When she was a college student, aspiring writer Carren Strock's English professor told her, "Some people are writers, and some people aren't. You are not a writer."

She didn't pick up a pen for more than fifteen years... until Robert Redford came to town.

Appearing in Redford's movie led to writing for national magazines, and then to selling her first nonfiction book to a major New York publisher.

Now Carren Strock lays out her improbable journey from "not a writer" to professional writer. She shares what she's learned along the way, and tells you how you can do it,...

Mallory McGill has no idea how she got to Coney Island Creek. The last thing she remembers is traveling to the hospital to deliver her baby. Now her baby is missing, and she is being accused of committing an unspeakable crime.

For Teri Cardello, a tough detective who has no tolerance for anyone involved in crimes against children, McGill is guilty, and there's no doubt in her mind. But her partner Sam Rothman, who once let an innocent man go to his death, refuses to be so easily convinced. "Either that girl is the worst liar in the world, or everyone else is lying and she's telling the...

My interest in potato recipes began quite innocently while driving down a country road. As I passed a farm stand, a sign reading, “50 pound of potatoes, only three dollars,” caught my eye.

Not able to resist a bargain, I stopped. “I’d like to buy that bag of potatoes,” I said.

“Buy that one and I’ll throw in the other two I have left,” the manager said.

I arrived home with 150 pounds of potatoes. My family thought I was crazy. Determined to prove them wrong, I sent my kids up and down the street handing out bagfuls, until...