John McGahern, 1934-2006

Whether my grandmother was a little mad as well, I was too young to know. She either had a great influence on my father or their temperaments were similar. Who can tell whether certain temperaments are ever influenced by nurture? They were both violent and wilful. Once, when she caught me burning bits of paper [...]

Thanks, Matt

I’m pleased to note this morning that Matt Welch has added yours truly to the blogroll at his L.A. Times blog, Opinion L.A. I’m listed under journalists along with the likes of Heather Havrilesky, Xeni Jardin, and Bill Bradley.
In the meantime, we now enter day two of Joseph Mailander’s stand-off against the local blogosphere. [...]

Wrestling Mariel Hemingway

I would like to say right out the gate and for the permanent record that I am not attracted to other women. I have been married with varying degrees of happiness for ten years. My husband is a wonderful man and a profoundly successful real estate developer who is gifted with astonishing precognitive capabilities that [...]

Mailander Steps Aside

I last saw my friend Joseph Mailander at my informal birthday party at the Tam O’Shanter on the eve of March 12. Joe seemed in better spirits than he did over the holidays but there was still a vague distance about him. Joseph is, of course, a very serious and very contemplative soul and something [...]

The Metaphysics of Metafiction

“Did you read my new short story?”
“The one on your blog?”
“Yeah, Rain and Poetry.”
“You should be careful giving stuff away for free at your website. Magazines don’t like to buy repurposed fiction, you know.”
“I know that. It was just a bit of fun, a little piece of metafiction.”
“I liked it. The best line was when [...]

Rain and Poetry

“It’s raining.”
“Yep.”
“Read me a poem.”
“What?”
“I want to get all comfy-cozy in bed under the sheets and listen to you read me a poem.”
“Umm – okay. Let me just get into my robe and then I need to do a last e-mail check and put the cell phone on charge and –”
“Jesus. Forget I said anything. [...]