Every October I wish I lived somewhere with a real fall when days arrived with sweaters and boots and autumn leaves. It did drop to below 90 here, so that was something. And I convinced myself I felt a hint of cool on the breeze. Regardless, October is here and magic is coming. I'm dedicating …
Days like this remind of one of my favorite novels, Mama Day by Gloria Naylor. I return to it time and time again. It starts on the shores of Africa, a simple breeze among the palms and cassavas, before it's carried off, tied up with thousands like it, on a strong wave heading due west. …
As a kid, I loved reading about the zodiac. I had my mother's dogeared copy of Linda Goodman's sun signs. Are you familiar with it? Are you familiar with it? I read it again and again, looking for clues to understanding myself and others. Did it help? Well, there's a lot of rubbish in horoscopes. …
In a few days, I have another art show! Shows never feel any less exciting or anxiety inducing, but each time I try to do something different. At my reception, I'll be giving away new things: bookmarks, stickers, and magic spells. Well, we could call them magic spells for fun or quirky, motivational-esque poems. It's …
In 1991, I was sitting in a grad school class--something about literary criticism--and one of the guys in the class stated that he wasn't sexist. He'd never done anything against women, you see. He was a nice guy. This was true. He was a nice guy. I don't mean that ironically or sarcastically. A young …
I want to do thousands of things! Maybe you have this problem too? Last night, I was looking for something I'd drawn a while back (see picture above), and I came across unfinished stories, unfinished art, and unused bits and pieces for unfinished projects. So, so many. It's amazing how many emotions a person …
Who's feeling a bit on the grumpy side? Grumpy, cranky, could-gnaw-on-a-unicorn-horn-if-I-were-evil-and-good-at-finding-unicorns. But I love unicorns! I'm not loving the state of the planet right now though. Who the blue blazes is? Nonetheless, madness aside, a writer has to write. I finished another draft of my manuscript Drowning Karma. I've lost rack of how many drafts …
I finished Story-a-Day May! I wrote every single day and ended up with probably 29 stories or scenes I can polish up or use somewhere. And even though I've ended up re-publishing my first novel on my own, that isn't what I want for the rest. Or I don't think it is. My dithering about …
I don't have enough room for all the things. Minimalism seems to be popular these days. But not in this house. I like layers of things. I like layered clothing (which isn't much of a thing living in a hot climate). I like collage, pictures glued over images and found objects glued on top. My …
Sometimes you have to change your plan. I tend to put a lot of thought into my plans, and can therefore be resistant to changing them. But the universe is going to do what the universe is going to do, plans be damned. My novel was published by the late, great Plum Tree Books/UK. This …
Marta Pelrine-Bacon 