2013 nears death. Not that our calendar rules the world, but it is the way I measure time thanks to happenstance of birth. Death was nagged at me a great deal this year. A cancer diagnosis and a heart condition will remind anyone of mortality. I feel lucky to be alive. How old were you …
Category: life
The Solstice
The year is approaching its close. January 1, 2013 I met with a surgeon. I didn't have a cancer diagnosis yet. In fact, the surgeon said that with my case history and profile, I had less than an 8% chance of having anything cancerous. Five surgeries and months of chemo later, I am not officially …
The Past Stays Present
I've written about this topic before, but it is on my mind again. I don't know why. It stays with me. A classmate of mine was murdered in 1981. We were in the same 8th grade history class. I'd spoken to her only once or twice. She was just a girl who sat in the …
Getting Back to Normal Perhaps
Recovering from surgery seems like a good time to blog again. But after I recover from this surgery, I'll start taking Tamoxifen and that should be it. Except for checkups every three months (until I graduate to every six months and then to once a year), all this cancer stuff should be behind me. I'm …
Save the Audience
Fran Lebowitz said the audience is important to the culture. I hadn't thought of an audience this way. I mean, yes, I've read a thousand times, "Know your audience." That rule I've failed to follow. Who is my audience? My demographic? I know more who it isn't more than I know who it is. But …
Finish Something
One thing I want to do is make hand made books. I've got no market for handmade books and one book takes a ton of time, so they aren't practical. But they're fun, and I'll probably make more. Years ago, I started a story about two rabbits, Ink and Mirabelle. This weekend, I finished one …
Over at my friend’s place…
My friend and amazing author, Ami McKay, interviewed me and did a nice write-up of my novel, The Blue Jar. She included a favorite photo of mine--us with Santa Claus and I'm wearing my "Who Killed Laura Palmer?" tee-shirt. If you can, go over there, read, and comment. Maybe share. I've known Ami since we …
Halloween!
I don't like gore and I don't like to be scared. But I love Halloween anyway. Since I childhood, I've been drawn to witches, magic, and mystery. And dressing up is fun. Today I showed one of my classes, the documentary The American Scream. I love the guy in the film obsessed with creating the …
Moms, Dreams, and Stupid Questions
My mother drew the unicorn. I can't draw like her. I've always wanted to, but have yet to manage it. Do you compare yourself to your parents? Is there something either on of them did that you wish you could do? My mother started to write a novel. She had only a few chapters written …
Music, Dance, and Storytelling
When I write, I sometimes listen to music. The music fits either the mood of the story or the personality of the characters. The other day, I had the chance to collaborate on a music show with London DJ Claudio Fiore and with my publisher, Plum Tree Books, that tells the story of the music …
Marta Bacon 