John Steinbeck / Marilyn Monroe Fan Letter
A letter from John Steinbeck to Marilyn Monroe on April 28, 1955, requesting an autograph for his nephew. What a
Category: Did You Know ?
Spoonerisms
A “spoonerism” is a slip of the tongue where the speaker inadvertently swaps the consonants or vowels in a phrase.
Margins of Protection
#the more you know… Those margins weren’t inserted as a guide for how many sentences you should fit onto a
Language: Alumnus, Alumni, Alumna, and Alumnae
Today’s Lunchbox Lesson: ALUMNUS, ALUMNI, ALUMNA, and ALUMNAE These words all describe attending or graduating from a particular school, but
Westward Ho: Ghost Signs in Omaha
In the days of Westward Expansion, before the freeways and highways were taking us places quickly, waves of migrants were
Unwritten Rules of English Grammar: ‘Tock-tick’, ‘Dong-ding’, ‘Kong-King’
Thanks to something called ablaut reduplication — a rule stating that, if you repeat a word and change an internal vowel, the
Flitch Day: Food History Today, July 19
In 1104, in the village of Little Dunmow, England a tradition started called Flitch Day. Today the event is celebrated
Master Outlining & Tracking for your novel
I just finished editing the second novel in the Bayou Talents series for Edward Branley, Trusted Talents. As I am
Why is there an apostrophe in Hallowe’en?
One early spelling of “Halloween” was “All Hallows’ Even (Even = evening). The “all” and “s” were dropped, “hallows’ ”
New Orleans, Manhole Covers, and Hotels (NOPSI)
You may be saying, okay, the Book Doctor needs Coffee (you’d be right!). What is she talking about, and what
Inauguration Day Trivia
The shortest and longest inaugural addresses were given by George Washington and William Henry Harrison, respectively. Washington’s second inaugural address
That “Old Book Smell”
If you ever wandered up into the attic to look at your grandparent’s old books, or through a used bookstore
Leap Year Traditions
image courtesy of the times dispatch (Richmond, VA.) February 29, 1912 [page 9, image 9] Ancient history states that in
Dara Rochlin Book Doctor 