Giant Buddha Poker

Gifts From The Dead

I’m leaving my homeland on Saturday night, spending the year abroad. Hamburg, Soderhamn, London, then expedia knows where. I don’t self-identify as an American, even if I am quintessentially so. But I am interested in being a citizen of the world, seeing the sights, learning the language.
In the process of putting my affairs in order, [...]

A Little Help From My Friends

Dear Friends,

I’m putting together my first work of published fiction, and you can help make it a success. My project is a collection of (mostly dark) short stories titled Zen Madman’s Flash Fiction Folio. You can read samples HERE and HERE. I’ve launched the project on Kickstarter.com, which is an all-or-nothing funding site where you can pledge support in exchange for [...]

To Do (Ha Ha!)

I’m a big fan of To Do lists. Maybe it goes back to my parents’ “To Do (Ha Ha!)” file, but I’m great at making lists of things to do. I’m slightly less awesome at crossing everything off of them. I’ve pretty much been moping around the house all day, not for any particular reason. [...]

No Balls, Two Strikes

I just finished up a new story for my Flash Fiction Folio. This one’s about baseball and may have too much lingo for those who aren’t fans. Let me know what you think, though. I’m always interested in the opinions of fans and critics alike. You can read it on Free Association.

Low Noon

You know how 12:00 PM is called high noon? Well, I like to call 12:00 AM low noon. It’s gonna be a thing.
When in doubt, talk about the weather.
A few days ago, it looked like winter was finally here. The temperature dropped into the 20s for the first time since last winter. But now, on [...]

I ♥ NY

New York is the Greatest City in the World. I say this not out of any disrespect to other cities. Sure, there are bigger cities, and yes, there are friendlier cities. And god knows there are cleaner cities. But nowhere in the world are more languages spoken, more cultures mingled, or more stereotypes debunked.
I used [...]

Flash Fiction Folio Kickstarter

Yesterday’s blog was about writing every day. Continuing in that trend, I’m happy to launch the kickstarter for Zen Madman’s Flash Fiction Folio. Kickstarter.com is an all-or-nothing funding site, where you can pledge to help me publish my first collection of fiction. Pledges are not donations. Instead, you receive rewards based on the amount of [...]

Write Now, Every Day

Almost every book ever written on the subject of writing contains the following advice: “If you want to be a writer, start writing every day.” Now that may seem obvious, a less generic version of “Just Do It.” And while everything in life may seem as simple as that, two things make it particularly applicable [...]