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YOU GOTTA BEGIN WITH A BABY-SHAKE

While I spent the whole day cleaning up the story I wrote yesterday, wrote a draft of a second one (very rough) AND have a few notes about what I experienced last night (I went to a poetry reading but really, the walk home by motels that have been shuttered for the season was the best part in its own creepy way), I figured in the meantime I’d send you all some photos of where I’m staying.

What’s most interesting to me about the condo is that it has the same layout, almost, of a cabin we had as a family in the Adirondack State Park—down to the loft bedroom. The only difference is the bright colors, and the abundance of windows (what I’d always wished about that place…it was WAY TOO DARK). This place is full of sunshine, bright colors, and a view of the bay. Such a contrast to the almost-windowless cabin huddled beneath hundred-old-pine trees!

So…here are photos. Don’t worry, I’m getting lots of writing done…tomorrow is the first day I get to write in Norman Mailer’s living room, which overlooks the bay. I hope to take some photos there to share with you.

And right now, it is pouring and rip-roaring storming here–like a monsoon–and one of my favorite films…The Perfect Storm…is playing on the TV accompanied by Sebastian Junger’s commentary. How could anyone ask for a better New-England-the-way-it-should-be atmosphere than this?

Here's what it looks like from the exterior.

...this is my condo's official address: number 4. Which means, at least in Tarot, stability.

The bathroom is literally right inside the front door to your left.

Shower...

This is the "sink" end of the bathroom...

...here's the first view of the kitchen, on the other side of the bathroom wall. I'm going clockwise.

...totally LOVE the view of the lattice work from the other apartment's decks from this kitchen. Gives it a total "secret Laverne & Shirley" feel -- at least for me.

Here's my living/writing area, first floor.

Here's the cathedral ceiling in the writing room. In daylight, sunlight nails a pure beam onto where I write.

The writing room, with me working in it.

I LOVE this window. It looks out over a dead garden...

...here's the same window. At night, it reminds me of something out of the Salem Witch Trials (I have NO idea why, so don't ask).

The dining area...where I never eat, but spend every day with my coffee planning what I'm going to write. The front door is to the right; the bathroom is just a few steps beyond.

Stairs to the second floor. The bathroom and door outside are on the left side of the screen; the kitchen is beyond the "angle" of the stairs, where I totally clocked myself on the head. Now I have a chair pushed in front of that.

Stairs to loft at night (note the second floor at the top through the "harp" image).

Here's the base of the stairs to the loft. Notice the cut-out is the same on the loft railing. I just LOVE that old detail.

Ascension to the second floor. The VERY narrow stairs have a HUGE rise, as most stairs did in older homes. They remind me of Poe's house in Baltimore.

View of the downstairs from the loft; also, view of awesome working fan/light!!

Here's the view I see from my bed when I wake up each morning. There are EIGHT windows up in the loft. It's amazing! So. Much. Light!!

My bedroom, but the desk where I keep all my files and notes for future projects.

Another view of the loft, facing toward the stairs, in the blazing afternoon on Jan. 16. It was quite mild that day; the birds were singing, and it felt like March.

AWESOME view out one of my loft-bedroom windows. Totally reminds me of the year I lived in Charlestown, RI -- love that seascape brush!

...this bed ROCKS. I sleep like a brick, and awaken to the sunrise literally in my face...

More windows from my loft bedroom.

...the other end of my bedroom, facing toward the stairs that lead down below.

Sunrise from my front door. Approximately 7 a.m., Saturday, January 16, 2010.

SPILT MILK ACCEPTANCE, READ SHORT FICTION, NMWC

I’m proud to say that so far, 2010 has been the best year yet! So what’s new?

“Screams of Autumn”

My short story “Screams of Autumn” has just been accepted by Spilt Milk, the Literary Magazine of Warm Milk Press. I’ll keep you posted on its availability.

Read Short Fiction

I’m honored to have been asked to serve on the staff at Read Short Fiction (www.readshortfiction.com), which is headed by Rob Mayette. We’ve reviewed several submissions over the past few months, and our first three acceptances (there are more in the queue, but they haven’t gone out yet) are now posted: “Hippie Market” by Tom Mahony,  “Handy Man” by David Landrum and “A Christmas Eve Story” by Milan Smith are all a lot of fun. Head on over there and check it out—and see Rob’s video introduction to the ’zine.

Norman Mailer Writer’s Colony

I’m already here and finally settled! In fact, I did scads of work today. I will have some access to e-mail, but as I’ve got a whole novel to write, a couple of short stories to revise, and a few book recommendations to take care of for “Dead Letters” on the The Ghostman & Demon Hunter Show, I don’t know how much I’ll be online. I do plan, however, on keeping my website updated with some occasional blogging and photos about my experience—I’m usually good for about seven or so hours of writing a day, and then I need to switch gears. I’ll be back at home on February 1.

“Paisley Surprise”

If you’re on my (postal) mailing list, this year’s exclusive story chapbook, “Paisley Surprise,” will arrive soon. (Although I will note this: they’re expensive to mail, so I’m going to mail out a few each week.) Only 225 copies were printed. If you don’t think I have your postal address and would like to receive a copy, just e-mail me or use the contact form on my website. While I’ll soon join the ranks of writers everywhere and send PDFs through e-mail or post them to SCRIBD, I won’t discontinue my chapbook editions. Nothing’s as magical as getting a cool little printed and hand-bound book to put on your shelf!