Music is in the air

Kaslo, a tiny, isolated mountain village nestled along the shores of magnificent Kootenay Lake in British Columbia’s rugged West Kootenay region, punches way above its weight class when it comes to music.The venerable Kaslo Jazz Festival, with its stunning setting and floating main stage, has been called one of the 10 best places to enjoyContinue reading “Music is in the air”

Election Day Interviews

Participatory democracy doesn’t work when — that’s right — we fail to participate!   It’s challenging to find ways to allow candidates for public office in rural towns and districts like ours, in the absence of daily media, to effectively share their backgrounds, abilities, and views on things that matter to us all.   WithContinue reading “Election Day Interviews”

How to remove writer’s block: fall off a mountain

No novelist totally “makes things up.” Even the wildest works of fantasy and science fiction are in some way informed by the writer’s observations and life experiences.     Take, for example, my new novel, Spike.     Here’s a. brief excerpt. The book’s protagonist, 19-year-old Spike Santee, has just fallen 40 feet onto aContinue reading “How to remove writer’s block: fall off a mountain”

Food for thought

The situation in Ukraine continues to deteriorate. Millions have fled the ruthless Russian invasion, causing a humanitarian crisis Europe hasn’t seen the likes of since WWII. This morning, I was again reminded of this when Janet shared a Facebook post from a guy named Steven Givot, from Evanston, Illinois. Here it is:   Day 2Continue reading “Food for thought”

Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse…

“Our armed forces don’t bomb cities. Everyone is well aware of this.”           — Maria V. Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Russia’s Foreign Ministry I awoke this morning and, as so many of you, immediately began to scan the latest from the brutal Russian invasion of Ukraine.   The first thing thatContinue reading “Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse…”

What a perfect moment in time to be a novelist…

Almost two years into a global pandemic. Trump once again on the prowl. Supply chains everywhere reeling. Climate catastrophe squarely upon us. China posturing in the Taiwan Strait. North Korea threatening to blow everyone’s house down. Afghanistan in chaos (as usual)…. … I wrote that last October. Since then, the pandemic has morphed, slipping andContinue reading “What a perfect moment in time to be a novelist…”