“Autumn Wind” by Matsuo Bashō
Japanese poet Bashō composed the following haiku in the fall of 1666. An autumn wind blows through the doorway’s yawning maw— cold and cutting voice. —Translated by David Bowles, March 2015
“Split Melon” by Bashō
Japanese poet Bashō gave the following haiku to Emoto Tōko, a young merchant who wanted to become the master’s student. Don’t just mirror me as if we were both two halves of the same melon. —Translated by David Bowles, March 2015
Where All Debts Are Paid
Where All Debts Are Paid (originally published in the Fall 2014 edition of Huizache) 1 The Dilemma What passions roil within me Whenever I recite, my friends! I drag my heart round And round this earth, Sketching with words Every stopping place.
Rattle #47
Rattle 47 is out. This edition of the journals features a tribute to Asian poetical forms, including my translation from the Japanese of three pieces by Karai Senryū as well as haiku by Billy Collins and a wealth of verse from many others, from Debra Kang Dean to Mariko Kitakubo. Especially wonderful…
Interview for the Castle of Horror Podcast
The fantastic author Jason Henderson interviewed me for the Castle of Horror Podcast. We talked for 50 minutes about legend, myth, writing, family and my upcoming book The Smoking Mirror. Give a listen!
Oaxacan Flânerie
This poetry cycle was originally published in the 2014 Langdon Review of the Arts in Texas. The Streets of Oaxaca de Juárez Along the banks of the Atoyac the white spheres of guaje blooms dip in humble welcome. Ahead the city sprawls to vibrant life, accreted in kludgy layers down the…
Cover Reveal for The Smoking Mirror
IFWG Publishing has just released a cover reveal of my middle-grade/YA fantasy novel The Smoking Mirror, the first book in the Garza Twins series. Here it is: Synopsis: Carol and Johnny Garza are 12-year-old twins whose lives in a small Texas town are forever changed by their mother’s unexplained disappearance.…
TOP SHELF Reviews from 2014
Each Friday in the Festiva Magazine insert of The Monitor my book review column Top Shelf is published. Here are the columns from 2014.
12 Greats of the UK
Last year in my TOP SHELF review column I featured a special retrospective on best novels from the United Kingdom. Links to the reviews can be found below.
Publishing update on The Smoking Mirror
IFWG has announced their publishing schedule for 2015, and my upcoming YA fantasy novel The Smoking Mirror is set for release in the second quarter of the year. See specifics and learn of other titles at http://ifwgpublishing.com/forthcoming-titles/