Remembering Tuffy

My dog and wonderful canine companion died Tuesday night, 5/26/2026. His name was Tuffy, and I introduced him in a blog post from February 1, 2016. I remember he came to live with my wife and me in September of 2015. He wasn’t a puppy when he came, and he was a good year old … Continue reading Remembering Tuffy

The Guild and I

Many years ago, there was an art event where I live that hosted local artists and their artwork. It usually happened on a summer Sunday every year in the town park downtown. I would enter my recent creations—usually wildlife paintings—to be judged by a local art teacher or two who placed ribbons on what they … Continue reading The Guild and I

Writers vs. Artists

If I were to walk into a room with artists on the right and writers on the left, I’m likely going to head to the right and sit with the artists. Why? Because I rarely hear criticism from artists. Please don’t misunderstand me. Constructive criticism is an important criterion for creatives. It can show flaws … Continue reading Writers vs. Artists

Life’s Whirlwind

Do you ever feel like the days seem to fly by faster the older you get? I wrote last year around this time about November being a busy month for me with lots of family birthdays, preparing holiday food to celebrate Thanksgiving Day here in the U.S., and my and my wife’s wedding anniversary. This … Continue reading Life’s Whirlwind

An Autumn Walk

Before the winds came and blew some of the colorful leaves from the trees, and before the rain washed many more to the ground, I spent time away from working on my books and art to stop and enjoy nature. The sun was bright one evening and lit up the trees in my yard in … Continue reading An Autumn Walk

Dark Night of the Soul

After a death in my family earlier this month, I took some time away from writing, making art, and blogging. I needed time away to get back in touch with the world outside the bubble I’d created for myself. Despite the sad occasion, it was a joy to see and visit with family who live … Continue reading Dark Night of the Soul

Sunshine Blogger Award Nomination

Thanks to Joseph Glidden at https://josephglidden.com/ for the nomination. I haven’t received a blogging nomination in over a decade, so this was a surprise. From 2011 to 2013, I received several award nominations for my blog, as you can see in the photo montage below. Awards were popular when I began at WordPress in January … Continue reading Sunshine Blogger Award Nomination

So sorry for your loss. Losing a beloved pet or family member is so hard. Thoughts and prayers to you.

So sorry to hear of the passing of Tuffy. My condolences to you and your family.

Good luck at the art show. Very interesting seeing the development in the artwork.

That's the best attitude to have. We never know when the book gods may favor us. :)

Thanks for that, Joseph. I'm hoping to get some new readers with the promotion. But if I don't, it won't…

Happy Valentine's day and best of luck with your book promotion.

The main character is based on some authors I know. Some are full of self-importance; some aren't. Some just write…

Healing implies an end, but writing Hadestown was more like learning to walk with a limp. You don’t fix the damage, you…

Thanks, purplegoatee, glad you're enjoying this.

I make comments as I read. Lines I particularly like. For example, "Mark would’ve called that “too on the nose,”…