Author Ben Human invited me to participate in his “page 69” challenge. You’ll have to read his full piece here to get the total gist of it, though it’s certainly an interesting and thought provoking piece. Anyway without getting into all the reasons behind it, I’m just posting the results…

Here’s my aunt Donna Sue’s first husband Griff. Then my aunt Cissy holding me as a baby, Donna Sue herself somewhat obscured in the back. Off to the side, those are my cousins Jada and Shanna. Griff was this intense military guy, but always nice to us for the most…

Another year, another spectacular crash and burn. By now it’s not exactly a seismic event for you to stumble onto one more article lamenting how this season has gone. However, unlike most pieces you’ve probably read — or at least most articles from a Columbus-leaning source — let me state…

Q&A with Jason McGathey — Author’s note: Online publication The Pro Files recently contacted me for a little discussion about “the writing life.” What follows is an emailed Q&A session by the editor, Ben Human. Though it may have been best for all parties if I were edited somewhat, they have allowed me to ramble…

One significant inflection point arrives during Edgar’s next trip up to Lorena. Like many other spark inducing events, this one begins by Don Evans drifting into the equipment room without warning. Even though one potential source of conflict has already been inspected and crossed off the list — it’s not…

As January draws to a close, Edgar receives a card from Rob and the Locke sisters, thanking him for 10 years of service. This is a welcome, unexpected touch, and helps remind him that he can realistically maybe extend his meager clan of supporters outward by a few notches, to…

Though the particulars vary, these situations are all related, corollaries of the same mindset. People are allowed to come flying at you with whatever, but at that this point, basically all you’re permitted in response is to tell them they are right even when they are not. Anything else is…

Failing the price audit up Lorena, though, now this is Edgar’s responsibility. However, even in this instance, he feels the bosses’ thinking on this is mighty muddled. Regarding one or two of them, he would even go as far as to say it is willfully muddled — they are making…