Dispatches since 2005
The journal
Announcements, new editions, travel, diving, cooking and the working life of a novelist — 181 entries, all of them here in full.
April 7, 2013 · 135 words
Toolbox Strikes Again!
I should offer somewhat belated congratulations to Taos Toolbox grad Saladin Ahmed, whose Throne of the Crescent Moon has been nominated for a Hugo Award, mere weeks after having been nominated for a Nebula. Saladin did what writers are supposed to do. He had a great idea, he wrote the book, he worked through revisions
Read entry →April 6, 2013 · 327 words
Dracula Slept Here
I am currently in a part of the world where towns have names like Grewelthorpe, Winksley, Buttertubs, Reeth, Scab Hill, Copsgrove, Giggleswick, Todmorden, and Bakup. Honestly, it’s as if PG Wodehouse invented the whole country. These are the ruins of Whitby Abbey. Historians know this as the home of St. Hilda and the V
Read entry →April 2, 2013 · 51 words
Gas Masks For Pachyderms
Or so I thought, anyway, as I turned the corner in the Royal Armory and came face-to-face with this fellow. But no, it’s elephant armor from the Mughal Empire. It’s bad enough facing one of these things. A whole division of them charging, and I’m taking the next train to Hyderabad.
Read entry →April 1, 2013 · 77 words
Clothes Horse
Here I am in a rather Churchillian pose, modeling the lovely bespoke waistcoat given me by the Eastercon committee. It’s even got a pocket for my pocket watch. Got to say, I look pretty magnificent. The convention is over, and the friendships and greetings were warm despite the freezing weather. As GoH, I felt quite [&
Read entry →March 27, 2013 · 124 words
Whereat I Shall Be
I’m flying off on Wednesday for that royal throne of kings, that sceptred isle, that earth of majesty, that seat of Mars, that other Eden, demi-paradise, that fortress built by Nature for herself against infection and the hand of war. Which is to say, England. Where I will be Guest of Honor at EightSquaredCon, this yea
Read entry →March 22, 2013 · 56 words
This Bear Wants Writers!
There are still places available at Taos Toolbox, the master class in writing science fiction and fantasy taught by Nancy Kress, yours truly, and Melinda Snodgrass. You want to write, right? Of course you do. And Taos Toolbox is a place that will give you the tools that you need. We await your application with interest
Read entry →March 22, 2013 · 679 words
Get Your Glory Here!
My first published novel, To Glory Arise, also known as The Privateer, is now available in electronic form at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords. From the latter it should migrate to Kobo, iBooks, Baker & Taylor, and other fine locations. Reading the novel for the first time in over thirty years, I was impressed. [
Read entry →March 20, 2013 · 457 words
Are Your Eyeballs Your Destiny?
I had an interesting discussion the other day with my eye doc. (Allow me to interrupt myself with a report on my Lasik. [Because some of you are bound to ask.] My eyesight is very, very good, particularly distance vision. I’m seeing the nearby mountains better than I’ve ever seen them, even with contacts or […]
Read entry →