Saturday, October 16, 2010

The Night BP...back story

A few months ago, Michael Blake sent me a manuscript of his new book, Into the Stars. It’s about an American soldier during WW I who finds a horse on the battlefield. After I read it I called Michael, so impressed with his description of trench warfare. I asked him where he found do much material on WW I as I felt as though I was there. He told me that he made it all up. Impressed, I mentioned this to Said. He then challenged me to write about a subject of his choosing without any research. He chose the Gulf oil spill.
I wrote "The Night BP Drove Old Dixie Down" which is now a finalist in RedRoom’s short story contest. What I found interesting is that friends have asked me how I knew so much about fishing and drilling for oil.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Hummingbird Review Poetry Revue

NEWS FLASH, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LITERARY FANS: 'Dances With Wolves' author Michael Blake will be joining American Haiku magazine founder Don Eulert, Hummingbird Review editor Bob Yehling, poet Maggi DeRosa, short fictionist Alwyn Martin and yours truly at the Hummingbird Review Poetry Revue Sunday, Oct. 24 at Vista City California Library. It starts at 2:30 p.m. and is presented by the Sunset Poets. What a day for spoken word this is going to be!