“Be careful what you pretend to be because you are what you pretend to be.”—Kurt Vonnegut (may you rest in peace, good sir) A three-part interview with Kurt Vonnegut, and one of his essays: “To Be A Native Middle-Westerner” Nor am I ashamed to … [Read more...]

I have already lost touch with a couple of people I used to be. � Joan Didion, “On Keeping a Notebook,” writing at the age of twenty-seven I found some journals the other day.  I had written notes in them, fragments of stories.  They were anywhere from … [Read more...]

“Getting to know other people first involves an encounter; the more unusual the encounter, the more wonderful the experience...” I saw the above while reading a press statement about Chinese film director, Zhang Yimou.  For some reason I can’t get it out … [Read more...]

“..It’s a very mysterious thing, that electric thing that happens, and then the agony that can follow. The troubadours celebrate the agony. of the love, the sickness the doctors cannot cure, the wounded… The wound is the wound of my passion and the agony … [Read more...]

I hope all of you had a lovely Easter weekend!  EDITED TO ADD: Does anyone know of a really good online Asian food store?  I’ve got a hankering, people.  I would also love to find a place that sells tofu noodles.  Please!  Can anyone help … [Read more...]

I’m home from Kokomo!  I had a delightful time, and you should all know that Elizabeth Vaughan and Rosemary Laurey are wonderful, funny, and lovely women.  I was very happy to meet them. Thank you so much to Robert and the staff of Don’s Books for inviting … [Read more...]

I’m leaving soon for the signing—have enough music loaded in the car for three or four hours of driving—but first, some news!  Any day now the audio version of A Taste of Crimson will go on sale at the Dorchester website, and yesterday I received the … [Read more...]

Just a reminder—there’s a signing tomorrow at Don’s Books in Kokomo.  Rosemary Laurey and Elizabeth Vaughn will be there, and I cannot wait to meet them.  The signing will take place from 2 PM to 4 PM.  For more information, check out this … [Read more...]

i thank you God for most this amazing… -- e.e. cummings i thank You God for most this amazing day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees and a blue true dream of sky;and for everything which is natural which is infinite which is yes (i who have died am alive … [Read more...]

“Then must you strive to be worthy of her love. Be brave and pure, fearless to the strong and humble to the weak; and so, whether this love prosper or no, you will have fitted yourself to be honored by a maiden’s love, which is, in sooth, the highest guerdon which a … [Read more...]