foundation of my historical novel Conflicting Roots (Maine Authors Publishing, 2025). While this short essay covers details of a genocidal attack on Narragansett natives a few miles west of

Dear readers, followers, friends and family members, you have helped to turn a tough personal trip around the sun into a successful professional year. You have purchased more titles from me than during any year since I entered this retirement career in 2016. Many of you have personally given me feedback: encouragement to continue.

Roly's Bistro in Dublin, present day. It had been open just 2 years when we visited. Celebrating out 10th wedding anniversary and New Year's in Dublin was over the top. But, why not? After all, we were international citizens. So, we decided to make it a full week of fun and frivolity in the most European of cities. Luxury hotel room overlooking St. Stephen’s Green, dinner every night at a top restaurant, visits to museums and breweries and pubs. We put it all together before

Photo for illustration only. This is not my sister and me. Each November Dad set up a worktable next to the oil-fired furnace in our basement. There,after supper on nights that he didn’t have to work somewhere else, he made Christmas wreaths to be sold to raise money for our Church. Setting up a wooden clamp to hold metal wreath rings, he would secure small bundles of greens with florist wire wound round and round until you couldn’t see the ring at all. He used pretty hollies

Click to read an excerpt from the historical novel, Conflicting Roots.

She told me “every novel is different.” I had to agree to a point, but I have always tried to discipline myself as an author to complete each stage of creation before starting the next. Always finish the rough draft before moving on to the First Draft. And then to editing. And then rewriting.

I am pleased that so many followers have linked directly to Bristol Historical and Preservation Society’s series of articles about King Philip’s War. This will be the final post I'll share on this site. I'm beginning work on my next novel and want to focus on sharing that journey with you. But first, I want to direct you to some of my favorite resources for King Philip's War.

Many people ask me why I take so many days of my life to set up and sell books at the Fryeburg Fair. Why? It's about so much more than selling books--although that's nice too! Read on... Now that my hips and feet are recovered from nine days on the concrete floor of the Craft Center at Fryeburg Fair, I reflect on why I have done it for five years. Yes, such a volume of sales in one week puts enough revenue in the robertwbooks bank account to carry me through to Spring. And, y

Preface Conflicting Roots , my new historical novel ( Maine Authors Publishing , 2025) relies in part on characters, scenes and events...