Today was the day I was (maybe) going to wear the cobalt blue sequinned one-shoulder very short outrageous dress, the cobalt blue cape, and the star-shaped blue sunglasses. Today was my panel at this huge L.A. book fair to talk about my novel Cobalt Blue. But getting ready to go to the USC campus, my nerve wobbled.  I had already […] Read More

I refer of course to L.A. and the L.A. Times Festival of Books which I'm in the midst of.  My end-of-day weariness called to mind that hip hop song that won an Oscar 6 or so years ago, titled "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp."  I think it was Jon Stewart who remarked that […] Read More

I always watch the Oscars, never before went to any book awards.  So attending the 33rd Annual LA Times Book Prizes tonight, I was interested in the differences.  Most notable:  the thank you acceptance speeches from the writers were infinitely more interesting, witty, surprising.  Also, much less emoting.  No tears at all.  And no one was […] Read More

  Metro Magazine has just come out with a story of mine on how going to sea has helped me both directly and  seemingly magically with both writing and publishing.  I gave a very brief account of this phenomenon here last summer.  In this Metro piece is the whole experience: complete with the particular mists […] Read More

Ever heard the word? Ever had a kundalini experience? A kundalini transformation? It's not exactly a household word in this culture.  Though most of us have likely heard of kundalini yoga, I wonder how many people know what the word means.  And who has felt and been altered by "kundalini rising." I take an intense […] Read More

First I hesitate, take a bite or three of the Active D'Lite chocolate ice cream popsicle, and that's not to avoid gathering the tax info; it's to delay even writing about this tender subject. No doubt you are a good and rational person who already has received your refund and salted it away in wise investments. […] Read More

This is who I like to write about: people who don't have it all together, people engaged in a struggle, whether or not they acknowlege it at first. I also like reading novels that deal with such folks.  I just discovered on Amazon a little essay from Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn that precisely mirrors my […] Read More

Committed myself this afternoon to a new vehicle: a 2004 Honda Civic (manual gear shifting!) that used to live in Florida.  I used to live in Wilmington, so I can hardly object to a little beach wear and tear.  This little silver machine passed inspection from the toughest mechanics around, Auto Logic in Carrboro.  I […] Read More

I didn't choose Good Friday as the day for a novel about kundalini to come out.  But as a pagan Methodist and believer in the "perennial philosophy" that all religions have been built on the same universal truth, I think it's fitting. The post is supposed to be about "My Next Big Thing." Since my […] Read More

Last night sitting in the upstairs room where my writing groups meet, I noticed through the tall window opposite me, the huge fat full moon.  Starless black sky, a dark feathering of tree branches and that perfect moon.  As it happened, everyone had brought in especially good work.  And as it happened, I was only […] Read More