Putting My Chips on the Table

I am pleased to announce that my novel, The Glory Rites, is now available in paperback on Amazon.  You can access the site by clicking on the cover and blurb to the right of this posting. The prequel to The Glory Rites is being formatted for paperback right now.  It is called The Old Powers. Coming soon! Are these fantasy novels?  Yes, but….  I’m not much for dragons, magical creatures, and evil wizards.  I’m more interested in psychological development, and these books follow the personal growth of several characters.  I’ve used plots that pit the existence of otherworldly powers against the spiritual issues of religion and humanism. Do check out the Amazon site and consider ordering a book today.  I’d really like to receive your review on the Amazon site as well.  It’s your turn to give me feedback!

The Adventure of a Lifetime

Alicia stood at the bus stop, counting the change in her pocket to make sure she had exact.  It was either take the bus and skip lunch; or walk to work, be late, but be able to afford a cheap burger at noon.  Her run-away-from-college-to San-Francisco adventure was going downhill.  The ill-paying job as an elf in the Santa Claus section of the Emporium department store had been forcing certain of life’s unpleasant realities on her.  She realized she didn’t know how to cook (and only owned two pans), had no friends to speak of, was scared to drive the Honda 150 cc motorcycle she’d spent her thin savings on (hoping to turn her life into a cool adventure), and didn’t know what to do with herself on the weekends when she could barely afford to eat.   Her two room apartment was empty except for one folding chair, a sleeping bag, and a table made out of a cardboard shipping box.  How was this all going to turn out?

One Tiny Window

The one tiny window was glued shut with many gummy layers of paint.  It had never been opened as far as Ramon knew.  Problem was, it was the only way out of the silo workshop now that the ladders to the loft space had been sabotaged.  He was getting hungry.  And thirsty.  Twelve year old single malt scotch was not going to be good for dehydration.

What’s New?

well, I revised my site, and that’s new.  But more importantly, my daffodils are new, my latest trip over a throw rug is new (lovely new knee bruise), the smell in my compost collection can is new, and the appearance of the sandhill cranes is new.  What’s new with you?

The Undergod

She peers out from inside the mountain.  The mountain is new, created by volcanoes and the hot lava of a newly forming planet, but our Undergod doesn’t care.  She and the mountain are one, and if part of her has joined the hot, then cooling lava, silt, and gravel on its way to the ocean, it’s a journey that intrigues her.  It’s a kind of travel after all.  She is spreading.  She is considering becoming the ocean floor when her mountain is finally worn completely away.  Wider, looser, a bit more ebbing and flowing as she feels the weight of all that water overhead, and above the water–sky.  And something else, someone else, up there in the sky?  A companion perhaps?  She feels a heat return. Is this creation or just fantasy?  Surely you have your own creation myth.  This is why we write, after all.

Take Me to Your Leader

Just trying to get your attention.  This challenge is one more galumphing bonanza.  Try it! –Eyelids –Zooming –Claw –Letter opener –Scar

It’s Haiku Time

Late winter’s beige grass By the deep blue of spring skies Scent of snow, no buds.

Home Stead

It occurs to me that one of the icons of our lives is our home ground, our home stead, our point of origin, or perhaps the destination we’ve always yearned for.  Even so, that’s not a story until you describe how hard it was to either survive it or reach it. Location is often the origin of story.  Where are you now?

Give Me a Story

Give me a story that includes these five elements:  a crack in the sidewalk, rat poison, rust-colored corduroy pants, leftover lasagna, and Einstein. I could use a good story.

What’s in Your Junk Drawer?

Here’s what I found in mine.  What did you find in yours? Stick-on Googly Eyes Five screw drivers, but never the one I am looking for. Three tubes of dried up Super Glue Old unused stamps in very odd denominations that I will never use. A shoe box filled with pens, pencils, and markers—more than I can use in a lifetime. Batteries that may or may not still work. A ruler and a protractor A small compass and a step minder that work, but not for me Three hand calculators Notes for poem and story ideas that I may or may not write A flap of skin next to my thumb nail catches on everything Anger as a lifeline Dear Hillary: Thank you. The Abortion Diaries Forgiveness, redemption, surrender, evil, suffering, healing