I’ve written a book with no redeeming social value whatsoever except for one: it’s funny. I think of Trouble at Big Daddy’s Chicken Palace Emporium and Museum as my Bruce Springsteen novel. You see, I have this image of Bruce arriving at the Pearly Gates. Jesus is standing there, talking to him. Do you think Jesus is saying, “So, Bruce, what’d...

Why every time I hear them say “birth control” do I erupt like a geyser? Because. For decades of my life the given was that strangers could control my sexuality. Legislators. Doctors. Health insurance companies. Employers. To be specific: male legislators—there were no females legislators back then. Male OB-Gyns, too, who would ask whether...

I thought I could write about this, but I can’t. I thought I could turn my anger into humor, make some jokes about the contraceptive choices of those men on the Oversight Committee. I thought I could ask some interesting questions. But every time I get near this subject, it’s like barbed wire. My voice rises. I start sprinkling my...

I’ve just picked up the handouts for tomorrow’s Door of Hope writers retreat. Neatly typed up, professionally copied, they look inevitable. They aren’t. So much could have happened to prevent the creation of these handouts. The writers might never have arrived at the point where they could sit down and write. Even when they...

Things you need to know about me: * I still have my Christmas lights up, indoors * I am currently in love with Pogo Possum and the tads * One of my novels features a Mother Mary visitation, an infestation of Demonittes, and Jesus panhandling on the Union exit off Danny Thomas. Another features chickens. * I facilitate a weekly writing group of...

The Door of Hope Writing Group was founded by men and women experiencing homelessness. The Retreat began when one of the group said, “Man, this is some amazing stuff going on here. Others need to know about this.” We named the retreat the Community Retreat because we were inviting others to come write in community with us, which...

I watch a woman use the bike lane on North Parkway to tug a grocery cart down the street. Then I read Mitt Romney saying he isn’t concerned about the very poor because we have safety nets in place to protect them – if there are holes in it, he will repair them. The media will focus on the “I’m not concerned” sound...

People use violent words and actions because they believe it is sanctioned by those around them. If we don’t want a culture of violence, we must let those around us know we do not sanction it.