I almost didn’t read the article. There’s too much violence in the world already. I didn’t want to know details.  But the title caught my eye: “The Warrior Class: A golden age for the freelance soldier.” Freelance solider? I’d heard the words mercenary, privateer and eve

If a popularity poll were taken among my friends, real and virtual, Charles Koch, of the infamous Koch brothers, would fall to the bottom of the list. That’s why an article about his daughter,  Elizabeth Koch, caught my eye. In it, she describes herself as an optimist and so, with

A friend recently recommended a publisher she thought might be interested in my upcoming novel, “Trompe l’Oeil.” I’ve already signed a contract but out of curiosity, I reviewed the guidelines.  The first sentence produced a belly laugh:            “Every proposa

Monday’s blog looks at old fashioned publishers and asks, “Why bother?”

I’m about to launch  a virtual tour for my book, “Gothic Spring.” I’m not exactly sure what a virtual tour is except book reviewers ask questions of an author and record the response on their blog site. It’s a chance to let readers know the book is in print and to peak thei

The April edition of the “AARP Bulletin” featured the journalist Bill Moyers. He and I are contemporaries but it always seems to me that I’ve been following his career since I was in diapers. He’s a fixture in the landscape of America.  When he retired a year ago from his w

MARIE EAU-CLAIRE is now in print and is free.  The first installment can be found on: http://TheColoredLens.com.   The second installment will appear on May 15th.   Please, if you enjoy the story, share the link with your friends and on your social network, like Facebook, Google

Schadenfreude is a German word that means: to take joy from another’s adversity. Unlike jealousy which is a dark emotion reserved for those who make us feel small, shadenfreude speaks to the delight we feel when justice falls on the mighty who are corrupt or arrogant. Two examples

NO LAUGHING MATTER One of the most important magazines a person is asked to read also among the dullest. I’m speaking of the voters’ pamphlet. I found one stuffed into my mailbox recently and frankly, I’d rather read the advertisements on my packet of toilet paper than sort thro

When was the last time you curled up with the voter’s manual?  My confession on Monday’s blog.