THE SHINING I first read Stephen King’s The Shining when I was eleven years old. As you might expect, I suffered from recurring nightmares for six weeks afterward. In addition, I swore off Mr. King’s books until 2011, when I picked up On...
Billy Joel’s “An Innocent Man” Music and stories are more than entertainment to me. I’ve read books that seemed to express my deepest self better than my own words ever could. I’ve heard songs that somehow captured years of my...
Being Vegan means there are many foods I won’t eat. Having braces means there are many foods I can’t eat. But now the braces are off, and I can FINALLY eat some of my favorite stuff again–for the first time after 2 years! I thought...
THE WAITING “I hate waiting.” —Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride “The Waiting is the hardest part.” —Tom Petty, The Waiting Tom Petty had it right: the Waiting is the hardest part of being a creative person. We all go through...
THE FESTIVAL Last weekend, I attended the 2013 Big Orange Book Festival, hosted by my alma mater, Chapman University. The conference surpassed my expectations; not only was it completely free, but the quality of the guest authors, the moderators,...