Home for the Holidays

My tale is told Well, it's finally happened: "Home for the Holidays" is a podcast reality. It's a really great way to end what has — for the most part — been a pretty trying year. The story came about last November when I was visiting the family in their suburban Austin digs; anyone who…

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Over the moon, under the influence

Sunburnt in Ft. Lee Ah, it's been a busy two weeks, I tell you. I may have missed an astronaut dropping the cosmic bomb that interstellar life has visited Earth, but I was deeply engrossed in a different form of "Lunacy" altogether — that being the name of the "Law & Order: SVU" script being…

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F-f-f-f-foolin

Yesterday, my Google Calendar had a new link at the top of it, and I clicked through. But it took me to a 404 page. Which seemed rather disorganized of them. Today, both my Google Calendar and my gMail had new links: Google Alarm and this: Custom Time I kind of glossed over the first…

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In which I get paid

The story won't appear on "Well Told Tales" for another, oh, say, 10 months, but I won't turn down an early payment. My first official fiction writing check, below (munged of course for security): I'm a fabulous millionaire. I own an mansion and a yacht Those who know my alternate screen names online will find…

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Big leagues, baby, big leagues

I've been pretty fortunate: I've convinced editors to publish my short stories before. Here, here and a few other places I can't locate right now. All online. And all unpaid. Which, yeah, okay, recognition is nice, but recognition minus actual payment still leaves an amateur taste in the mouth. I mean, your mom could publish…

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No second acts

I signed up for America Online in the early 1990s, jst as I was reading a new book, "Harlot's Ghost." It featured a curious and interesting female character named Hadley Kitteredge Montague. And as I first put a toe into the waters of what was for me — and still for most people; bear in…

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Lawyer, please! (And an indexer, too)

A quick shout-out to the community there: Anyone know of a book-rights lawyer who can do a simple read and interpret of a nonfiction book contract? I've got one and I'd like to make sure we're not getting screwed. I've also been told by our agent that you don't even bother putting something like publicity…

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Early warning shot

Nothing is signed. And for the past five years we've gone back and forth on the whether this will happen or not, having gotten shot down innumerable times. But I think it's about to happen. Finally. Dick Wolf is our new BFF. I almost can has contract. More soon.

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The lows of Highsmith

Edith's Diary (Highsmith, Patricia) Patricia Highsmith Patricia Highsmith, my nemesis. Yes, she did a lovely job with the Ripley books (she's behind "The Talented Mr. Ripley," among others), but I've been burned twice now and I'm done. Done, I say! I checked out a book of her short stories earlier in the year. They were…

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Mom departs, Handymen arrive, Dog is intrigued. Film at 11.

So, the tile guys are here now. I say guys, because although – Francesco gave me the initial rundown and– Wayne de-grouted the old grout,– Derek and Shawn arrived to re-grout the thing. It takes a village, folks! Ciara, meanwhile, is fascinated: Mmmm … grout There has never been food in the bathroom, there will…

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