Category: Writing Excerpt
-
A Momentary Stare at a Blank Page
Before I go and write I wanted to reflect on the blank page that awaits me. I have an idea in my head and I am ready to start putting it on paper. Two hours from now the blank will be filled, but I am not yet sure what I will have. Will the words…
-
A Photo and a Description
I posted this photograph the other day when I highlighted that northern Vietnam was my favorite place in Asia: It made me think of the opening paragraph of my new novel, The Reach of the Banyan Tree, set to release this coming summer. I’d be curious to hear what you think of the two of…
-
An Old School Love Poem for Valentine’s Day
I found this poem I wrote twenty-six years ago. It still applies to my very same Valentine. Meet me tonight amidst the darkening trees, The lunar view they call the lover’s land. We’ll gaze with wonder at the sparkling sea, And walk our world together hand in hand. The lamp lights flicker wildly through the…
-
A Clipping of my story in The Butler Eagle
My friend back received his local paper on Christmas Eve and low and behold – a Christmas story I wrote was on the front page. Here is part one of it.
-
A Taste of Poetry
Here’s something I don’t post too often. A poem or perhaps lyrics I wrote a while back. Bonus, it even rhymes! When danger lurks do I run and hide, or do I fall full-force to the other side. Does it dance with ease like brilliant light that glitters the eve at the break of night. Or does it harness…
-
Music, Brazil, & Culture
Let’s mix things up a little bit today. Here’s an excerpt from an essay I wrote about how music in Brazil has mirrored the historical and cultural changes which it has experienced in the modern era. In this excerpt, I highlight the influence of the talented vocalist and musician Milton Nascimento. Milton Nascimento is universally…
-
Short & Sweet Musical Opens Tonight – and I’m Not There!
Unfortunately, I’m going to be missing the “World Premiere” of my mini-musical (written with Shion Beak) called Captured in Time & Space. It’s showing as part of the Short & Sweet Musical KL starting tonight through Saturday. I will be there Friday and Saturday nights, at least. I thought I’d give you a short walk-through…
-
The Writing Fragment that Fueled “The Recluse Storyteller”
I just found this writing fragment, which eventually became the backbone of my new novel, The Recluse Storyteller. I wrote the following in December 2011. It wasn’t until June of 2012 that I actually wrote the entire novel, so this is a just an unvarnished glimpse into what started it all. It’s completely unedited and lacking in…
-
My Grandpa, Baseball, & Democrats
My grandpa, whom I never had the privilege of knowing, was a staunch Republican. He ran a modest country store during the Great Depression and war years in Sarver, PA. All summer long he would have the radio on listening to Rowsey Rowswell call the play-by-play for his beloved Pittsburgh Pirates. (I have to lament…
