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My desk faces three windows with deep windowsills that have become, over time, shrines to this writing life. Living in a community of numerous studio artists, most of my friends have similar [...]

“How do you hide a tree?” asks Hanshi. We’re sparring again and I’m slow to react. “In a forest,” answers Nate, the 2nd degree black belt. “Good. And how do you hide movement?” Hanshi turns to [...]

You know you’re committed to your career when you sell your vehicle in service of it. Reluctantly but rationally, when I decided to embark on “one year of writing residencies on the road,” I [...]

STATS: No from Shenandoah (with the word “thanks” spelled incorrectly) No from Nano Fiction (but a personal rejection requesting more work) No from New Southerner (again, a personal rejection) [...]

There are more vehicles of note in Mitchell & Yancey Counties than there are hound dogs. I do not purport to represent them all here. We all have those places and things on the side of the [...]

There is only one way to say this: Andrew Bird’s manager responded to my query letter.  She invited me to call her office any time, to write whatever I wanted, and to feel free to check [...]

[under the weather…]

“Master one principle, learn 1,000 techniques,” Hanshi says as we’re moving through the basics of sambon kumite (promise fighting) at the dojo tonight. Nate (2nd degree black belt) and I are [...]

For new readers, this letter is the 3rd I’ve printed from fans of Lost Crossings, the community-funded book project published by myself and Shane Darwent. Learn more or order the book at [...]

An incomplete, short list of short stories I can’t live without: “The Hermit’s Story” by Rick Bass (from The Hermit’s Story) “Fell This Girl” by Aimee Bender (from The Girl in the Flammable [...]