Just so we’re all clear on expectations — The successful candidate for this position will: Gaze at Mommy’s and Daddy’s faces for indefinite lengths of time while sucking on hands and making sounds. Attractive, quiet sounds, not the other kind. Stare lovingly only at Mommy and Daddy, avoiding all others, especially Daddy’s mother. Sleep through the night by…

Is this a good time for sex? — Historical Thriller Lady Gwendolyn: Here we are, trapped in this dungeon with the water level rising. How long do you think we can hold out, Lord Anthony? Lord Anthony: I regret to have to say, another forty-five minutes, more or less, Lady Gwendolyn. Lady Gwendolyn: My only regret is that…

Connect with agents and editors like these authors did — I noticed on your publishing site that you’re based in Chicago, which is crazy because I drove around Chicago once. Also, I’ve been in your airport. It looks like you’re actively seeking middle grade horror with family settings. I live that. I have enough material for a series. Unlike other…

I have a number of them — First off, helping is something I have to do at kindergarten all day long. All that holding doors and being line leader stuff is exhausting. When I get home, I need to relax the way you guys do when you get back from work. …

She’s called Tipper, and I still love her — I wasn’t looking forward to reading A Family of Liars by E. Lockhart, the recent prequel to her very famous book We Were Liars, all that much. Or at all, really, because even though the first book was a New York Times bestseller and some kind of TikTok phenomenon, whatever…

A personal history of macaroni and cheese Recently my daughter-in-law texted me to ask for a recipe. I was very flattered, mainly because she rarely asks me for anything. Plus, she was asking for something related to eating, which is kind of spiritual, isn’t it? …

The late writer did more than change food writing. I was one of the many people stunned this week to hear of writer Julie Powell’s unexpected death. She is described in her numerous obituaries as having changed food writing, and that is an important legacy. …

Instructions for field trip chaperones by Amy Racine, Mr. Brent’s classroom representative. — Mr. Brent’s students do not want a repeat of last fall’s sorry excuse for a field trip to the Cambridge Maritime Museum and Seaport Village. …

Some marketing notes on the St. John the Baptist Day brand To: Eli Castonguay, President, New England St. John the Baptist Day Observance Committee From: Amy O’Connor, Team Leader, Kelly-Doyle Marketing I want to bring you up to date on my progress with your project to raise the U.S. profile…