Archive for October 2020

I am constantly advising people to zig when everyone else is zagging. The very last thing you want to do is what everyone else is doing. Find the path that has not been taken, and plow forward. This Blink-182 video is a perfect example of this.

My next novel, The Other Mother, publishes on January 12. It was originally slated to publish in the fall of 2019, but the pandemic set things back a bit. If you’d like to assist me in my quest for literary world domination – or perhaps just help The Other Mother find its way into the…

New COVID-19 cases in past week: Vietnam – 5 Taiwan – 9 Yemen – 10 New Zealand – 25 White House – 34 This says it all. Doesn’t it? Not to mention that Trump tried to cover up the viral outbreak in the White House by asking members of his staff to keep their diagnosis…

I was sitting in the barber’s chair, getting my hair cut. The woman doing the cutting had been chatting with me for quite a while as she snipped. We had talked about, among other things, cats, grocery shopping in a pandemic, Southwick Zoo, and the racism and incompetence of of Donald Trump. Nearing the end…

Here’s a fun game for someone who likes lists. Given that my last novel is written entirely in lists, that’s me. Maybe it’s you, too. You can use my categories or create your own. Last time I ever… Drank a beer: Fall of 1990 Drank alcohol: October 12, 2019 Pole vaulted: May, 1988 DJ’d a…

On episode #104 of the Speak Up Storytelling podcast, Matthew and Elysha Dicks are back, talking storytelling! In our follow up segment, we discuss our absence, talk about upcoming shows, Speak Up merchandise, and workshops, all online! STORYTELLING SHOWS 2020 October 24: “Struggle and Survival” at the Connecticut Historical Society (7:00 PM) (virtual October 25: Speak Up-Voices of…

I played golf this weekend in shorts and a short-sleeved shirt. Temperatures were in the low to mid 50’s at tee time each day. While my friends were wearing sweatshirts and pants, I was not cold. I’m not immune to the cold weather, but it’s always seemed to effect me less than those around me.…

My friend, Andrew, and I were paired with two women yesterday on the golf course. They turned out to be excellent playing partners. They love the game of golf, don’t take it too seriously, and play quickly. Over the course of nine holes, we chatted about our lives, offered the occasional bit of advice on…

October has arrived. It seems like forever ago when Elysha, the kids, and I were sitting on the beach on a hot, summer day, swimming, kayaking, and eating ice cream. Over the course of every summer, and over the course of every year, I create a list entitled Moments of Note. It’s a collection of…

First the children played in the snow. Next, Christmas came early. Unable to wait more than three months, Elysha gave me my Christmas present early, which was more than a little surprising. But when I saw the gift, I understood why. It’s incredible. Elysha sent photographs of all of my books, including the British edition…