[H]is mind [was] soaked and sodden with sorrow, or dry and brittle with the hopelessness that comes from knowing too little and feeling too much (so brittle, so dry he is in danger of the reverse: feeling nothing and knowing everything). Toni Morrison (Jazz) Post # 3 I did some thinking about fundamentalism in preparation for a podcast with Doug Wheeler who is host of From the Belly and a wonderful interviewer, and with Charles Strozier, who has written many excellent books, including two on fundamentalism. My thoughts about fundamentalism flow from my practice as a psychologist but even more [...]

My novel A Beautiful Land is published now and starting to get a few reviews. Lately, I’ve been working on a new novel but also taking breaks from words to do some painting. I’ve been preoccupied with my newish rescue dog, Sylvie, because, frankly, she is a handful; she comes with a boatload of behavioral problems. Luckily, she is also a bundle of affection and charm. Since I’ve been focused on her, I’ve tried to paint her a few times in watercolor. Here are efforts one, two, and three. Now I’m going to pick up some acrylic paints and try [...]

Post #2 A Beautiful Land. That is my new book about a land that is physically beautiful but often far from beautiful as a place to live one's life. I’ve spent years working on this book, though the work was intertwined with other projects. During these years, a storm blew up in the literary world concerning what  is known as ‘cultural appropriation.’ I’m caught in the storm. I’m not complaining. I put myself there. Though I’m from the US, I set my book in Africa because my heart and curiosity were moved by stories I read about the genocide in East Africa [...]