Pas de Six

I've been reading Andrew Lam's story collection, Birds of Paradise Lost. Surprised and inspired beyond belief by these stories, I realize how the words are sifting and settling. Connections, ideas, dreams. Take the dance expression, "pas de six," and add it to a scene in which relationships, language, and surprise play against each other. Vietnamese and American characters. The Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco. Include cat-o'-nine-tailed whips, sadomasochism, misunderstanding, parasols painted with poetry, angels' wings and confusion, leather and elation, eventual understanding, even love. 

The metaphor of the flower, six-petaled, blossoming before our very eyes.

"THE FLOWER BLOOMS. A pas de six."

Quotation from "Love Leather," Birds of Paradise Lost, 2013, Andrew Lam

On the Road

“the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes, aww!” — Jack Kerouac

On the Road -  film preview link

Virginia Woolf, Inspiration, & AROHO's Orlando Prize for Short Fiction

A Room of Her Own (AROHO), a foundation taking its name from Virginia Woolf's credo that women must find the space, means, and solace in order to create, holds a writing competition for women poets, essayists, and short story writers each spring and fall. That Virginia Woolf, a writer who has always inspired me, and a foundation for women writers and artists have come together in such a perfect and telling way is extraordinary. This spring I've had the honor of receiving AROHO's Orlando Prize in Short Fiction for the story, "The Geography of First Kisses." I'm in awe of this award and all it promises, and in receiving it, I'm further bolstered to keep writing and reading and being a part of the literary world.

The Orlando Prize Winners will be published in the Los Angeles Review, Issue 12, in Fall 2012.  Thereafter, the winning pieces will be posted on AROHO's website.

"AROHO is a transformational collective that changes the lives of creative women by honoring our artistic excellence and moving us out of isolation to a rich and whole community."

http://aroomofherownfoundation.org/the-geography-of-first-kisses-by-karin-davidson/

The 2nd Half of December - Reverie 2011

Swallowed alive by the holidays, and so in a nutshell, here are the rest of my Reverie 2011 musings.  For each day’s topic, a few words of response or less.

Choice – writing

Protest – against SB5 - Ohio Workers' Rights - & for environmental awareness along the Gulf Coast

Solstice – so dark, so bright

Technology – iEverything!

Service – the Gulf Coast: wetland restoration awareness 

Bizarro – miscommunications

History I – Japan and the tsunami, Gulf Coast restoration, the deaths of Liz Taylor and Amy Winehouse and Steve Jobs, violence in Arizona, revolution in Egypt, tragedy in Norway, the Brits and their Royal wedding, the end of bin Laden, U.S. troops returning home

History II – reading, writing, places to workshop and write from San Francisco to Acadia

History III – short story publications, editing work, blog posts, nearly finishing the novel, traveling on West and East coasts, children's milestone birthdays and daughter's college graduation

Dreams – teaching, traveling, finally going back home to New Orleans, writing words that others want to read and that will hopefully make a difference

Table of Contents – Chapter title for 2011 – “The Year of Seven Stories”

A Day to Delete – the day the bizarro miscommunications began

New Year’s Eve 2010 – I could’ve been home – in New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl and bringing in 2011 – but I stayed alone at my desk in Columbus, writing and writing.  It took an entire year for me to regret this.  Serious delayed reaction.  Sometimes getting-things-done at the expense of not-visiting-your-mama is just-not-worth-it.  So 2012’s theme might just be, Make-Sure-There-Ain’t-No-Room-for-Regrets!

Most Thankful, Most Loved – Reverie 11 – Days 4 & 5

This is going to sound incredibly clichéd, trite, and to some, unbelievable, but everyday of every year I feel most loved and thankful, all because of my family.  Like every family we have our highs, lows, piss-ass moods, riotous moments, and swells and roars of hilarity in between, especially when least expected.  We are all supportive of each other, but also private, and for that reason this little piece will remain brief.  We cling together like little barnacles and only feel like drowning when the waves get rough.  But we manage.  Despite hurricanes and oil spills, final exams and writing deadlines, we manage pretty well.  That said, every day of the year is pretty damned incredible, filled with gratitude and flipping cheer.