I'm in the midst of an art marathon, but I read this article the other day and it has been swirling in my head since. The article on why science-fiction (and I'll toss fantasy into the mix) writers can't win respect (or literary prizes). And I hate to cast even the slightest negative shadow over …
Author: mapelba
I'm a writer, artist, teacher, mother, wife, daughter, friend, coffee addict... What else? A success, a failure, a mess, a fan, a hater of housework, a lover of dogs, a liberal, an obsessive, and a bunch of other things that probably would never occur to me. I reveal myself in more ways in my writings and art than in any list of adjectives. And whoever you are, I hope most of all that you are a reader.
Culprit Caught
The poet came to our school and took us for a nature walk. He showed us leaves that we could pluck from plants along the lake's edge and eat. Back in the classroom he sat us down and read his poetry. The teacher told us to write haiku too. She picked her favorites and gave …
something scary this way comes
Today begins spring break. In my neck of the woods anyway. When the break is over, I'll go back to school, but only for two days a week. With my new free-from-paying-work time, I'm supposed to make something of myself. Write. Make art. Make a mistake? I'm excited about the time. Worried that I should …
a few words of advice
Marta, ...First, now that you tell me I guess I did hurt you pretty much, you didn't really hurt me, for say, but you embarassed the hell out of me. ... Marta, your hair is looks about the same everyday long and blah! And your face, well, you really do need make-up. ...some of the …
I feel the story right here.
The Oscars were on and dad expected me to be in bed. It was 1985. I sat in the dark, the light and volume turned down to almost black and silent, and my ear pressed to the television speaker. I didn't get caught. Acting never appealed to me, but storytelling was something else again. I …
I must see this.
The Trailer Addict site's embed button didn't work, but it is worth clicking through from here. I must see this film. You could also go to The Secret of Kells site directly and see amazing images. Thank you, JES, for cluing me in. If it doesn't come to Austin, I will cry. Do you see …
Publication!
My art made it here! Crazy. A person whose thoughts and writing I respect became a fan of this magazine on Facebook. This is how I found this new publication. I contacted the editor, submitted a story and art. The story may or may not make it in a later issue, but he asked for …
How do you know you’ve won?
I like to win things, don't you? And I'm a sucker for a compliment. But... When I won a poetry award in high school, I hid the trophy and eventually threw it away. Pigs will be crashing landing on your roof before I frame a degree or certificate and hang it on the wall. In …
Can this marriage be saved?
Click on the letter to read what he wrote to me. I don't remember what I wrote back, but I probably didn't say, "Are you crazy?" Why did he feel he had to marry her? Are they still married today? They bought a house and had a couple kids. That's all I know since he …
almost brave enough
I composed a post in my head. Revised it. Considered pictures to go with it. Then chickened out. That's the thing with writing--it is so easy to chicken out. Shake my head. Feel the knots pulling in my stomach. No reason to go there. It's probably a big deal only to me. Why embarrass myself …
Marta Pelrine-Bacon 