Tom Swift Writer’s Notebook

I like learning about how great writers work. I also like learning about people who live on the margins. This means I would, eventually, square my eyes on Charles Bukowski.
Even so, I had expected a different DVD to arrive in the mail than the one that turned up this week. But then anything generated by [...]

I was waiting on the Beast to do his thing this morning when I turned to the Onion for an exclusive report on a related topic.

Some authors — I know one intimately — don’t think especially well on their feet. Salman Rushie is not among them. I really enjoyed the Q&A at the end of this reading (during the final 17 minutes or so), as readers asked excellent questions and Rushdie provided witty and uncommonly insightful responses.

“I know the store is open 24 hours a day,” I said while dropping off a prescription, “but how long is the pharmacy open?” Why, 24 hours a day. Of course! The more I think about it the more that makes sense. We’re all on drugs, it’s just that some drugs are legal and some [...]

This morning’s edition of the best five minutes in radio features a poem that makes me smile.

I mentioned the American Indian boarding school experience the other day and I delve into the topic at some length in the book. Hard not to, given the role such schools played in Charles Bender’s formative years. This week NPR produced a two-part series about life at Indian boarding schools. I was especially interested in [...]

The Wire rules. I’m about a half-decade behind the curve with that observation but, man, it’s quality talking-picture entertainment. The story is nuanced, concise, compelling. The characters are rich and real. And likable. Even the drug dealers. Maybe especially the drug dealers.
As I watch — we’re waiting for the final disc of Season 2 to [...]