Synopses! Good Gwad, Y’all! What Are They Good For?
Absolutely nothing! So why do we have to keep coming up with them? We’re writers, not cartographers. A synopsis is little more than a crude map leading from point A to Point B. No topography to give the journey depth. No color to distinguish the terrain. Just a “See Spot.Read More …
Report From The Trenches
It’s been a hectic few months here in the hot desert a mile above sea level. The low points are the low points and they pass, by and by. Sometimes you’re the dog and sometimes you’re the hydrant. At the moment, I’m the dog. Being the Pessimistic Optimist that IRead More …
The Great Golden Gate Bridge Trivia Book
The Great Golden Gate Bridge Trivia Book was published in 1987. It’s out of print now and has been since almost before it was published. You can still find it if you look hard enough. And apparently people still do. Amazon has it listed, as does Barnes & Noble andRead More …
The End Of An Era?
For a few horrifying moments, I thought it would be. You see, I’ve been using WordPerfect word processing software since … well, let’s say it’s been a long time and leave it at that. Yesterday, in an effort to open up some hard drive space on my now ancient laptop,Read More …
Flowers and Flying Lessons
Spring has sprung. Well, here in Albuquerque there was never really a winter, leastwise not the sort of winter I’m used to; wet, cold, dark. Here it got cold but it was a dry cold and not so hard on the old bones. And the Sun! This is the firstRead More …
The Doubtful Guest
Here comes the floodWe will say good-bye to flesh and blood.~Peter Gabriel Is death any easier to bear if the death is not that of a human? Is it easier to bear if the death was necessary? A kindness? An act of mercy? Does the decision to end the lifeRead More …
Meter Maids Eat Their Young
Well, after a small hiatus to accommodate the Winter Blues, I’m back on “[tag]Meter Maids Eat Their Young[/tag]”. Before I get to that, though, I have to say that being here in Albuquerque, NM, where the sun always shines, has made this the shortest Winter Blues period I’ve ever had.Read More …
Dialogues
I had thought when I started this blog that I wouldn’t push books up here on the front page. After all, that was what the WOM page was for. But this one blew me away and, after reading the less then flattering reviews from Publisher Weekly and BookList, well, allRead More …
Read A New Author Month
Promotion is the name of the game, especially if you’re an author. More so if you’re a new author. I came across this on BackSpace the other day and decided to post it here. BackSpace, btw, is a writers forum that every serious writer should consider being a part of.Read More …
Self-Publishing: The Environmentally Friendly Way To Publish
There’s a theory that if anyone can join the game, the game will soon deteriorate. This could certainly be said of self-publishing. It was once called Vanity Press and I still hear that derogative term, well, derogative to writers, tossed about. Admittedly, mostly by other writers. And, at one time,Read More …
Feral When I Wanna Be
Shortly after I moved into the house I bought in Guerneville, CA, oh these long ten years ago, a rather badly battered tomcat showed up on my doorstep. His ear was torn up, the side of his face deeply gouged and scratched. He growled and hissed when I came near.Read More …
Which Book On The Shelf Shall I Buy?
The Grumpy Old Bookman had a post in his blog the other day regarding a test run by the Sunday Times in which they wanted to show that the publishing industry wouldn’t know quality writing if it bit them on their nether parts. They did the usual thing, typed upRead More …
The Reluctant Blogger
When I first heard about blogging, I didn’t think much of it. I had been an on-again/off-again journal writer for years and my journal writing tended to be both illegible and sappy. Blogging could correct the illegible but I wasn’t sure what it would do for the sappy. Later, whenRead More …
D5 Creation