Saturday Snippet: H. L. Mencken on a Presidential election a century ago

  The late, great Henry Louis Mencken was a newspaper columnist, satirist and astute observer of life.  His biting, acerbic wit got him into trouble with two Presidents, costing him his newspaper column on both occasions, but he remained unafraid and steadfast in his commitment to skewer the powerful and point out what he saw… Continue reading Saturday Snippet: H. L. Mencken on a Presidential election a century ago

Saturday Snippet: A new collection, and I’m in it

It’s nice to have something new to report on the writing front. Some months ago Jim Curtis, better known in the blogosphere as Old NFO, invited several Texas authors, including the members of our local North Texas Writers, Shooters and Pilots Association, to contribute stories to an anthology.  We could write about anything we pleased; … Continue reading Saturday Snippet: A new collection, and I’m in it

Saturday snippet: The atomic bomb, Hiroshima, and choices

I’ve quoted before from George MacDonald Fraser‘s magnificent World War II memoir, “Quartered Safe Out Here“. It’s one of the finest memoirs by a British enlisted man to come out of that conflict, ranking right up there with Eugene Sledge’s “With The Old Breed“, perhaps the best American enlisted memoir of the war. Fraser’s memoir… Continue reading Saturday snippet: The atomic bomb, Hiroshima, and choices

Saturday Snippet: Horses, silver mines, and money

I’m slowly but surely getting back into writing, despite the rather stultifying effects of some serious medication the doctors prescribed for me after my heart attack last year.  I’m hopeful that I’ll be fully back in harness by the end of the year. To demonstrate that I’m on the mend, here’s a snippet from the… Continue reading Saturday Snippet: Horses, silver mines, and money

Miss D.’s new book is out!

My wife has just published her third novel, “Going Ballistic“.  I think it’s her best yet. Dorothy is a pilot, and it shows to good advantage in this book.  She’s able to describe the minutiae of flying, and the typical interactions of a pilot with airport and airline personnel, in a way that’s authoritative, entertaining,… Continue reading Miss D.’s new book is out!

State of the author, and a teaser snippet

I’ve had a number of readers ask how new books are coming along.  I guess I should give you an update. As most of you know, I suffered a heart attack last November (my second, if anyone’s counting).  I’ve recovered from it, but I’m on additional blood-thinning medication, and will be for several months yet. … Continue reading State of the author, and a teaser snippet

Saturday Snippet: a remarkable woman who lived, loved, traveled and wrote widely

So far in this series of posts I’ve put up excerpts from a book by a particular author.  Today, I’d like to vary that format by putting up excerpts of reviews and newspaper articles dealing with the late Lesley Blanch.  She was unique, with a personality and outlook on life that defied convention and drove… Continue reading Saturday Snippet: a remarkable woman who lived, loved, traveled and wrote widely

A new book is on the way

I’ve mentioned in the past that after my heart attack in November last year, the medication I was prescribed (in addition to my existing prescriptions) has had a nasty impact on my ability to write fiction.  That part of my brain doesn’t seem nearly as creative as before.  I don’t seem to be able to… Continue reading A new book is on the way

Forthcoming books: I’d appreciate your input, please

As regular readers will know, I suffered a heart attack (my second) late last year.  I’m recovering fairly well from it, but with one ongoing problem.  The extra medication I’ve been prescribed in the short term (added to the other pills I take for other, long-term problems) is messing with my creative mind.  I’m finding… Continue reading Forthcoming books: I’d appreciate your input, please

How much were can a werewolf wear if a werewolf could wear wolf?

The headline was inspired by a blog post and question from author Charles Stross, who poses a couple of intriguing questions. SERIOUS QUESTION for space geeks: The flight of Apollo 11. Postulate that Mike Collins is a werewolf. At what point during trans-Lunar injection does he go furry? And how many times during the mission… Continue reading How much were can a werewolf wear if a werewolf could wear wolf?