Category: All Published Works

E-books and print versions for sale at Amazon. Soundtrack and audio recordings available for purchase/download at Bandcamp.

The Fifth Husband, pages 5-6

In honor of the feast day of St. Thomas Becket, martyred in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170, I present these pages. As always, the published book handles the screenplay formatting efficiently. The blog post, not so much.

PRIORESS, an elderly nun surrounded by pampered doggies, nods at Alys.  She is a Very Important Person who is always treated with deference.  Feeding table scraps to her dogs is the NUN’S BOY.

                                   ALYS 

Mother Prioress, my pleasure. Another woman on the journey will be most welcome.

Continue reading “The Fifth Husband, pages 5-6”

Scrooge, page 82

REVERSE as Cratchit walks away. We see a whole gaggle of
Spirits looking in the window at Scrooge’s efforts.
Satisfied, they disperse.
PULL OUT to show a bird’s eye view of the Spirits who walk
London, now leaving Scrooge’s presence and looking for new
lost souls to bemoan.
PULL OUT FURTHER to the Lone Spirit on the spire of St.
Paul’s Cathedral. Beneath him London is coated in a hazy,
coal-burning smog, yet he sits in the sunlight. Shading his
eyes, he looks off.
SPIRIT-POV. In the distance, leaving the city, is a train,
its engine sending steam into the blue.

Continue reading “Scrooge, page 82”

Tiny Tim’s Song

Listen at bandcamp. I did apply a saturation filter to this photo. Encaustic can be so difficult to capture the color and texture.

1 When the bakers start their fires
and the stuffed goose casts its lure
and the baskets full of chestnuts loll
like gentlemen at doors,

We thank our gracious Father
for the feast laid at our feet
and all the meat and fish and fruit
He’s given us to eat.

2 When the girls dance round in furs
and the sharp men doff their hats
and the lamplighters tap fire to wick
like mischievous black cats,

We thank our gracious Father
for our friends and family
and all the health and wealth and love
which makes us so happy.

3 When the church bells toll their call
and the people gather in
and the Bible tells of sinners whom
the Good Lord has forgiv’n,

We thank our gracious Father
for His Son whom Mary bore
and all the blind and deaf and lame
that Jesus may restore.

4 When the dead man fades to dust
and the spade turns up his bones
and the mourners in black armbands face
the rest of life alone,

We thank our gracious Father
for the angels bending near
to bring our lost and lonely prayers
to God’s eternal ear.

5 When the boys give glad noel 
and the snow drifts on the air
and the mothers in the workhouse sing
to babies who aren’t there,

We thank our gracious Father
for the stable and the star
that hope in dark and troubled times
may beckon from afar.

Scrooge, page 36

A beat, and then a gentle GLOW begins to emanate from the
crack in the bed-curtains.


Soft SOUNDS begin, as well. Shuffling, blowing, swishing,
lowing. Nervous, Scrooge reaches for the curtains. Smells
assault his senses, stopping him.


A CRY, part newborn baby, part enraged animal, rings through
the apartment and Scrooge jumps back into his bed.

GENTLE VOICE
(OVER)
Ebenezer Scrooge. Come to me now.

Meek, Scrooge draws the bed-curtains and steps out.

Continue reading “Scrooge, page 36”

Scrooge, page 21

Next to Boy Scrooge is a figure in exotic garments, an axe in
his belt, and leading a wood-laden donkey.

ALI BABA

Ready to look for hidden treasure,
young Master Ebenezer?

REVERSE to Scrooge. His delight causes Past to stop and
stare.

SCROOGE

And Robinson Crusoe! My imaginary
friends were a comfort to me. I had
forgotten!

ROBINSON CRUSOE, with a parrot on his shoulder, kneels down
to look Boy Scrooge in the eye.

Continue reading “Scrooge, page 21”

Desert Lullaby

12″ x 12″ on prepared board, based on an original commissioned painting by Jahn Breeze.

A period Western, Fort Defiance is a screenplay that no longer exists.

Written in the 90s, it was shopped to actors’ agents and production companies, generated interest, and then failed to move forward. Over the years I’ve tinkered with it, trying to bring new life into a project that came oh-so-close.

Here’s what I want to say about my personal white elephant: She was a good piece of work. Since creating Fort Defiance I’ve become a better writer, and I have the skills to make this a better script . . . but it’s not possible. Any project is of a time and place. Who I was, how I thought, what the world and society considered taboo, can’t be revisited. Let the project go. This is my farewell to a lifelong story.

Recording this song reiterated that lesson. On my album Heart of Iron I had an experienced instrumentalist and recording partner. All I had to do was sing. This time, although I’ve been blessed once again with an excellent sound engineer, I had to wear every musical hat and my expertise is paltry. I wish I could present a smoother version of Desert Lullaby, but the most important thing is to get it out now, while it’s of the moment. I will get better, and the pressure of publication is part of that improvement process.

Listen to Desert Lullaby at bandcamp.

Cormorant’s Lament

3″ x 3″ on wallboard.

Listen at bandcamp.

Settled as a governess at Thornfield, Jane has no reason to be dissatisfied, yet she can’t help but feel restless.

(JANE)
PRETTY SAIL A’SEA
BEWARE THE SURGE,
THE BLOW, THE SWELL,
THE CRASH, THE PURGE,
FOR ALL’S NOT WELL
AS THE STORM FINDS THEE.

WHEN THE MAST DOTH BREAK
THE FAIR ONE’S LOST:
AN ARM, A SHOE,
A BRACELET TOSSED,
A CORPSE ASKEW,
AS SHE RIDES THE WAKE.

AND THE BIRD WILL BLIGHT
WHAT WON’T SUBMERGE —
A CROAKING LOUD
YOUR ONLY DIRGE,
A WING YOUR SHROUD
AS YOUR SOUL TAKES FLIGHT