March 7, 2010
My first children’s fantasy e-book, Bekka of Thorns, is about to be published (When the actual date of publication is announced, it won’t go unnoticed here). So why not jump the gun and talk a bit about the second story in the series, The Carven Flute. That rough sketch of Jo Bree, the flute, demonstrates the flush pink yellow appearance it exudes when at rest. In contrast, when action is called for and it rises in the air unaided to sing a message or a clue, it pulses all the colors of a rainbow. Among other things, the story of The Carven Flute reveals the truth about what really happened to the Hansel and Gretel witch. Support site for my children’s fantasies will be at https://bekkaofthorns.com
March 6, 2010
Challenged Eggs
12 eggs
enough butter
1 matchbox car
1 card table
Break eggs into large bowl. Whisk. Melt butter in frying pan over low flame. Add eggs and allow them to cook, stirring occasionally. When eggs are scrambled to a firmness, turn off heat. Set up card table. Along one edge of the table, arrange scrambled eggs into an elongated mound. Move to the other side of the table and bring out your matchbox car, which you should have conveniently stashed in the pocket of your serape earlier. Send the car racing into the egg mound. If it breaks through and falls to the floor, the eggs have failed. If, however, the car is stopped short by the elongated mound, the eggs may be considered to have met the challenge. Prizes may or may not be awarded.
March 5, 2010
“And now … on a sadder note …”
March 4, 2010
The helmet moon spun through the sky
glistened the night
blackberry pie
depression
The helmet moon crept over cloud
shadowed the night
torn tattered shroud
depression
The helmet moon bathed in the pool
the final night
to play the fool
depression
The helmet moon has disappeared
as the prophet
weeping feared
high on sugary marmalade
March 3, 2010
1. Always avoid rules beginning with the word ‘always’.
2. Never obey rules beginning with the word ‘never’.
3. Be more receptive to rules saying ‘almost always’ or ‘almost never’.
4. The 3 ‘C’s of telling a story are as follows:
a. Character
b. Conflict
c. Cresolution (the C being silent)
5. A number 2 is my pencil tip of choice.
6. I believe Tip O’Neill, former House majority leader, wrote a book. I’m not aware of others.
March 2, 2010
This is the dedication page of Kabumpo in Oz, the 15th Oz book and the 1st to be solely written by Ruth Plumly Thompson. I reread it for the first time in 50 years last week. It holds up beautifully. As you can see from the above, she delighted in wordplay, puns, and anagrams. Cliffhanger chapter endings, plenty of wit and humor, well plotted with fine characters, such as Wag the Rabbit, the wooden doll Peg Amy, Prince Pompa, the gnome Ruggedo, and Kabumpo, the Elegant Elephant. That’s Kabumpo there, drawn by John Neill. With the publication of my own children’s ebook looming on the horizon, I’m posting this small tribute to one of my earliest literary mentors. It’s no coincidence that one of the later stories in my fantasy series is entitled Plumly.
March 1, 2010
Upon arrival at the lake, the loon was eager to apply for the job of gondolier. He was carefully and warily turned away by the operators of the ski lift. Later, authorities were notified as a precaution.
February 28, 2010
He turned the corner and entered the bakery to enjoy his morning bearclaw.
He turned the corner of the page down to mark his place.
He turned the corner on the long road to recovery.
He turned the corner office into a storeroom for his Cabbage Patch doll collection.
He turned the corner and bulled his way into the end zone.
He turned the corner kick into a goal by heading it into the net.
He terned the coroner, peppering him with sea birds.
February 27, 2010
bachelor apt. $85 a month. top floor walk-up, corner room with a view. 2 of 4 walls are hugely windowed. postage stamp bathroom with shower, sink and toilet. short hall leading to bathroom has refrigerator, small dresser, 2 burner hot plate. note steam heat radiator behind comfy chair, handle of chest expander in brown box, loon self portrait on wall which has appeared on this blog, painting under way on easel now finished and in possession of loon’s cousin in Connecticut. see ‘leaves on bricks’ painting, whereabouts today unknown. great six foot by four foot slab board dominates the room. loon paints on it for a year. resulting painting he lugs around with him for the next forty years. it’s now stored in loon’s son’s abode.
February 26, 2010
“Don’t you ever call anyone a politician again!”
