For your calendar: I will be reading from my newest literary suspense novella, The Conversationalist, and a short off-center tale from Sandcastle and Other Stories at Village Books in Fairhaven on Friday May 31st at 7pm. Please join me for this and feel free to ask questions about the writing life, the writing process, and…
The third story from Sandcastle and Other Stories is dedicated to my mother. The photos are of The Girls, Myrtle and Lucille (who I called twins even though they were three years apart in age and different mutts of the 57 variety.) The Girls and my mother all passed away in 2008. She (and the…
Today it’s time for more poetry. A frosty morning inspires like nothing else. Most are in haiku form, but there is one free verse poem attached at the end, 20 in all. I hope you enjoy. These poems were written in the spirit of fun, and not with any yearning for greatness in the poetic…
I finished writing Wake Me Up and was ready to publish it in 2011 . . . When I reread the book for the fiftieth time, I realized the opening needed to begin in the middle so that the characters could reflect backwards in time and bring readers to this present moment. This section didn’t…
Russell Blake started his online Pet Wall to honor his own wondrous dog, Lobo. The book (hit the title to see the book at Amazon), An Angel With Fur, came pouring out as the story of how Lobo adopted Russell, which began one fine day while visiting an animal shelter in Mexico. If you have ever loved…
Puppies can’t look backwards — can’t remember thinking and feeling like a puppy. They are a constant reminder to stay present. Chew Chew Chew. It is finally here . . . the year went by so fast. Happy 1st Birthday, Kipling. Do you remember being this young? I only have photos to remind me of…
Everything is intricate. Even on the surface, nothing is simple. I feel this complexity is inherent in everything; more and more I will search out what makes up a life, how a character came to make a choice that on the surface appears natural. When someone tells a joke after a long set-up, I marvel…
Happy birthday, Stuliana. Love and tail wags from Kipling and Zippy One person, a beautiful, laughing most of the time, carefree kid who lives with her family in Cyprus, a child of Greek gods for sure, has shared her puppy with me all this time. Yes, the secret is out: I am not the true…
In the title story of my first book, Sandcastle and Other Stories, one lone gull in search of food becomes distracted by a popsicle stick . . . begins to search for iconic imagery . . . is there a god sand fleas worship? Not too far from this beach, it’s the middle of Spring,…
All of the pets around Islewood Farm have a purpose. I remember driving to another farmhouse about an hour north to pick out two barn cats after Figaro, the calico, went on walkabout over two years ago. Eartha Kitt’n and Ajax The Gray (the cat who stalks Gandalf to this day – “If Frodo Lives,…