I Run is heading back to my editor for a bit more tweaking. I have been working really hard on drawing richer characterizations of the supporting characters. Unlike Ripple, I Run is written from a first person perspective. The main character is Sally Lane Brookman. What follows is an introduction to her sidekick, Little Sally, or her inner child. I dream of Little Sally a lot. Most of the time, she’s running free and young again on the green fields [...]
I’m in a crowded room and my family’s there, waiting, and I’m holding my breath. I see my brother. He’ carrying this biological terror inside him, this virus that he’s going to unleash on the world, so I take a deep breath and slip out the back door. I end up in a bathroom, and there’s no toilet paper on any of the dispensers, so I dig under the sink and grab a handful of rolls, which I’m handing to [...]
When I opened my daughter’s door to tuck her in for bed, I caught a glimpse of a 9-year old flashing a toy light sabre at incoming storm troopers. Naturally I grabbed the other light sabre and joined her in her valiant fight. We were victorious. I’ve written as of late about some serious topics, including my daughter’s bullying at school. We received news from the school that leaves me feeling cautiously optimistic, and I wanted to pass that optimism [...]
One kid, then a second, and then a third jumped-tumbled off the high bus steps and gang-tackled me. After hugging them back, I walked behind the boys with my daughter, who chattered about her day. “I have something I want to ask you about,” I began, my arm resting on her shoulder. “All of you.” She squinted up at me through the afternoon sunlight. “Why? What?” I started to explain what was bothering me as we kicked our shoes off [...]