Dear Reader, It is a CRIME that I haven’t written on this blog one time this year. It’s a crime that you haven’t heard from me and that I haven’t asked how you’re doing. So I’m correcting all that now. How are you? Me? I’m like a puppy swimming for the first time — I’m … Continue reading Looking forward. Running toward
Dear Reader, I've been doing research for my next writing class -- the Happiness Practice. It's my most ambitious creative writing class yet! Not only am I creating prompts and the creative writing materials, I'm also based it on something that, I think, people want -- to be happy. I've been reading some materials lately. … Continue reading What I’ve learned about happiness so far
Dear Reader, 2020. What a year. And it's only July. I'm expecting another Biblical event happening any day now. I mean, it IS hurricane season and what's to stop this crazy year from unleashing something we didn't expect? Like the Bubonic Plague. Yes, this year has been a dumpster fire for just about everyone, me … Continue reading Build: How is my word of the year going so far?
Dear Reader, I am so excited about the summer. With all my academic work done until August, I have some time to work on some projects I've been neglecting for awhile. Of course that means my writing projects. Oh, my writing projects. How I have missed them! So, here's my latest project that I hope … Continue reading What’s so magical about magical realism?
Dear Reader, I woke up today, July 4, conflicted. This year's celebration of independence is more difficult today than it was last year. I returned to last year's post and, indeed, it's worse. However, conventional thought and theory says I should hate this holiday at or more than the level of my rancor for Columbus … Continue reading It’s tougher this year than last
But the death of Macario Ramirez is a reminder that despite the fight, life continues and that we are, despite how we treat each other, human. And humans don't last forever.
Dear Reader, It's been a rough couple of weeks. The pandemic seems like child's play compared to the continuous killing of black men and women. The burden of that. The action of that. The broadcasting of that. All of it wears on me like a stone. Between that and other things I finally broke down … Continue reading Finding spots of joy
Dear Reader, For this morning's post, I am addressing it to my fellow academics. My fellow friends in arms who have suddenly been told they will have to take their class online. And they are in panic mode. So for them, I have thoughts and ideas. Also some advice. So Reader, all of you, if … Continue reading Teaching online? Don’t panic. Seriously.
Dear Reader, Welcome to Noir Week! I'm so excited to do a week of introspection on one of my favorite genres to read and to write. For this week, I'll write a post each day on an aspect of noir writing. All of this leads up to my online noir writing class through WriteSpace in … Continue reading Noir Week: Starting off with the sidekicks
Dear Reader, I didn't read Devil in a Blue Dress until grad school but the first line still grabs me. "I was surprised to see a white man walk in to Joppy's bar." Good Lord, are you allowed to write that? See, up until then I understood the tenants of fiction to be that you … Continue reading Meeting your heroes: How not to fan girl when you meet Walter Mosley.
Dear Reader 