September 21, 2026 Strange lights and shapes. A traumatic night. A link between our world and the Land of Oz. An explosive, long-kept secret about extraterrestrial life—or a misspent life on Earth? Decide for yourself. Read my new short story, “Help Me Speak the Truth” at Written Tales, who I thank for publishing my work.… Continue reading Another new story: “Help Me Speak the Truth”
Category: Writing
New short story: “Everything Must Go”
September 14, 2026 Sometimes a garage sale isn’t just about decluttering and getting a few dollars for your junk. For Maggie, the narrator of “Everything Must Go,” it’s a break from her small Southern hometown and a troubled past in her family. The goods are priced to move. But will her plans be sabotaged by… Continue reading New short story: “Everything Must Go”
On writing: Escaping the doldrums
July 14, 2026 I am - well, somewhere in here (NASA photo) For the last few weeks, the local weather has whipsawed between stifling heat and the short but fierce downpours we Southerners call “toad stranglers.” My writing has gone through similar highs and lows that stranded me in my personal doldrums, like a sailing… Continue reading On writing: Escaping the doldrums
Writing: What you know, remember, and dream up
March 9, 2026 The real beach where my fictional characters hang out. Photo © Dave Swan. If you've been writing for any length of time, you've heard "Write what you know." In fact, you might've been inculcated with it, which is the ten-dollar way of saying, "had it knocked into your head." Often attributed to… Continue reading Writing: What you know, remember, and dream up
New short story: “An Uncloudy Day”
February 15, 2026 My new short story, “An Uncloudy Day,” is about a subject I know well: hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico. When my wife and I owned a beach house there, we became avid storm-watchers, always alert for danger in the forecast. In this story, a longtime resident waits as a potentially devastating… Continue reading New short story: “An Uncloudy Day”
On writing: Tools for the hand and mind
February 6, 2026 When I retired from my last regular job in communications, my wonderful colleagues sent me off with a nice dinner, lots of shared memories, and best of all, a toolkit for my new writing career. It includes all this: A little notebook, which any writer worth their salt should keep within reach.… Continue reading On writing: Tools for the hand and mind