[Note to the reader: As of post time Tropical Storm Emily is no more.  However, since I already had the post written I decided to go with it.] Depending where and when you are when you read this, Tropical Storm Emily may or may not be a big deal.  If…

He cried in a whisper at some image, at some vision–he cried out twice, a cry that was no more than a breath: `The horror! The horror!’  (Joseph Conrad, The Heart of Darkness, via Link) My wife will not read my books or stories.  She says they are too dark. …

It’s hard to get feedback.  Relatives are prone to either sugar coat their opinions or say nothing, and most strangers won’t be bothered.  For most writers it’s difficult to establish a personal relationship, even virtual, with readers and make them comfortable enough to honestly express their opinions.  Authors of self-published…

Cool!  eFiction Magazine has included a story of mine, “Another Twenty-Five Minutes”, in its August edition.  It’s free to read on-line or download.  Consider getting a free subscription.  eFiction provides a platform for some very creative indie writers. Being included in eFiction is cool for a number of reasons.  The…

This summer has been difficult for me as a writer because, by necessity, I have had to be other focused.  As I have mentioned in several past posts, that whole work-family-sleep thing really gets in the way.  One would think that as you get older, as your children get married…

This past Friday I picked up a newlywed couple at Port Canaveral.  They had just returned from their honeymoon cruise.  The groom was the son of an old friend of ours and my wife let them park in our yard.  It was the safer and cheaper alternative to leaving the…

Yay!  O happy day!  The Oxford English Dictionary on-line (OED) is back as a free service.  I don’t know why they changed to a pay subscription only model, but it is once again free and that’s all that matters. Are you as excited as I am? Maybe Not? If you’re…

When I joined the website for eFiction magazine two of the entries for the profile were favorite authors and favorite books.  I had to stop and think about this for a moment.  I wanted to answer honestly, but at the same time I wanted to sound well read, even literate….

So my eBook, Any Tomorrow: The Calling, has been out at Amazon and all the major eBook distributors for a couple of months.  How come I’m not rich yet?  Gosh, if you read the user forums at Kindle, it seems like everyone who posts is selling upwards of 900 copies…

This weekend, instead of joining in the traditional American July 4th rituals of barbeque, beer, and shopping, I have undertaken to replace the toilet and floor in our guest bathroom.  This is, of course, only the beginning.  Replacing the mirror and light fixtures, regrouting the shower, and painting the bathroom…