Category Archives: writing

A Writer’s Notebook: notes from a reading

When I go to literary readings, I always take my notebook. Before I got my iPod, I took my notebook everywhere, but now that I can rely on the much slimmer iPod for emergency idea-jotting, I sometimes leave the thicker notebook at home. But at readings? I have to have paper and pencil to scribbleContinue reading “A Writer’s Notebook: notes from a reading”

Jesse Lee Kercheval sent me mail

Yes, what you’re looking at is a photo of two books, both by Jesse Lee Kercheval, that arrived in my mail today. And they weren’t in an Amazon box — they were in a thick manila envelope with my name and address handwritten by Kercheval herself. How, you ask? It pays to engage the writingContinue reading “Jesse Lee Kercheval sent me mail”

Jersey Devil Press is scary good!

  Jersey Devil Press’s October issue is out today, and the work is freakishly good, people! Emphasis on the freaks: in addition to ghosts and Halloween stories, we have mermaids, dog-people, Arkansas magicians, and — most frightening of all — brutish adolescent boys trying to grab some boob. It’s great stuff, and just in timeContinue reading “Jersey Devil Press is scary good!”

All’s fair in love and literature

Well, the voting is over, gang, and I didn’t win. Which is okay. I didn’t really stand a chance in this. For one thing, I got on the voting bandwagon a full week after it started and just a couple of days before it ended, so the other stories had the jump on me. ForContinue reading “All’s fair in love and literature”

Fictional election (no, this isn’t about politics)

Hey, gang. I know, two posts in one day. But I need my readers’ help for two seconds: Now that it’s the end of September, the excellent Bartleby Snopes is preparing to select their Story of the Month — and you get to vote for the winner! And since my story “Lightning My Pilot” appearedContinue reading “Fictional election (no, this isn’t about politics)”

I appreciate my readers — they appreciate me right back!

Seriously, I love the heck out of anyone cool enough to sit down and read my blog. People who read regularly — especially people who subscribe? They rock my world! People who actually engage and leave comments? Man oh man: I want to buy them all big boxes of chocolate. And then there’s EJ Runyon.Continue reading “I appreciate my readers — they appreciate me right back!”

A Writer’s Notebook: wing walkers

This happened a bit by accident. But I’ll explain below. I get all sorts of pilots coming in on the little grass airstrip out on my farm: crop-dusters, helicopters, daytrippers coming in from the next state, on their way south or north like migrating birds. But the other day I had an honest-to-god biplane roarContinue reading “A Writer’s Notebook: wing walkers”

These days are constant. Get ready to shake them away.

It is official. It is here. Yes, it’s true: today is the official release date for Ryan Werner’s brilliant little collection of flash fiction, Shake Away These Constant Days. And you need to buy a copy. Right. Now. Seriously. I know the word “brilliant” gets thrown around a lot, and I’m one of the worstContinue reading “These days are constant. Get ready to shake them away.”

A Writer’s Notebook: yearbook memories

I don’t know what this is or where it would ever go. But it felt good to write. In my 8th-grade yearbook, on the inside covers where people are supposed to leave their indelible wisdom for the ages alongside their silly doodles and autographs, there is a fantastically artistic signature from Shanna J. She claimedContinue reading “A Writer’s Notebook: yearbook memories”