About Beth

I am a longtime journalist who most recently was an editor and real-estate columnist for The Wall Street Journal. Previously I was the deputy business editor at Newsday, a newspaper on Long Island, N.Y., and the features editor at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. At heart, I am a storyteller who likes to shed light on the human condition–especially the follies and foibles that shape us into our best selves.

When I’m not writing, I’m probably at home with my dog, Biscuit, and my cats, Jam and Butters. I am an avid crafter of mediocre competence, as well as a determined cook who has yet to master the art of grilled meats. I rely on my friends in book club to explain life's eternal mysteries, such as the maddening appeal of bagpipes.

This blog is the offshoot of an article that I wrote for The Wall Street Journal in May 2024. Based on the reader response, I am currently writing a book on the subject with a working title, “Mom & Pop Hardware: The Nuts and Bolts of a Childhood Spent at My Folks’ Competing Stores in Small-Town America.”

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