99 Word Prompt: Hometown

(Flash fiction piece prompted by carrot ranch, the theme of this one is hometown, which stirs up lots of memories in most people. Do you still live in your hometown? Did you move away? Or maybe you're someone who moved around a lot growing up? My hometown is a big American city, but I focused … Continue reading 99 Word Prompt: Hometown

Redwood Summer – A Novel (Homepage)

Below is the link to the home page for Redwood Summer. Though it's a novel that takes place in 1990, it has themes that are relevant to today, and it takes a deeper look at a pivotal time in history that set us on the course that took us to where we are today. Historical … Continue reading Redwood Summer – A Novel (Homepage)

99 Word Prompt: Blossom

(This particular Carrot Ranch prompt has special meaning because it relates to the San Jose neighborhood where I grew up. But as you can tell from my story it's a neighborhood that's had several names, has been populated by different peoples, and is far different now than what it was during its indigenous/Spanish/Mexican/agricultural pasts. Link … Continue reading 99 Word Prompt: Blossom

Almaden (repost)

First posted this short story just over four years ago, and I made some more changes to improve the narrative and the dialogue. This particular story means a lot to me, so I really want to get it right. The plot of Almaden is about a family's way of life coming to an end as … Continue reading Almaden (repost)

Redwood Summer Chapter 5 (repost)

Rewrite of chapter 5. The scene is the morning after a glorious party, and the end of the first third of the novel. Everyone is hungover but happy, and the story reaches a peak at the end of this chapter, after which is the downward slide to its ultimate fate. via Redwood Summer Chapter 5

Redwood Summer Chapter 17

The parties, family gatherings, career change, leaving of school, dispersal of friends, and other important life events of the previous six months finished running through Jason’s mind and took their place in his past history. he continued staring out the passenger door window of a work truck then became aware again of his surroundings as … Continue reading Redwood Summer Chapter 17

Redwood Summer Chapter 16

Jason drove along a San Joaquin Valley freeway through vast expanses of monocultural farmland and enclosed pastures. In the distance he saw the prison, a desolate cluster of rectangular, institutional buildings imposing upon the surrounding open space. He exited off the freeway and arrived at the compound. He stopped at a gate, was checked in … Continue reading Redwood Summer Chapter 16

Redwood Summer Chapter 15

Jason looked over the newspaper classified employment ads as he sat at the kitchen table. David was across from him doing his homework. “Anything promising?” father asked from the living room. “Not much,” Jason answered as he stared at the grid of small rectangles and abbreviated text. “A lot of the same old stuff.” “Budget … Continue reading Redwood Summer Chapter 15

Redwood Summer Chapter 14

Jason took a long drink from a bottle of tomato juice and waited for it to replenish his fatigued body as he leaned back against a three story rack of heavy steel shelves. He relaxed for a bit as he continued to recover from too much alcohol over the weekend. He glanced up at the … Continue reading Redwood Summer Chapter 14

Redwood Summer Chapter 13

“So now Alex is trying to hook him up with a job so he can pay off his back rent!” Mike said loudly to Jason over blaring party music. “Hook who up?!” Jason replied just as loud. “Curtis!” Mike repeated. “Oh, good for him!” Jason yelled back. “Hope it works out!” “Maybe he can find … Continue reading Redwood Summer Chapter 13