Michael A. Kahn

A Poolside Lesson

Posted on December 15, 2016 by Michael Kahn

Browsing through some older copies of Missouri Lawyers Weekly, I came across an essay of mine from a few years ago on a subject that many of us struggle with, namely, how to find a balance between your work and your life. Re-reading it brought back the vivid memories that had inspired the essay, and reminded me…

+

How’s This for a Stamp of Approval!

Posted on December 5, 2016December 5, 2016 by Michael Kahn

Sometimes my life in the world of the law overlaps nicely with my life in the world of the arts. I have been lucky over the years to represent some extraordinary artists, many of whom have become friends as well. One such artist is the acclaimed international photographer (and laid-back dude) Lou Bopp, whose deep…

+

A Thanksgiving Meditation From Nearly Two Millennia Ago

Posted on November 24, 2016 by Michael Kahn

On this Thanksgiving holiday, as we each pause to give thanks, I turn to a wise piece of advice from the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, whose book of meditations has remained in print (to the envy of all authors) since his death in 180 A.D. Here is that Thanksgiving advice, from book seven of his…

+

The Dead Hand and the Jewish Book Festival — 1:30 pm on Monday, November 14

Posted on November 11, 2016 by Michael Kahn

Should be a fun afternoon at the St. Louis Jewish Book festival on Monday, November 14. I will be one of three authors on the Missouri’s Own Panel, where each of us will have a chance to discuss our latest book, read a passage, and the participate in a panel discussion hosted by my friend…

+

An Evening with Scott Turow–November 6th at 7:30 PM

Posted on November 1, 2016 by Michael Kahn

I have been a fan of Scott Turow and his writings ever since publication of his first book, One L, a work of nonfiction subtitled The Turbulent True Story of a First Year at Harvard Law School. That book came out during my own first year at Harvard Law School. As you can imagine, I was hardly…

+

A Delightful Evening with Two Great Guys Who Happen to Be Terrific Writers

Posted on October 12, 2016October 12, 2016 by Michael Kahn

Writing a novel is, by definition, a lonely avocation. It’s just you and your computer–or just you and that legal pad. Thus any opportunity to hang out with a fellow writer is a welcome opportunity–but sometimes it can be a truly delightful opportunity. And that’s what I experienced last Monday night when I took the…

+

Fun Book Event at the St. Louis County Library–October 10th

Posted on October 5, 2016 by Michael Kahn

I am looking forward to this Monday night, October 10th–and not just because the 2nd Presidential Debate will finally be behind us (although the cable news networks will no doubt still have their panels of “experts” seated around the table and bloviating on who won). No, Monday night is a special one for me because I…

+

Groucho Marx versus Warner Bros. — A Social Media Smackdown

Posted on September 17, 2016 by Michael Kahn

While I am often described as “a lawyer by day and an author at night,” those two occupations have a tendency to blend into one another. All of my novels have featured lawyers and compelling legal issues, and much of my law practice involves the writing of what I hope are compelling works of non-fiction…

+

God or Huck Finn: Who Should Tell Your Story?

Posted on September 15, 2016September 14, 2016 by Michael Kahn

An online discussion among several of my fellow Poisoned Pen Press authors got me thinking about the one decision every fiction author must make before typing CHAPTER 1 at the top of the page. That decision? Who will tell your story? “Huh,” a baffled reader may wonder, “doesn’t the author tell the story?” Only rarely….

+

Meet Me in St. Louis: Toasted Ravioli, Hoosiers, and High School

Posted on August 15, 2016August 21, 2016 by Michael Kahn

If asked to name the key elements of their favorite novel, most readers would place at the top of their list vivid characters and an engaging plot. But when we think of our favorite novels, another vital element is the strong sense of place. Whether it’s Huck Finn’s Mississippi River in Mark Twain’s masterpiece or…

+