Dispatches since 2005
The journal
Announcements, new editions, travel, diving, cooking and the working life of a novelist — 3,179 entries, all of them here in full.
July 8, 2022 · 79 words
Lynch and Who???
Today I learned a mind-croggling facticle, which is that Mel Brooks produced “The Elephant Man” film. (He kept his name off the project so the people wouldn’t expect a roistering Mel Brooks comedy.) The thought of Brooks and David Lynch collaborating on a film has me stripping my mental gears. But then Brooks also coll
Read entry →July 7, 2022 · 333 words
Flames
So I’m now well into Heaven in Flames, the third book in the Metropolitan sequence. I’m confronting the normal problems of writing a sequel: how much of the backstory to reveal at any given moment, working out how the characters may have changed, and— after a gap of 25 years— how well I remember what [&hell
Read entry →June 26, 2022 · 322 words
Achievement Unlocked
First there was Taos Toolbox, and then there was . . . this. Four days after the workshop ended, I successfully tested for my 6th degree black belt in Kenpo Karate. In the days since, I’ve been judging at the tests of lower-ranking belts, and participating in a demonstration in front of a live audience. […]
Read entry →June 19, 2022 · 326 words
Sleepless at Sonesta
Someday I may catch up on my sleep. Until then I’ll just cut and paste from Nancy’s Facebook wall. More quotes from Taos Toolbox: “I want the details about how Grandma got wrapped up in vines.” “I cannot picture a ‘godscoop’ non-hilariously.” “Every dystopia needs a good investigative reporter.” “The time between the c
Read entry →June 16, 2022 · 163 words
More Quotes
Still sleepless at Taos Toolbox. Some more quotes from Nancy’s notebook: “He should make a more romantic gesture, like cleaning her sword.” “There is too much capitalization going on.” “Alex is kind of a Schrodinger’s Boyfriend.” “Migraines suck but they’re not magical.” “All I know about medieval weapons is that they
Read entry →June 12, 2022 · 513 words
Tooling Along
I’ve spent the last week at our new, undisclosed location, teaching with Nancy Kress at Taos Toolbox, the master class for writers of science fiction and fantasy. This year is actually the workshop for 2020, 2021, and 2022, due to repeated postponements due to the pandemic. Kudos to those accepted for earlier years who
Read entry →May 31, 2022 · 473 words
Agley
So quite a number of plans have gang agley in the last days, so I’ve been putting out fires— nearly literal fires. Taos Toolbox, the master class for writers of science fiction and fantasy, starts this weekend, and has been held at the Angel Fire resort for the last decade or more. It’s a deluxe […]
Read entry →May 12, 2022 · 73 words
Newly Launched
The second audio book of my Privateers & Gentlemen series, Brig of War, has just been released from Blackstone Audio. Narrated, like the first, by Bronson Pinchot. It was originally released as The Raider, but now I’m the boss, and I can use the title I like. I think the book is probably the best […]
Read entry →May 8, 2022 · 51 words
Rowing
It’s Mother’s Day, and here’s a picture of my mom messing about in a boat. I have written elsewhere about my mother’s escape from poverty and superstition, and the hard work and dedication it took her to give me something like a perfect childhood. Mom, here’s to you. Enjoy your Day!
Read entry →