Do Artists have a Responsibility to Society?

Inspiring view from my balcony, Lake Arenal, Costa Rica. It is my opinion, as an artist, that we do not have a responsibility to society. We are not answerable to anyone other than ourselves. As artists our struggle is to be true to our own voices, not some else’s. An artist shouldn’t feel a burden or […]

SALAM for the Children of the World

Salam, they say whenever a bomb blazes in the sky…

TRAVELING THE HARD ROAD

I just received a phone call. “Governor Brown signed her release!” My heart soared. It was Silvia’s sister, Veronica, telling me that after twenty years in prison, Silvia was going to be set free. I met Silvia in 1996, at Central Juvenile Hall, where she was awaiting her trial for a murder committed by her […]

SUCRE, BOLIVIA, HERE I COME

Yeah, so, off on another adventure to Sucre, Bolivia, on April 6th, to write for two months. Working on Cave of Secrets, the third book in the NIGHT ANGELS CHRONICLES. Just finished Book of Angels, the second book!!!!! So, am I a digital nomad? This is the term I hear these days. I looked it […]

JUST BECAUSE I’M AN “ARTIST” I MUST BE FLIGHTY AND DISORGANIZED…EXCUSE ME, WHAT?

Writing in a café in Kranj, Slovenia Throughout my life the assumption has repeatedly been made that because I am an artist (include writer in that title), I must therefore be flighty, impractical, moody and disorganized. Oh, and most likely a drug addict and/or alcoholic, have loose morals and most definitely, my bedroom must be a mess. The list […]

TWELVE OF MY FAVORITE WRITING LOCATIONS

Although I live a simple life, and in fact, as a single mother, I have often struggled to make ends meet, somehow, through sheer determination and for the love of it, I have managed to write in some of the most astounding places. The views from my windows and terraces have inspired my works. How […]

Adventures in Writing

Guest post Bitten, Shifted…the not so Normal buy Key of Mystery on Amazon Check out my guest post about some of my traveling adventures while writing Key of Mystery. Such as, the fantastical lake view from my window at Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Ireland, where I was lucky enough to be invited as a Fellow […]

SCALIA THE “MASTER OF WORDS”

Yes, I’ve heard a lot about what a great word master he was since his death. How about this… “Mere factual innocence is no reason not to carry out a death sentence properly reached.” Scalia. Hmmm, I wonder how he will plead about that now?

WINNER: WHY I CHOOSE TO REMEMBER MY 50TH BLOOD-BLATH OF A BIRTHDAY INSTEAD OF TRYING TO FORGET IT

Pooled Ink Editor’s Pick Wow, so much happening on the writing front! So proud to have my essay, WHY I CHOOSE TO REMEMBER MY 50TH BLOOD-BATH OF A BIRTHDAY INSTEAD OF TRYING TO FORGET IT chosen for publication in “Pooled Ink.” It is an ‘editor’s pick’ thanks to the wonderful Jennifer Top.

Saying Good-Bye

“Without a vision, the people will perish.” Proverbs 29:18 Dear Karen, Hello, it’s me, Silvia. I decided to write you this letter to say good-bye. Yes, my time has come. I hardly cry. I haven’t cried for a long time, but today I shed some tears as my friends brought memories of my trial and […]