The City of Trees

Do you believe that the universe sends us signs? Do you believe there are no accidents? Do you follow what you believe to be your instinct? I certainly do. When my friend, a private chef, invited me to Idaho, I leapt at the opportunity. Without the ability to fly directly into Sun Valley, I made … Read more

The Impermanence of All Things

The impermanence of all things, what is it? Deeply rooted in Buddhist teaching, it is the understanding that all things are in flux, and move and change according to fate beyond our control; that everything is temporary. By accepting the impermanence of all things, we accept that so many variables are in play beyond our … Read more

America is Violent

I think it’s time as a nation we acknowledge our violence problem. Not just our gun violence problem, but our tendency towards violence overall. With today’s news that Charlie Kirk was shot and killed following only months on from the assassination of Democratic lawmaker Marissa Hortman, the political violence has certainly reached a dangerous crescendo. … Read more

Manhattan Box 8087

8:47am Battalion 1: Battalion 1 to Manhattan. Dispatch: Battalion 1. Battalion 1: We just had a plane crash into upper floors of the World Trade Center. Transmit a second alarm and start relocating companies into the area. D: 10-4 Battalion 1. Engine 10: Engine 1-0, World Trade Center 10-60. Send every available ambulance, everything you’ve … Read more

What the Fall of France in 1940 says About the US in 2025

While researching the French Resistance for my novel, which features a POV character that eventually partakes in the movement as a spy, I couldn’t help but notice many of the commonalities between the resistance then along with the challenges they faced, and the resistance to MAGA here in the US now. When France was defeated … Read more

How Long Does it Take to Write a Novel?

I suspect a lot of aspiring authors have entered this title into Google. Even I have begun to wonder just how realistic my own timeline is. I think the answer also depends on the genre you’re writing for. As a historical fiction writer, I cannot afford to cut any corners in research, even if I … Read more

Reporting from the Front Lines

While researching my novel Liberation, which follows the point of view of a foreign correspondent and war reporter, I was left with many questions about how reporters embedded with troops on the front lines went about submitting their stories for the world to read. At a time when cellphones can be used to instantly transmit … Read more

MK Leibman Writer