A new year, a new blog! You
01/01/12 -- A new year, a new blog! You can still read all of last year's entries here. Check the bottom of any blog page for all archives.
I took a break yesterday and
12/23/11 -- I took a break yesterday and went snowshoeing with family and friends. At one point we came out of the woods onto the edge of a meadow. In its middle we noticed an area where the snow had been disturbed, so we headed over to check it o...
For over thirty years my
12/9/11 -- For over thirty years my wife, Debbie, has said that she was absolutely positively NOT interested in rock climbing. Imagine my surprise, then, when she announced recently that she wanted to give it a try. She did, and is now belay certi...
After a lengthy phone
11/21/11 -- After a lengthy phone conversation with my editor, REVENGE OF THE MUTANT UNDERWEAR has, well, mutated. Instead of a sequel to ATTACK OF THE MUTANT UNDERWEAR, it will now stand on it's own -- new characters, new story line (mostly), and...
Question from a 4th
11/11/11 -- Question from a 4th grade girl: "At what age do you start to like it when people guess that you're younger than you really are?" The answer is interesting to ponder -- I'm guessing 30 for most people -- but what I find much more fascin...
Right Brain, I'd like you to
11/8/11 -- Right Brain, I'd like you to meet Left Brain. Left Brain, this is Right Brain. I'd appreciate it if you two would get along and work together. I need to get some writing done.
These are the times that try
11/1/11 -- These are the times that try writer's souls. Roofers are just above my head -- seriously, three feet, max -- thwack-thwack-thwacking away with nail guns. I keep looking up, waiting for chips of plaster to fall, or a booted foot to come ...
Reading, wRiting, and Running
10/22/11 -- Reading, wRiting, and Running -- my version of the 3 R's.
Early morning at the
10/13/11 -- Early morning at the Hartford, CT airport. The steady hum of the concourse is punctuated with snippets of nearby conversation floating in and out of my consciousness: "They didn't have sesame bagels, so I got you cinnamon." "I don't kn...
Interesting wording of
10/12/11 -- Interesting wording of roadside sign on the outskirts of tiny North Brookfield, CT. Guess it's better than "Congestion ahead," which would lead you to believe you're going to come down with a cold soon.
As a faculty member
10/4/11 -- As a faculty member of the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA program in creative writing, once a month I receive 50 pages of work from five students (so 250 pages total) to critique. Although a big job, I love it and the students, who ar...
Rock climbing expedition
9/30/11 -- Rock climbing expedition the past two days to Southern Oregon to do the Peregrine Traverse -- ten pitches of face climbing, slabs, chimneys, and cracks. I'm exhausted, but at the same time restored. And ready to get back to work. Someti...
It's cloudy and spitting rain
9/26/11 -- It's cloudy and spitting rain today in Oregon, a cool and moist reminder of things to come. Some find it depressing, but not me. It's good writing weather. And besides, even when I venture out for a run or mountain bike ride, what harm ...
More good news! STORM
9/19/11 -- More good news! STORM MOUNTAIN has been nominated for the 2012-2013 Nebraska Golden Sower Award. Selected by a statewide committee of librarians as one of ten books on the intermediate grade list, it will be read by kids across Nebraska...
My son-in-law, Alex, and I
9/12/11 -- My son-in-law, Alex, and I ran the Warriors Dash yesterday, a 5K through the Western Oregon woods with 14 obstacles. There was lots of climbing over and under things, but the highlight was hurdling the fires . . . . . . and then wallowi...
UPS delivery
8/29/11 -- UPS recently delivered a box to my front porch. From its return address and heft I could tell it held books. Had I ordered copies of a current title? I didn't think so. Was a book going out of print and these were the last few remainder...
The window of opportunity
8/23/11 -- The window of opportunity for summer fun in the Oregon Cascades has been narrow this year, what with the giant lingering snowpack from last winter. So, instead of grousing about snow covered trails and hordes of mosquitos, we went skiin...
Summer continues at a
7/27/11 -- Summer continues at a lickity-split pace. Back from teaching at the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA program in creative writing, I've stepped into a giddy whirlwind of preparation for my youngest daughter's wedding on July 30th. It's g...
Folly Beach, South Carolina.
6/22/11 -- Folly Beach, South Carolina. Heat index 110 degrees. Good thing there is a big salty pond out there to cool off in. And an air-conditioned room in the back corner of the house where I can hole up in the furnace afternoons and get a bit ...
After a busy Spring of school
6/20/11 -- After a busy Spring of school visits, I am now off to South Carolina and Kentucky for family reunions. As usual, I'm hauling along my laptop and a folder full of index cards and notes. This is so I can continue to work on REVENGE OF THE...