Rob Escobar pulled his beat-up ’82 Cadillac to the curb across the street from the Denny’s Restaurant. It was late—nearly 10 p.m.—but that’s what he had intended, and so far his plan was working. There was no deadline, he was sorry to say, except the one he had given himself. He turned the key off … More “The Price of a Free Lunch”
I find enjoyment in visiting the website Quora.com and getting the answers to my questions as well as providing answers to those who are seeking them. Recently, someone asked a question about writing that I thought I would respond to here. The question was, how do you determine which story idea you will turn into … More Whose Story Is It?
“Stop me if you’ve heard this one. Three men met on the field of battle—an Amalekite, a Canaanite and a Philistine. The Amalekite showed up in full armor and raised his spear to the sky. ‘I have won many battles. I am not afraid of either of you.’ He was promptly run over by the … More Chosen Ch 2 “The Road to Salvation”
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”
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
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
“Never let the facts get in the way of a good story.” –-J. Frank Dobie, American folklorist I deal with students and student writers everyday. Most of them are interested in writing fiction; many of them want and do write fantasy. In the mind of the common reader, fantasy is one of those genres that … More Truth and Fiction
I am presently reading a book about the Civil War–Gettysburg to be exact. I picked it up on the discount rack at Wal-Mart. I am embarrassed to say that most of the books I buy come from some sort of discount rack, either in a store on online. Because I am one of those who … More Hits and Misses
The Great Adventure 