I’m reading a novel called “A Gentleman in Moscow.” It’s a gentle book, a little slow-going, but that’s not the point. The point is—egads!—the author uses the em-dash. Maybe you’ve seen the breathless posts around the literary social media sphere, decrying the use of the em-dash as a red flag that a text has been…… Continue reading Em & em
Tag: Elvis
A coin flip at the Memphis Zoo
It’s holiday treat time. Here’s an brief excerpt (and fun visualization) from the novel, LAST BRIDGE TO MEMPHIS: Danny dug into his pants pocket, producing a well-worn silver dollar. “I’m gonna toss this here coin. Heads we throw you into a cage for tiger food. Tails, we let you slither on outta here, snake that…… Continue reading A coin flip at the Memphis Zoo
She drives me crazy
Been a while since I’ve posted, and there are so many reasons for that. For one, I’ve been head-to-the-grindstone writing the next book in the “Last Bridge to Memphis” thriller series. I had hoped to get the draft finished in 2025 and may still do so, but you know … life. For another reason, this…… Continue reading She drives me crazy
Of crossings and comebacks (or life imitating art)
Coincidences happen. Yes, they do. But sometimes it goes beyond coincidence into the realm of serendipity. And when it happens twice in the same summer, you realize you just might be onto something. For example, just the other day, the Tennessee and Arkansas departments of transportation announced the naming of the southernmost bridge across the…… Continue reading Of crossings and comebacks (or life imitating art)
Go cat go
Early on in my journey to publication I held to the belief that the art of writing is an endeavor of pure creativity. Come to find out, it’s actually governed by a surprisingly rigid set of “storytelling” rules and tropes. Oddly enough, one of the most famous of these involves a kitty. In “Last Bridge…… Continue reading Go cat go
Trying to get to you
It’s a juggling act these days: Playing book marketer slash promoter while at the same time knuckling down at the keyboard banging out a sequel. With apologies to The Shirelles, Mama never said there’d be days like this. A month into the world of being published and let’s just say the learning curve is steep.…… Continue reading Trying to get to you
All shook up
Today is the day. The day every aspiring author dreams of. My book is out. And for the first time I can say: Buy it here. I’m under no illusions that some magical transformation will take place in my life now that the day has arrived. But publishing a book is a singular achievement. Many…… Continue reading All shook up
You Gave Me A Mountain
There’s a moment in my novel, Last Bridge to Memphis, where the character of “Danny” (who is Elvis, still alive and kickin’ in the late 1980s), is having severe second thoughts about getting back on the horse, so to speak. The chapter in which this takes place is titled, “You Gave Me A Mountain,” and…… Continue reading You Gave Me A Mountain
We’re doin’ this
There’s so much opportunity today for a writer to get their work published. They call it “self-publishing.” It’s now possible for virtually anyone with a decent story to tell to be an author. Still, I tried and I tried to go the traditional route (visions of my book stacked high on a front table at…… Continue reading We’re doin’ this
Too much monkey business
You stand outside in the cruel, late winter chill. Your heart races. Your blood pressure boils. Sweaty hands clutch like death on the handle of the four-wheeled conveyance in front of you. The doors slide apart. Open your wallet and prepare to bleed out. You’ve entered the field of battle. Your neighborhood supermarket. https://youtu.be/k_hiSGmzVUM?si=_qY7JjKVg1FchSGZ Like…… Continue reading Too much monkey business