Author Archives: Administrator

A plot is a foot

So here are a few things that novel writing has taught me (so far) about plot… From novel #1: Action and motion are not the same as plot. But you can’t have plot without them. From novel #2: Characters and … Continue reading

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2013 Bengal Bouts

Two press releases from last night’s Bengal Bouts boxing match featuring Nicholas Acampora. I think one of these reports is especially good. Dateline: February 14, 2013 (NOTRE DAME, IN) – Boxing fans at the University of Notre Dame’s Bengal Bouts … Continue reading

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Stuff I say during school visits…

Here are a few quotes and moments from  my recent awesome week filled with school visits and writing workshops. Thank you to all the students and teachers  at St. Anthony’s School (Bristol, CT), Talcott Mountain Academy (Avon, CT) and Memorial … Continue reading

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10 Years of Writing Together!

My writing group celebrated our 10 year anniversary today! Here’s a little bit of what we’ve made. And this is just the stuff I can show you. There’s lots more on the way!

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The Arcade Fire + Mick Jagger

Random thoughts: Here’s why I loved the The Arcade Fire + Mick Jagger performance of “This Could Be the Last Time” from last season’s SNL season finale: I love The Arcade Fire (and they’re going to have a new album in 2013!) … Continue reading

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Rebel with a chorus: Beach Boys, Physics, High School and everything….

Today’s NYTimes review of a recent Beach Boys concert had me thinking about Mr. Cunningham, my very awesome high school physics teacher, who also happened to be an international Beach Boys expert. During my St. Paul Catholic High School years, … Continue reading

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So you want to illustrate a children’s book?

Now and again I hear from aspiring children’s book illustrators who ask if I might introduce them to authors in search of an artists to illustrate a picture book. In most cases, this question lets me know that I’ve just … Continue reading

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From the mailbag…

I don’t make it a habit to share fan mail, but this is just too awesome to keep to myself… —– MESSAGE —– From: Abbey Jones To: Paul Acampora Subject: Defining Dulcie. Dear Mr. Acampora, Hello! My name is Abbey, … Continue reading

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A very Kate DiCamillo story…

A few years ago, Ellen Major, owner of the lovely Booktenders’ Secret Garden Children’s Bookstore in Doylestown PA, phoned me in a panic. It was late on a Friday afternoon. Kate DiCamillo was coming to her store that night. Ellen … Continue reading

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Good writing (PLUS dogs!)

A few sentences in this NYTimes piece about therapy dogs were so good that they just about made me stop breathing. I copied a few of my favorite lines from the piece and pasted them below. I’ll print them out later … Continue reading

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