I should start with the usual groveling apology for not posting anything in a long while but, as you know, if this blog lies dormant a spell it’s because my little brain is hard at work on a project and I barely have time to floss my teeth, let alone provide you with regular updates.

Before I get to the personal stuff, I want to give a plug to Dennis Rimmer and his podcast “Talking Books”. Dennis has been interviewing writers and musicians and personalities on his show for ages, notching up some pretty impressive guests, including one of my literary heroes, Karl Marlantes.

I’m pleased to say that I am Dennis’ 200th guest–we recently chatted and he posted our conversation on his site today. If you’d like to tune in, just click here and it’ll take you right there.

My thanks to Dennis for seeking me out and giving me the opportunity to talk about my work.

And now my last bit of news:

Bowing to popular pressure (mainly from my wife and oldest kid), I’m in the process of writing and hosting a brand new podcast devoted to all things literary. I’m calling the program “Standing At an Angle to the Universe” and that pretty much sums up my approach. My podcast will be personal, intimate and sharp-toothed, presenting a writer’s eye view of the world. I’m not afraid to make harshly critical assessments and won’t pull any punches when it comes to trends, memes or the cultural flotsam and jetsam polluting discourse and insinuating themselves into the public sphere.

I conceive of the show as a 10-part limited series, each episode 20-25 minutes long, covering as many topics and concerns as I can possibly squeeze into that space.

I’ve completed the scripts for five episodes and am quite pleased with what I’m seeing thus far.

Anticipating releasing the first podcast in May, and the rest at set intervals after that.

Meanwhile I have five other full-length projects either in progress or in the works, my dance card full for the next three or four years.

It’s great having something to work toward, but it will involve a daunting amount of time and effort…and I ain’t a spring chicken any more.

Turning sixty (60) this year and that was a motivating factor when I was pondering taking the plunge into podcasts.

“Standing At an Angle to the Universe” is, in a way, my attempt to set the record straight: six decades into my life, this is who I am and what I think.

No apologies, no requirement to pretend I’m something I’m not. Just telling it like it is and damn the torpedos.

I’ll let you know once everything is up and running and, as always, I welcome your thoughts and feedback.

No need to be shy or deferential.

Surely we know each other well enough by now that we can dispense with such niceties.

“Give it to me with the bark on”, as FDR used to say.

I look forward to hearing from you.