Author Archives: Nancy Pinard

About Nancy Pinard

Professionally-speaking, Nancy Pinard is an author-educator who spends her days writing, teaching, reading, and researching for her writing and teaching. She is the author of two published novels, Shadow Dancing and Butterfly Soup, and numerous short stories. She has taught the craft of fiction writing in many venues including Sinclair Community College, University of Dayton Life-Long Learning Institute, Antioch Writers' Workshop, Mad Anthony Writers' Workshop, and Molasses Pond Writers' Workshop. Personally, her faith is what sustains, inspires, and motivates her to continue to explore meaning through literature. "You are right in demanding that an artist approach his work consciously, but you are confusing two concepts: the solution of a problem and the correct formulation of a problem. Only the second is required of the artist." — Anton Chekov to Alexei Suvorin, October 27, 1888

Why did Einstein’s mother hate his wife?

Posted on 12. February 2011 by Nancy Pinard

In an effort to understand Pauline Einstein’s (Albert’s mother) outright rejection of  her son’s love for Mileva Maric, I did some research on Jewish family values in Germany from 1870 -1900. The obvious answer might be that Mileva was raised … Continue reading →

Posted in Einstein, family members, Mileva Maric, Pauline Einstein, reading, Research methods | 4 Comments

Why Did Mileva Fail her Exams?

Posted on 31. January 2011 by Nancy Pinard

In looking at the history of Mileva’s academic career and thinking about what motivated her after she became pregnant with Einstein’s child, I ask myself that question. Prior to July 1900, she had never failed an exam.  That month was … Continue reading →

Posted in Einstein, Lake Como, Mileva Maric, reading, writing | 8 Comments

Decisions, Decisions

Posted on 13. January 2011 by Nancy Pinard

It’s time to fictionalize.  When Einstein and Mileva went to Lake Como, it’s unknown where they spent the nights.  On the most fateful day, the day they took a horse-drawn sleigh through the blinding six meter deep snow into Splugen … Continue reading →

Posted in reading | 1 Comment

Another Enchanting Landscape

Posted on 10. January 2011 by Nancy Pinard

I continue to discover that not having seen the landscapes or experienced the culture where important scenes took place is slowing my progress, as if setting were essential to the generation of words.  In service of moving the book ahead, … Continue reading →

Posted in Einstein, Italy, Lake Como, Mileva Maric | 2 Comments

Serbianism

Posted on 10. December 2010 by Nancy Pinard

Continue reading →

Posted in reading, Research methods, Serbia | 1 Comment

Serbia! (It Isn’t England)

Posted on 9. December 2010 by Nancy Pinard

One of my challenges with this book, in addition to getting a sense of all the physics, is that I have not yet visited the countries important to the principal persons in the text.  Generating scene tends to be very … Continue reading →

Posted in Asne Seierstad, Mileva Maric, reading, Serbia | Leave a comment

Serbia! (It Isn’t England)

Posted on 9. December 2010 by Nancy Pinard

One of my challenges with this book, in addition to getting a sense of all the physics, is that I have not yet visited the countries important to the principal persons in the text.  Generating scene tends to be very … Continue reading →

Posted in Asne Seierstad, Mileva Maric, reading, Serbia | 2 Comments

Some Convincing Evidence

Posted on 24. November 2010 by Nancy Pinard

In my ongoing collection of evidence that Mileva either did or did not contribute to Einstein’s theories, I come upon two passages in Highfield and Carter’s The Private Lives of Albert Einstein which would indicate that she did not. Mileva … Continue reading →

Posted in Einstein, Mileva Maric, reading, Research methods | 6 Comments

A Dangerous Liaison

Posted on 20. November 2010 by Nancy Pinard

In 1899, Einstein gave the following advice to Julia Niggli, a young woman acquaintance from Aarau who was agonizing over her possible marriage to an older man: “What a strange thing must be a girl’s soul!  Do you really believe … Continue reading →

Posted in Einstein, Mileva Maric | Leave a comment

Chekhov on Writing about Thorny Issues

Posted on 9. November 2010 by Nancy Pinard

In a letter to writer/publisher A. S. Suvorin, Chekhov wrote, “You are right in demanding that an artist should take an intelligent attitude toward his work, but you confuse two things:  solving a problem and stating a problem correctly.  It … Continue reading →

Posted in Anton Chekhov, Darwin, Einstein, Mileva Maric, reading, writing | 6 Comments