Monthly Archives: January 2019

Notes from Downtown

I met Brandy at Taylor Lane for our Monday writing session. Taylor Lane Coffee offered unpaid government workers a free cup of coffee during President Trump’s shutdown of services. It’s just another way this local business shows itself as part … Continue reading

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Circe by Madeline Miller

Spoiler Alert: May contain mild spoilers. If you enjoy retelling of Greek and Roman myths, then Madeline Miller’s luminous novel Circe may be for you. Miller’s story spans thousands of years, a tale told from the point of view of … Continue reading

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The Magicians, Season 4!

Season Four of Syfy’s adaptation of Lev Grossman’s The Magicians starts tomorrow. I am excited to see where this season goes, given how things were left at the end of the marvelous Season Three. I was skeptical of The Magicians … Continue reading

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The Invisible Hotel

The highlight, the hidden gem as it were, of downtown Sebastopol these days surely must be our Invisible Hotel. In 1994, Alex Baldwin starred in a movie called The Shadow, based on the radio play series of the same name. … Continue reading

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Television Tuesday: Counterpart, Season Two

The second season of the STARZ original show Counterpart is off to a solid start. This portal fantasy (because that’s basically what it is) works best when it’s drawing on its spy story roots, or raising philosophical questions about identity … Continue reading

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The Samurai of Fountaingrove

The most noble character in the history of Sonoma County’s Fountaingrove commune is Kanaye Nagasawa, the samurai who came to the USA from Japan as a youth and stayed to run the Fountaingrove vineyards and winery. While not as flamboyant … Continue reading

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It’s 2019 and I Have a Mission

My mission for 2019 is to bring excellent stories into the world. Some might be wondering, “Why is that a mission? Why not a resolution or a goal for the year, like everybody else does?” This is a “mission” in … Continue reading

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Boomtown by Sam Anderson: A Biography of the American Spirit

I had an idea for a long, self-involved post about me for New Year’s. I’m still going to write and post it, but I’m scheduling it for January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany. So here’s a short rave – … Continue reading

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