The Teachings of a Cat
My cat Needles is my hero. I am an anarchist. I do not like being told what to do. Needles is my role model because he is an asshole. Not…
What’s in a First Impression?
Just as first impressions can make or break a potential relationship, the first lines in a book or story can generate either a sense of excited anticipation or anxious dread…
The Fantasy Genre Holds as Much Prestige as Literary Fiction: My Top-5 Fantasy Series
Fantasy literature gets a bad rap. The reasons elude me. My degree is in English with a Creative Writing Emphasis from the University of Arkansas—a highly rated program nationally. Several…
5 Things I Should Have Never Done
I am not the brightest knife in the shed. That’s putting it mildly. Adventure and mishap have filled my life to the point where I wonder if I have truly…
5 Series I Grew Up with and Their Impact on Who I Am Today
The Hardy Boys Who doesn’t love a good mystery? I remember hiding under my blankets with a flashlight, reading the latest Hardy Boys book I managed to get my hands…
Ten Great Speeches in No Particular Order and Why They Speak to Me
A few months ago, I found myself in a house outside Garfield, Arkansas. It overlooked Beaver Lake from a prominent hilltop, and with me were six other creative people. By…
My Top Ten Favorite Books of All Time
There are just too many good books to read.