This week is one of transitions. I am proctoring final exams for my students, grading them as soon as they are finished, and moving ahead with working out final grades. Sunday is commencement. At the same time, I am working on my own mental organization of my upcoming writing project. With much deliberation and some … More Shuffling the Deck
“Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.” –Revelation 12:7. Lasia, Silene, on the Mediterranean Coast, 10th Century A.D. The monk sweated profusely as he ran along the road to the coast. He was between the proverbial rock and a … More “St. George and the Driver”
Todd and Bristol ran through the backyard, the puppy right on their heels. Their six-year-old voices squealed through the evening air, accented by the sharp barking of the terrier with them. They were in a make-believe world that would be incomprehensible to an adult, but made perfect sense to the twins and to Yip, their … More “A Dog’s Best Friend”
I’m sitting in the library classroom at our university, where I teach my Narrative Writing class. The final exam is scheduled for 7:30 Wednesday morning, but I have offered to let students take the final exam this morning and get it out of the way. One caveat: they have to have their final project done … More The Obstacle Course
This evening will mark what I think is the 6th (or 7th?) time that a school year has closed and our creative writing club, the Rough Writers, has closed for the summer. As such, it’s our tradition for me to take everyone down to Sonic for whatever they want to eat or drink. It’s my … More What’s Important
The phrase “seeing the elephant” or “he saw the elephant” makes me think of old war movies, especially ones with the British Army bivouacked in a remote area, with references to first combat. But as I research it, it actually originates in Georgia (United States) in 1835. The phrase “seeing the elephant” was originally tied … More Seeing the Elephant
“Influx” by Daniel Suarez (Dutton Adult Books: 416 pages). It’s hard to tell you how much I like this book, simply because it is one of those books that will have to include some spoilers if I describe it too much. But wow, it has become one of my favorites and Daniel Suarez is definitely … More Review: “Influx” by Daniel Suarez
When I close my eyes, I still see it standing there. It was a baby carriage, traditional looking, covered in wicker, framed in oak, trimmed in ribbon. One could tell that it was a girl from the pink blanket that hung over the side. It was the kind of baby carriage that someone in the … More “When the Bough Breaks”
I don’t know if it’s because I have a vivid imagination, because I am a writer, or just a blessing by God, but I have always had dreams that present themselves in technicolor. Some are bad, which is understandable, but many are very good. And it has been just the past year or two that … More Sweeping Up Stardust
I’m a sucker for a good military science fiction story. The best that I have ever read–classics–are Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein (the book, not the movie!) and The Forever War by Joe Haldeman. Well, there’s a new storyteller in town. I first came across Terms of Enlistment, the first book in Marko Kloos’ Frontlines … More Review: “Lines of Departure” by Marko Kloos
The Great Adventure 