Dispatches since 2005
The journal
Announcements, new editions, travel, diving, cooking and the working life of a novelist — 156 entries, all of them here in full.
May 8, 2016 · 184 words
Fête des Mères
EPSON scanner image It’s Mother’s Day here in the States, so I thought I’d post a photo of my mom dating from her period as a lingerie model. I vaguely remember this photo being taken. We were on vacation in a lakeside cabin in northern Minnesota, where I spent the day on or in the […]
Read entry →May 7, 2016 · 47 words
From the Hi Ball Lounge
Since we’re heading into the weekend, I thought I’d program a bit of entertainment for you folks. Live from the Hi Ball Lounge, it’s Miss Lavay Smith and Her Red-Hot Skillet Lickers. Put on a smoking jacket, pour yourself a gin gimlet, and give it a listen.
Read entry →May 6, 2016 · 434 words
Going Urban
I’ve just hatched a new theory. Which is a callow, trembling thing just out of the chrysalis, but I may be onto something, so bear with me. My theorizing was spurred by this last weekend at the Paradise Lost workshop, for which I read some of the stuff that is called “urban fantasy,” which is […]
Read entry →May 4, 2016 · 99 words
Drinks for the Season
I’m busy trying to finish a novel and a copy-edited manuscript of Impersonations, the short novel that will appear from Tor later this year. Meanwhile the American election season rolls on. New Mexico’s primary, which takes place next month, may actually matter in some way, which it never has in my lifetime. Usually by
Read entry →April 28, 2016 · 212 words
Go Pro
I haven’t been online much, because I’ve been reading manuscripts in preparation for the Paradise Lost Writers Workshop and Retreat, taking place in San Antonio this weekend. I’ll be teaching and offering critique of others’ work, along with Jaye Wells, Ken Scholes, and former Toolboxer (and Nebula and Andre Norton and
Read entry →April 20, 2016 · 357 words
Dark Horse, Mad Dog, Warrior Monk
You’ve probably heard of dark horse candidates, right? Now, if certain deep-pocketed conservatives have their way, we may have a candidate that’s a mad dog. That would be James “Mad Dog” Mattis, USMC, retired. Former lieutenant general, former NATO Supreme Commander (Transformation), and David Petraeus’ successor as Ce
Read entry →April 19, 2016 · 506 words
Walters of the World
All my life, I’ve been keeping track of the other Walter Williamses out there. On the whole, we seem to be a pretty distinguished bunch. To start with, there was my father, who was another Walter Williams. We had different middle names— his was Ulysses, believe it or not. After my dad was born (in […]
Read entry →April 17, 2016 · 147 words
Clip Officiel
After a few days of perfect springtime weather, winter descended again with wind and rain and cloud. Which made me long for the tropics, so I thought I’d check out the music scene on the island of Mauritius. (Which calls itself Maurice, by the way.) I used to stream music from a radio station in […]
Read entry →April 13, 2016 · 801 words
Interactivity
The entertainment has been interactive around here. And no, I’m not talking about Xbox games. A few weeks ago we visited License to Spy, a traveling exhibit of spy gear sent from Australia to (for some reason) the New Mexico Museum of Natural History. (See a dinosaur, spy on your neighbor . . . all good […]
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