Summer heat rises Incoherent, winking, magical, The road unfurling graciously Across The Plain of Snakes. A lonely stretch, the border towns, Where shutters are closed and everyone warns, Don’t go there—you’ll die! The old man in the Nissan pays them…
Two days away from the manuscript, and that uneasy feeling starts creeping in, the tiny whisper that says, if you stop now, you’ll never get it done. Just like John, my hero, says of picking cotton, “there’s a rhythm to the work.” This is…
I’m keeping a journal. I started it March 9, the day the virus showed up in my town. Each day I jot the headlines from the news, and a bit about what we’re doing at home. Evenings, I check Johns Hopkins…
On March 9, Dallas County announced its first Covid-19 case. ********************* Old-timers often said, “God willing,” when they announced plans. “God willing, I’ll see you Sunday, friend,” or, ” God willing, we’ll pull through all right.” Words born of uncertain…
An amazing event. The Who’s Who of literati are coming. Including agents I met in New York with the SMU program. (Hello, Katharine Sands… :)) I am very excited. Year after year, I meet amazing people in San Miguel, all…
Why Go Why endure frigid nights sleeping outdoors on the ground? Why take on the burden of a heavy pack, and a long, long walk? Not just for the fresh air, or the views, or the exercise, or for the…
Camped in The Chisos Basin on a very chilly night, we’d all settled down in our tents…and THIS scary noise started up. So dark, we couldn’t see anything except the glowing eyes. No idea what it was, just that it…
Reading through my Big Bend journal… After the last hike, I made this list: – Slept in the cold. -Walked a long way. -Saw a bear, a snake, tarantulas, and deer up close. -Wandered Through a butterfly garden. -Injured an…
“How’s the book coming?” “When will it be done?” To answer a question with a question, have you ever written a long paper? A thesis, perhaps, or a term paper or legal brief? One that really mattered to you? Maybe…
Everywhere I go, I bring my writing. Everywhere. The few times I’ve allowed myself to become separated from it, it’s led to a brooding creative doldrums, from which no progress can be made….a day without sunshine. The absolute worst, (and…