When I first wanted to be a writer (back when I was eight, I think), I knew nothing about the publishing industry. I didn't understand how agents worked or what it took to get a book to readers. A few years ago a young man told me he wanted to write a book so that …
Author: mapelba
Bunny’s in a Hospital Gown
I draw when I'm in waiting rooms. These days I'm drawing adventures in the medical wonderland. I'm sure some of you know the vocabulary that I'm just now learning. Post surgery life does not sound like fun. I don't like sentences that contain words like drains, valves, and special shirts. Not sparkly unicorn special. Good-for-incisions-and-drains …
Saying Something Impossible
Now I know that I will be having a double mastectomy. At least it's decided. One of the strange things about this new aspect of my life is actually saying, "I have cancer." Just weird to say. All these years and I thought it was weird to say, "I'm a writer." Ha. What impossible things …
Between a Shrug and a Radio Interview
A while I wrote about my health. Talking about my health makes me feel that much older. Does that make sense? Anyway. The updates--for those of you aging along with me--are as follows: The incision from surgery is still healing. 92% closed according to the computer. Fancy stuff computers tell us these days. Imagine what …
I'm traveling back in blog post time.
More Bloody Days and Other Craziness
Here is what I know today. First, I need wound care. This surgical incision--still bleeding after two weeks--isn't healing properly. I'm looking forward to getting that out of the way. After this wound clears up, my future holds a few more medical adventures. I'll be tested for Marfan Syndrome. I've been suspected before of having …
Bloody Days
I've almost forgotten I blog. Heading toward the Christmas season things took an unexpected turn. A routine mammogram ended in a biopsy and two surgeries, and I can't say it's all done yet. The main distraction is the incision that has continued to bleed for over a week. There are plenty more serious health issues …
Where does writing begin?
We all have a story why we write or make art or create whatever it is we create. How far back does the story go? Does my story go back to the first book I fell in love with? (Watership Down) Does it go back to my mother's love of books? My grandmother's love of …
Steampunk!
I saw this girl and had to ask to take her photograph. She made her outfit herself. She's beautiful. I can't do anything as grand, but one goal for this year (and I set this goal back in October when got to see several brilliant steampunk outfits in one day) is to make my own …
Make the New Year
The beginning of a new year seems to demand the saying of something profound. If I were really smart I could say something that would get pasted into a cool pic and memed around facebook. (Well, my first problem is that meme isn't even a verb. Should be at this point though, don't you think?) …