Dispatches since 2005
The journal
Announcements, new editions, travel, diving, cooking and the working life of a novelist — 3,174 entries, all of them here in full.
February 7, 2023 · 91 words
Another Win on the Shelf
So Bonnie got another Grammy to put on her shelf, much to the astonishment and outrage of the world. (If you can’t outrage the world at an awards ceremony, what’s the point?) I could post the video of “Just Like That” here, but I thought I’d put up one that was new to me— a […]
Read entry →January 31, 2023 · 340 words
When Horses Fly
I suppose because I was the most junior person on board, I was first through the hatch, and then I just gaped. The smell struck me first, horse dung and horse sweat and horse panic and horse urine, all blended into a primeval acid reek that scalded the back of my throat. And then there was the […]
Read entry →January 29, 2023 · 410 words
Whole Yellow
For Cousin Cindy’s visit the other day, I cooked a large ham. It was something like 12 pounds, so it lasted considerably longer than the night Cindy was here. Since then we’ve enjoyed ham sandwiches, ham omelettes, and ham fried rice. Because there was a leftover ham bone, I was inspired to make a memory […]
Read entry →January 27, 2023 · 693 words
How I Are a Williams
A few days ago I had a visit from my cousin Cindy, who was in transit from Minnesota to visit friends in Arizona. Cindy has been assembling a genealogy of our family, and I was able to share a few stories about our history, including the story of how I became a Williams. I figure […]
Read entry →January 19, 2023 · 109 words
1941-2023
David Crosby is the only major rock star I ever had a conversation with, backstage at the National Hispanic Cultural Center. We weren’t exactly a mutual admiration society: I adored his music; and though a science fiction fan who knew my name, he’d never read any of my books. (I sent him some, but I […]
Read entry →January 13, 2023 · 182 words
I Am Revu’d
Locus Online has published Russell Letson’s lengthy, thoughtful review of Imperium Restored. I quote from a key paragraph: I will repeat (again) the observation I made at the very start, two decades back: that despite marketing language and cover iconography, these are not only space-operatic military adventures but al
Read entry →January 11, 2023 · 73 words
Go Yeoh!
Via Variety: Nobody is going to play off Michelle Yeoh. The actor, who won her first Golden Globe on Tuesday, jokingly told the awards show’s producers to “shut up” after trying to cut her speech short. “I can beat you up,” said Yeoh as music started to play midway through her remarks. “And that’s serious.” Man, [&hell
Read entry →January 11, 2023 · 132 words
Saladin Swings Spider-Man
We continue with our survey of releases in 2022 from veterans of Taos Toolbox, the master class for writers of science fiction and fantasy. Saladin Ahmed was at the very first Toolbox in 2007, where he workshopped his novel Throne of the Crescent Moon, subsequently nominated for every award in the field. Saladin was no
Read entry →January 2, 2023 · 121 words
Feed the Bear
It’s the New Year, so the application season for Taos Toolbox has finally opened! Taos Toolbox, the master class for writers of science fiction and fantasy, has a proven record of helping new writers make sales, win awards, and build careers. If your New Year’s resolution for 2023 is “working toward becoming a professi
Read entry →December 30, 2022 · 191 words
Buffelhunde
Lawrence M. Schoen has published widely, has won both the Hugo and Campbell Awards, and speaks fluent Klingon. He’s also a veteran of Taos Toolbox, the master class for writers of fantasy and science fiction. His latest publication in 2022 is based on a singular idea. His popular “Buffalito” series about far-future sta
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