One True Thing

Life's questions, big and small.

by Jennifer Haupt

Jennifer Gilmore: My Bridge to Nowhere

"We thought that once we decided on adoption, out of the ether, a child would appear. We were wrong." Read More

Q&A with Author Jessica Keener: Night Swim

“Publishing a novel turned into my holy grail. With each passing year, it started to matter too much. By that I mean, the desire to publish the novel overtook the desire to be centered and fulfilled by the writing itself.” Read More

Interview with author Naomi Benaron: Running the Rift

Running the Rift is an ambitious and inspiring debut novel about a young Rwandan boy who dreams of becoming an Olympic runner despite seemingly overwhelming obstacles. Naomi Benaron uses her first-hand experiences traveling in Rwanda and real stories of genocide survivors to create a fearless and heart-warming story. Here's more from Naomi: Read More

Writing Rituals: Spiritual or Simply Habits?

For some authors, there's something spiritual about starting each day the same way. Others simply look at these habits as a way to turn on the creative part of their brain. Here's more from Alice Hoffman, Jenna Blum, Pam Houston and other authors. Read More

Thief Gives Unexpected Christmas Gift

A thief taught me the Christmas spirit: the real treasures can't be stolen. Read More

Q&A with Lou Aronica, Founder and Publisher, The Fiction Studio

Lou Aronica is a New York Times bestselling author and former publisher of Avon Books and Berkley books. So, why did he recently launch an innovative publishing program for literary as well as genre fiction? Here's more from Lou: Read More

Lindy Micheals: Discovering My Inner Crone

The author of Crones Among Us talks about learning to accept the three stages of aging: maiden, mother, crone. And, loving every minute that life has to offer! Read More

William Alexander: What's Good Enough?

Author of "52 Loaves" guest blogs about his quest to bake the perfect loaf of bread. Read More

When She Woke: Futuristic Twist on The Scarlet Letter

When She Woke, a Publishers Weeky Top Ten Literary Pick for fall, begins with a woman who wakes up to find her skin has been turned red by the government because she's had an abortion. Read More

Recovered Anorexic Mom Gives Thanks for Baby Boy

Ten years ago, Shani Raviv admitted to herself that she had anorexia nervosa and began her healing process. This month, she became a mother. Here's her essay, giving thanks for the baby she thought she'd never have. Read More

Breaking the Bond of Depression, By Leora Skolkin Smith

How one woman came to terms with her mother's depression, and her relationship with her mother, through writing a novel. Read More

Interview with Unbridled Books Publisher Fred Ramey

Bigger isn't always better according to Fred Ramey, co-publisher of Unbridled Books, one of the country's most prestigious independent publishing houses. Here's more from this industry maverick and leader. Read More

Q&A with Author Karen Russell

Where do novels come from? Swamplandia is a brilliant collection of quirky family members who operate an alligator theme park in the Everglades. It's a setting as foreign as the moon, yet as accessible as sweet childhood memories. Here's more from author Karen Russell: Read More

Of Cairns & Gratitude, By Patricia Henley

Author Patricia Henley considers taking risks, silent mediation, writing, and faith in this essay about the books that have changed her life. Read More

Lisa Tucker Talks About New Novel, Faith, and Writing

Lisa Tucker doesn't use an outline, but rather trusts her instincts and her characters to tell her where to go next. Read More

Author Diana Abu-Jaber: New Novel and Family Relationships

New novel asks: if you dropped out of your life, could you ever really return? Read More

Psychoanalyst Robin Stern and Project Rebirth

After September 11, psychoanalyst Robin Stern counseled Columbia University students and families in New York impacted by the tragedy. Here’s more about her book of in-depth interviews with nine survivors: Read More

Victoria Barrett Launches Literary Press as Act of Faith

“Creativity is an expression of faith every time you exercise it. Faith, of course, means something different for each of us. But when we talk about creative work, we talk about our gifts. Some of us mean that our art is a gift we give, but most often, when that term is employed, it’s meant to signify the gifts we’ve received…” Read More

Novelist Alma Katsu on Love, Obsession, and Immortality

The Taker, compared with Interview with the Vampire, is part thriller and part historical romance. Novel asks: What price are we willing to pay to possess another? Read More

Humorist Wade Rouse: Why We Love, and Put Up With, Our Dogs

Anthology explores neurotic relationship between man and beloved mutt, and raises money for the Humane Society. Here’s more from editor Wade Rouse: Read More

Interview with Author Jacquelyn Mitchard

“The face has mythic connotations, as the mask of the soul, with eyes the mirror or porthole to the spirit.” Here’s more from best-selling author Jackie Mitchard: Read More

Novelist Mona Simpson: Modern Love

It's been a decade since Mona Simpson's last novel was released and My Hollywood was worth the wait. Here's more from the bestselling author of Anywhere But Here: Read More

Susan Parker: Connecting the Polka-dots

As an Evangelical Christian and a married mother, my reckoning with the fact I was gay happened when I turned forty, but it really began years before then. Read More

Cynthia Gray: Keeper of The Love Letter Collection

Perhaps the only thing more difficult than committing words of love to paper is then to actually sign, seal, and deliver those words. Here's more from Cynthia Gray, founder of an online vault of anonymous love letters: Read More

Faith and Fiction

Wally Lamb, Jennifer Egan, Jane Smiley, and other novelists tell how they keep the faith with their writing. Read More

Interview with Dawn Tripp: Game of Secrets

Literary mystery about family secrets, lost love, and Scrabble. Read More

Author Jane Mendelsohn: Music and Memory

This haunting story introduces us to Honor, a massage therapist who shares visions of the past with her patient, a mysterious war veteran. Here's more from Jane Mendelsohn: Read More

Susan Newman: The Case for the Only Child

Stopping at one child can be a difficult decision but it's also becoming a popular one. Here's more about why this phenomena is growing, and some of the myths about onlies: Read More

Author Jessica Blau: Drinking Closer to Home

This touching and funny story revolves around a family that is both eccentric and every family. Here's more from Jessica Blau: Read More

David Goldman: A Father's Love

David Goldman went through every parent's worst nightmare in 2004, when his four-year-old son Sean was abducted. Making matters worse, it was Goldman's wife who took the boy to her hometown in Brazil and then informed Goldman she wanted a divorce. Read More

Jennifer Haupt is writer based in Seattle, Washington. She has written for O, The Oprah Magazine, Readers Digest, and The Christian Science Monitor.

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