Short Édition literature vending machine at the Seattle Public Library

Speaking of magically real: A French company has designed a "short story kiosk" that will dispense a story of between 1 and 5 minutes to you for free. It's a slip of paper that spews out like a receipt. It's free, and you can find these machines at hospitals, airports, coffee shops, and yes, at … Continue reading Short Édition literature vending machine at the Seattle Public Library

Pretend Plumber post-party writing fun

And. . . it's a launch! Tonight friends and family from both coasts (and some folx from the middle) joined thee zoom-o-sphere for a book party featuring readings by incredibly talented creatives, two give aways, and.... a writing prompt. If you attended the party, you will have received your assignment . Please post your writing … Continue reading Pretend Plumber post-party writing fun

April — Special in-depth conversation with Anthony LeDonne about my new novel PRETEND PLUMBER

Hello friends! What a spiritually resonant week this is, as folx navigate Ramadan, Easter and Passover all at the same time! Because of this convergence, my wonderful friend Anthony and I thought this might be the perfect time to record and share a conversation about spirituality and Jewishness in my new novel Pretend Plumber, now … Continue reading April — Special in-depth conversation with Anthony LeDonne about my new novel PRETEND PLUMBER

Happy Nanowrimo — think you can’t write a novel in a month?

Well, you can't. Or at least I couldn't. But wait! WC Bryant writing https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:W_C_Bryant_writing.jpg Nanowrimo is a fantastic way to get a rough draft of something done and it's a wonderful way to experiment, to dare yourself to try to work with something impossible or wacky or both. Take me and my forthcoming novel Pretend … Continue reading Happy Nanowrimo — think you can’t write a novel in a month?

no return to normalcy– so? write about it

Dear friends -- I haven't posted in a while because, in order to pay off a tiny bit of my trip to France last fall, I taught at Edmonds Community College this quarter. I had been looking forward all winter to planning a big end of April trip to SoCal, the area that I still … Continue reading no return to normalcy– so? write about it

And now 5 questions for authors I dig #1 — Stacey Levine, and Brown Seaweed Soup

Friends -- I have this idea. Periodically I want to interrupt whatever I'm doing on Magically Real so that I can ask writers I respect and admire 5 questions, which they will then answer. I'm doing this so that we'll have the opportunity to hear their own unique geniussy take on writing world. Along the … Continue reading And now 5 questions for authors I dig #1 — Stacey Levine, and Brown Seaweed Soup

Does the ending have to work? Thinking about Joanne Harris’ Lollipop Shoes

Friends -- I'm trying to read more self-proclaimed magical realist novels this year, so that I can be a more educated writer AND reader. I'm also interested in the debates as to what is and what is not magical realism. As you know, I made it through 100 Years of Solitude, and just finished Joanne … Continue reading Does the ending have to work? Thinking about Joanne Harris’ Lollipop Shoes

May 16th, 2016- 100 years of solitude: the futures-past of the novel

Well, Friends, I did it. I just finished 100 Years of Solitude. Um. *shrugs shoulders, looks into the evening sky* It's a beautifully written novel, certainly, and I'm grateful to Kathleen Alcala for her observation that she was struck by how much the narrator sounded like members of her family telling fantastical tales from a … Continue reading May 16th, 2016- 100 years of solitude: the futures-past of the novel