Latest On My Novel Redwood Summer

I've been writing and rewriting my San Jose novel on and off since April of 2000. Each draft took months or years to write, but gradually each rewrite took a shorter time to complete. The rewrite before last took over three months. The last one took only three days. I began the rewrite on the … Continue reading Latest On My Novel Redwood Summer

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)

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 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 Part III Chapter 12

...you don't want to be caught on the wrong side... Jason hurried along East Santa Clara Street under the glaring, late summer sun as he dodged around other pedestrians. He turned left onto South Market Street, moved quickly for another block, then came to an oval island of grass and trees two and a half … Continue reading Redwood Summer Part III Chapter 12

Redwood Summer Part II Chapter 6

...San Jose used to be a small town... Jason slid on a T-shirt and combed his hair in front of his bedroom mirror. He then grabbed his keys, wallet, and change and left his room for the kitchen. The morning sun shone through the windows and the remains of breakfast were on the kitchen counter. … Continue reading Redwood Summer Part II Chapter 6

Redwood Summer Chapter 2

Jason hummed a tune he had just heard over his car stereo as he walked through the front door and headed to the kitchen . His younger brother was sitting at the kitchen table talking on the telephone. His father was over in the sunken family room looking at the newspaper while the evening news … Continue reading Redwood Summer Chapter 2