The Train Is Moving

Or, as Agent says, “it’s out of the starting blocks.”   The “it” and the “train” are the first Horngard book, start of a new LONG story in Paksworld.    I know many of you wanted the third Vatta’s Peace book, but several attempts to write that one failed.  It would not jell.  And for a longer Read More…

Writing: From Character to Plot

Last October, I suddenly lost all my files because of a) a new computer which lacked something all my others had had, a dedicated data disk and b) failure of the backup device I was using instead.  This post is not about computer stuff and that’s all I’m going to say about it. This is Read More…

First Chili of Fall

The first chili of fall was actually last week, when we had a cool spell and I made chili for HouseGuest KS-, who documented it with her camera so she could make it up in upstate NY.   It was good, but as always when I haven’t made it for awhile, the next batch is better Read More…

Off to the Races

After considerable work on the Horngard I,  so it now has a new beginning, new ending, and a lot of shuffling, trimming, correction of this that and the other in the middle, it’s off to Agent.  Sorry about the long lapse in posting here, but later August and all of September were a wild scramble Read More…

Joys of Research

I was goofing off (bad writer, but I wrote until well after midnight last night, so stale to start this morning) and ran across the latest show-offy & disgusting post by Trump about his upcoming visit to the Fulton County Jail to get “arrested for having the audacity to challenge a rigged and stollen (his Read More…

Supreme Court Ethics: a Political Post

Justice Alito insists that no one can impose an ethics policy on the Supreme Court (certainly not Congress) because the Constitution doesn’t give anyone the power. This is such a self-serving position in the face of rampant corruption and dishonesty, on the Court that it’s worth looking closely at what the Constitution says. Article III, Read More…

ArmadilloCon Report

Had a lot of fun at ArmadilloCon being an “ordinary” con-goer and not on programming (which I used to enjoy a lot, but it does take coming into it with ample energy in reserve…<G>)   Met old friends, made some new ones, had time to wander the Art Show without feeling I was about to be Read More…

Basics of Writing: Words

The right words in the right order….the foundation of every phrase, every sentence, every paragraph, page, chapter, volume…is made of words.   In speech, the dictionary meaning of words is often less important than the physical speaker’s visual and auditory presence:  facial expression, not just one but several in sequence..gesture and posture–again, not just individually but Read More…