I’m in the process of re-designing this site. So you may have to look at some weird things for awhile, like the current banner, for instance, until I have time to make a new one. In the meantime: You’re coming to my reading, right?

My writing group, Word Pirates, is holding its first, and possibly only, reading at the Phoenix Theater in Petaluma. I will be reading for 7 minutes or so, a short story called Search of the King Cobra. Also reading: Morgan Elliott, Robin Cadogan, Noelani Price, Marcia Simmons, Steve Reid and Lindsay Riddell. There will be artists, cupcakes, swashbuckling and more!

There are a lot of spectacular hikes in Sonoma County. Maybe that’s why I never paid attention to Helen Putnam Regional Park in Petaluma. I had read it was an easy 2.8-mile hike, and because it seems like it is in the middle of town, I had it in my head that it was going to be a city park with a jungle gym and a lot of planted landscaping.

But to my delight, I discovered that Helen Putnam Regional Park is a lovely park. A concrete road takes you over a series of hills and down to a little lake. In January, with the endless oak trees and everything green from winter rain, it feels like walking through one big meadow. I sat by a lake, climbed a hill, ate an apple, saw a jack rabbit, and looked at a lots of spectacular views. Here’s some photos:

For a long time now, I have wanted a place where I could report on what’s going on with my work and put up my thoughts about reading, writing, and art in general. Although I have had several websites in the past, I haven’t gotten around to building the professional site, primarily because it’s a lot of work to get one to the point where I’m willing to let it represent me as a writer. But here it is at last, and will be added to regularly, so please keep checking back.

And to start my blog out, I have a little bit of good news. My chapbook The End of the World as We Know It won runner-up in the Michael Rubin Chapbook Award at San Francisco State University. Although I didn’t win, it’s nice to have a nod of recognition. In addition, I have upcoming pieces coming out in Bust, North Bay Biz Magazine, and North Bay Bohemian.