I'm not a great mountain climber, mostly because my feet are too big, my joints are too old, and I don't have anyone to do it with. But when I was young and stupid, I used to go climbing seaside cliffs with dad. Because this was Portugal, we did it without safety ropes (natch) or... Continue Reading →
Random thoughts
I do have a post half-written. I really do. The problem this morning is that my attention is fragmented. I'm waiting for the repairman to get here to figure out what is wrong with the dishwasher that is less than a year old and, fortunately, still under warranty. My brain is busy trying to work... Continue Reading →
Post will be late but it will come
Sorry, everyone. I overslept this morning and the brain is slow to come online. I have a post half-written and will finish it as soon as the coffee kicks in. Until then, someone please tell me who had the temerity to put half caf coffee pods in the holder under the coffee maker. They must be... Continue Reading →
“Like you would do for one that you love…”
“Untie for me your hired blue gown Like you would do for one that you love” Leonard Cohen – take this longing This came out of talking to one of newer authors that I try to help as much as I can. Yes, even an idiot can teach, can support, can sometimes say the right... Continue Reading →
A matter of canon
One thing I think nobody in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s could have anticipated, was the extent to which the popular science fiction and fantasy products of that era would continue to be dominant well past the turn of the new century. Certainly there was no indication, when the original Star Trek limped through the... Continue Reading →
Turning a blind eye
I want to start by thanking Cedar for stepping in and handling MGC last Tuesday. This past week has been more than a bit trying and there was simply no way I could have blogged then. Life is slowly returning to normal and I will try to do Cedar proud today but I warn everyone that... Continue Reading →
Taking Off the Writer Hat
I’d like to apologize in advance, in retrospect. Looking back, a lot of my posts have been far more in the way of “life of the writer,” than they have been about writing as a craft. Becoming a father has dramatically narrowed my existence, and I’m still coming to terms with the machine-gun changes (don’t... Continue Reading →
A Diversion into Pet Blogging
As those who follow me on Facebook know, our household has recently been the subject of a small fuzzy takeover in the form of an 11 week old Siamese kitten. And by recently I mean she arrived last Thursday evening and has spent the time since then wrapping me around her itty bitty paws. By... Continue Reading →
Stop the Revisions
I have told this story before, I think: when I wrote my first publishable story (and had an idea it was publishable) I did the three revisions (sense, wording and typos) and one more, reading aloud for word sound (it's a very poetic story.) Then I sent it out. When it came back, rejected, I... Continue Reading →
Publishing’s Bellwether
Welcome to the farm, today, where I'm leaning on my oak crook and feeling the gentle breeze in my hair and watching the lambs cavort. I'm also keeping a weather-eye on the sky, and listening to the animals as they move from place to place. Amanda's dealing with real life, and I'm lost in a... Continue Reading →