Update

I've taken a long break from writing, but have started back. One of my short stories has been accepted by Sorcerous Signals (ezine) and the print edition, Mystic Signals. I've also turned my attention to my novel once again. After sending it out only a few times, I felt I needed to address a conflict between the proposed readership and the plot. So, I'm back again revising, this time changing the age and gender of the protagonist. It's hard to put so much work back into it, but it seems to be going well, at least for now.

Story upcoming

"Thrill of a Lifetime" will appear early next year in Beyond Centauri. This one, meant for a young audience, sprang from a cartoon I drew years ago. I haven't been writing much lately, but hope to start again soon. One of my distractions is researching my ancestry online. I was never very interested in my history, but the mystery of it has drawn me in.

New Art

Two new digital art pieces will appear in shows opening June 1. "Rain In Reflection" will appear at the Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center, and "Self Reflection" will be at the Alliance for the Arts, both in Ft. Myers. Click here to see them on this blog's art page. I started using symmetry in my art back in the 1980's, before the digital age. I would take photos, have the images developed as mirror images, then assemble collages. Part of my intent was to show people the beauty of things they would ordinarily dismiss. However, the symmetry gave rise to images that the human mind perceived as "beings." These ranged from disturbing to humorous and were often archetypal. For a while, I tried to eliminate them from my work, but eventually I found them too fascinating to ignore. I now accentuate them, bringing out those that intrigue me the most, working to integrate them into the work's theme. I try to create fluid shifts where, for example, the integrated image of a face will dissolve, becoming part of another that was originally missed. 

The search is on

Quick update--I've finished rewriting my YA novel and have begun sending it out to agents. This is a long, slow process, taking a month or two or more for each agent queried. I'm also still sending out short stories I finished last year, but I haven't started anything new. Art has my attention for the moment. I'm working on a complex digital piece for an upcoming show. 

Recent distractions

Over the last few months, various events have arisen to claim my time, so I haven't been focused on writing. Recently, for example, my dog was bitten by a rattlesnake. After two nights in an emergency care clinic and two treatments with anti-venin, he's fully recovered. It's great to see him happy again.

I'm ready to get back to writing, barring more distractions. And, I think, it's time to do that last (yeah, sure) rewrite of my novel.

New story up in July

"The Melting of 92A" is now online at Aurora Wolf Literary Journal of Science Fiction and Fantasy. This tale is science fiction, suitable for a wide audience, including younger readers. I believe it will be coming out in the magazine's print anthology sometime this fall. 

My digital artwork "Generation" is now in a state-wide show at the Alliance for the Arts in Ft. Myers, Florida (through August 6). I love using images of water in my work. This piece uses photos of my swamp, areas where the soil meets the water, which is reflecting the sky. I've incorporated drawings and other elements to create a representation of the process of life generating life. Several studies suggest we may not have evolved in the ocean afterall. There's reason to believe life may have begun instead in warm, freshwater ponds (ScienceNews). You can see "Generation" by following on the link above for my artwork page, or click here and scroll down (click the image to enlarge it).   

Story in Bards and Sages Quarterly

My story, "A Fair Exchange," is now in print. If you click on Bards and Sages Quarterly, you can see how to order the issue. This is a print magazine, available through amazon.com. It is also available for kindle and for download as a pdf.