Like most people these days, I’ve occasionally been struggling to find things with which to occupy my time during isolation. We subscribe to Roku, so there’s a whole slew of interesting stuff to watch there. There’s a great deal of boring, silly, and just plain awful stuff there, too, but that’s no different from any […]
Read MoreI used to be strictly a dog person. I grew up with dogs around the house, and their warm, unconditional love was a comfort. It wasn’t until I moved away after high school that I first encountered house cats, and boy, my life has changed a lot since then. The most recent cats to enter […]
Read MoreSo the world’s on fire, but you’re tired of hearing about that, and so am I. Instead, I thought I might talk about things I’m doing to keep busy while stuck at home. I have a lot of hobbies, and rarely get the chance to indulge them, so here goes… First, I’ve been painting miniatures […]
Read MoreWell, we”re in it now, aren’t we? It’s been said for years that a global pandemic is only a matter of time, and this year the clock ran out. Now that we’ve started washing our hands compulsively, what else do we do? 1. Don’t panic. I saw people at my local Costco two weeks ago […]
Read MoreOccasionally, memes go by on Facebook or Twitter regarding ways to support authors. This does not necessarily mean every and all authors, mind you — just ones whose work you enjoy. It has never been more important to do so now; with conventions cancelling and postposing their events because of conrona virus fears– events that […]
Read MoreA self-help guru named Marie Kondo has come under fire for her philosophy regarding clutter and possessions. Basically, she’s in favor of getting rid of everything you don’t really need – the “need” part being the element with which people seem to take issue. The main idea of her theory is to get rid of […]
Read MoreJust finished reading Cherie Priest’s Maplecroft, which I recommend for fans of Lovecraftian Horror. The mystery and horror elements involve the sea to some degree, and it started me thinking over the countless nature shows I’ve absorbed over the years. I LOVE nature shows, and deep sea critters are among my favorites to learn about. […]
Read MoreYesterday, a convention I attend every year, Geneva Steam, announced that this year’s event would be their last. I was stunned by the news. It’s a small event, it attracts mostly locals, and it seemed to have a lot going for it, but in the end, the three main people running it all found that […]
Read MoreI was with some friends in a restaurant recently, and I began thinking about all the factors that make for a good restaurant. It’s not always as simple as just serving good food; there’s more to it than that, and I had a few tiny revelations about thew subject while nomming on my pork bun, […]
Read MoreSometimes, when I’m feeling down, I take a look at what other authors have dubbed the Brag Shelf — a shelf full of books I’ve contributed to. It gives me a lift, not only from the sense of accomplishment, but also from the wide variety of material I’ve worked on over the years. The vast […]
Read More