stories
November 20, 2009
- If any of you caught The Colbert Report last night, you definitely did not see an interview with me about my chapbook, Charactered Pieces: stories. I had been sweating the non-interview for weeks, well-aware of how Stephen Colbert treats his guests (victims?). Claiming fairness and balance, his questions instead aim to further weave his delusional and increasingly erratic conservative narrative. ...
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November 8, 2009
- About Freedom of Press: The Sitting Duck In a healthy society, it is important that journalists are free to do their reporting without facing violence, torture and even death. It’s part of our universal rights to have an independent press. I was watching Christiane Amanpour documentary “Scream Bloody Murder”. Suddenly I saw a video where Christiane Amanpour was talking about journalists ...
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November 7, 2009
- This early morning, I woke up thinking of something that happened 33 years ago, something that could have changed my life in the way that Elizabeth Smart's life and Jaycee Dugard's lives were changed. Even at the time, I knew it, and even now, it wakes me up from a sound sleep.At about 10 pm one evening in Orinda, one of my good friends and I set off from a friend's party. It had been a girl ...
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October 27, 2009
- I did not write the following post, though I wish I had. But since I read the original-- almost a year ago--I have never forgotten it.Now, as some of us are counting down the days until November and some of us are in the middle of rewrites and deadlines, I'd like to take a moment. A short space in time. A deep breath. And remind us all why we write. COMFORT READINGby Toni McGee ...
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October 21, 2009
- The beginning was always a very good place to start, or so I thought. Each time I returned to that old house at the end of the road, memories would overtake me of my childhood and the times we spent together. The last time we met here was after our mother passed away several years ago. We recalled with a mix of sadness and joy the life we had spent on that quiet farm, not far from the big ...
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July 17, 2009
- Possible Death Mask of William Shakespeare. I took advantage, for my workshop on the Supernatural, to take my students on a field trip to see the death mask of a historically known poet, which was conveniently placed in a near-by building. None of them had even heard of 'death masks', let alone seen one. I invited them to incorporate the idea into their writing exercises. Some did, ...
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June 18, 2009
- I've been in the US since June 2 and hadn't thought to advertise the fact. Spent 5 days in SF. I'll be in Chico, Calf. most of the time till June 27 and Davis, Calif. June 19-21. Anyone interested in buying Cat Came Back and Other Stories in those areas get in touch. I've got a whopping 4 copies left with me.
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June 3, 2009
- How many times has it happened to you?You think of an idea for a story or a novel and it's a winner; it can't lose; you feel as though you're just taking time for a stroll aorund the park before you turn in your Power Ball winner.And it's not three days before you learn:Somebody else thought of it. Not someone long ago -- you're not channeling Charlotte Bronte. A friend thought of it and is ...
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May 21, 2009
- A synopsis by Manuel “Dusty” Rodriguez grew up poor and Mexican in Salinas, California, but learned to golf because he caddied at nearby Pebble Beach. He had a chip on his shoulder, though, and did not pursue the game because he was peeved at the perceived insults he had endured because of his race and financial background. Despite ...
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May 15, 2009
- Meaning of Courage…Winning Essays I was overwhelmed with emotion while reading the stories from the winning essays from Boston public school sixth grade students. After reading the first story from Darianna Santana, my heart, mind and soul completely froze. I couldn’t even go on to the next story for several minutes there after. You’ll understand why I came to this ...
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