A neo-Zen koan:  Can one reach enlightenment while obsessed with one's books' Amazon rankings? The answer might seem obvious.  But in my busy little brain, it's not obvious at all.  Brain says:  who needs enlightenment…or any of what that easy word stands for? I'd probably go with snarky Brain's take on this, except that it […] Read More

It was stirring.  A pep rally for justice.  Click on this green link for a moment of audio/video to give you a feel of the day: MVI_2826 I was late coming to the table for Moral Monday.  It has been going on for weeks. What is it, you ask (if you're not from NC)?  It's […] Read More

For years, I've heard friends talking about dealing with a relative's dementia. It sounded awful.  My friend Carrie Knowles even wrote a book about it: The Last Childhood, which opens with one of the stronger first sentences ever:  "Last night I dreamed my mother knew my name." But no matter how familiar the subject, one's […] Read More

Talking about Cobalt Blue (my sexy spiritual novel) on UNC-TV, while dressed as The Life Force.   Read More

Ex-porn stars Christy Canyon and Ginger Lynn were about to interview me live on SiriusXM radio about my novel Cobalt Blue. I was, of course,  nervous, casting about.  Maybe it would help if I knew what they were going to ask, something I usually don't inquire about in advance because I prefer to be surprised.  […] Read More

In the wee-and-growing-larger hours of last night, I vainly googled myself, once again. This time not in vain. Google Alerts has not been doing its job: there were a number of pleasing items about novel Cobalt Blue that I hadn’t seen. Here’s one: らきふた 作者:amazon:止田卓史 サークル:google:”あしたから頑張る … Book Cobalt Blue · Roundfire Books Peggy Payne […] Read More

From Mooji: "Take the attitude that you will discover the Truth today! If you say, you are going to take a year off work to search for the Truth, it will take at least a year. For, like this the mind has just been given a one-year visa to continue indulging in its antics."   […] Read More

Books that fit into a genre usually attract more readers.  Mystery? Romance? Paranormal romance? Paranormal teen romance? Or steampunk, perhaps.  Genres have lots of subgenres.  From Urban Dictionary:  "Steampunk is a subgenre of speculative fiction, usually set in an anachronistic Victorian or quasi-Victorian alternate history setting…."  Which is cutting it pretty fine, in my view. […] Read More

Discovered this morning in a 2010 issue of the magazine Science of Mind: A Guide for Spiritual Living.   "God is good. So am I. All is well. Thanks. Goodbye."   A silent repetition of this could create a fresh start to one's day.     Read More

 This wise young writer, Alec Greven, finished his book at the age of eight.  Hit national TV with it at nine.  And what he says makes good sense, for any age or gender.  Also, he seems to be unspoiled by success.    [youtube yzouzhXSRzY nolink]   Read More