Over the years I've worked as a book critic, writing hundreds of book reviews and interviews for newspapers and magazines. When I began, I focused on Science Fiction/Fantasy and interviewed authors such as Stephen R. Donaldson, Gene Wolfe (AMAZING, 9/81) Edward Bryant, Robert Silverberg and George R.R. Martin but also interviewed poets like W.S. Merwin.
I also sold poems illustrated by own photographic illustrations to small but very professionally done magazines like "The Alien Child" in SHAYOL #5 and "The Last Communication," in SHAYOL #6, both edited by Pat Cadigan in 1982.
I also wrote critical essays such as "Love Kills: Another Look at Fatal Attraction," in 1992's CUT, Horror Writers on Horror Film, edited by Christopher Golden (Berkley) and contributed non-fiction, "Just Another Friday Night in Cowtown" to the intriguing but short-run magazine, CRIME BEAT, 1993's 2-3/93 issue, edited by T.E.D. Klein.
After a hiatus, I have begun reviewing books and interviewing writers again, primarily for PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY's Forecasts section. Writers I've talked with include: Peter David, 6/18/ 01; John Martel, 8/13/01; Joe R. Lansdale, 8/27/01; Charles de Lint, 10/22/01; Lewis Shiner, 11/ 5/01; Steven Barnes, 1/21/02; Merrill Markoe, 1/ 21/02; Carole Nelson Douglas, 5/ /02.
As a college student I studied with indie film director Andy (A.C.) Anderson who had success with POSITIVE I.D. and other indie films. I was active in film projects behind the scenes and before the cameras. Highlight of acting career had me on a bus in a junkyard going nowhere as a deranged housewife spouting improvised dialogue-- in a film by Richard Fenner (title, alas, forgotten!). I produced, directed and edited two sound sync 16mm films shown at various festivals and at the Fort Worth Museum of Modern Art (fun fact--aspiring filmmaker and later acclaimed actor, Bill Paxton, also exhibited a short film but mine, MANIKIN, got more laughs and applause!). As a still photographer and roving journalist, I've worked for the Science Fiction Writers of America covering the World Fantasy Conventions of '85 and '86. I've done dust jacket photography for John Coyne, model headsheets, photo journalism and more photographic illustrations of my own fiction.
Like Clive Barker, David Schow, Ray Bradbury, and many other writers, I am not content with just writing. I am also an artist utilzing mixed media, including acrylics, watercolors and collage.
My style varies from modern, post-iimpressionism and expressionism, with a touch of surrealism but like Picasso, I began sketching very realistic art (learn the rules first and then break them). I am fascinated by artists and the melding of various media.
Currently collaborating with illustrator, Douglas Potter on a children's book. I like collecting cool quotes by artists. One of my favs: "Nothing is less real than realism"--Georgia O'Keefe.
As a writer I enjoyed working with Douglas E. WInter. I came in contact with Doug years ago when we were fellow book reviewers for a small press magazine, FANTASY NEWSLETTER.
Recently collaborated with Jane Yolen on a short story and hope to do more with others, time permitting.
When I had more time and more money, I was more active in writing organizations and such.
It pleased me to be a part of things and I served on an awards committee once with Pat Cadigan for the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writer's of America. I also was a longtime member of the National Book Critics Circle and helped form the first version of the Horror Writer's of America back when it was Rick McCammon's baby and debuting officially at the World Fantasy Convention of 1985. I recall Joe and Karen Lansdale, Stanley Wiater, along with a few others sitting around saying, "What should we do next?" and how everybody just jumped in to get things rolling. I remember running around asking people to join like Ramsey Campbell, Ed Bryant, Charles L. Grant and Kathy Ptacek. Fun times. Today I am a member of Pen Center, USA West. I think writer's organizations are great but there's no way you can join and participate in all of them.
I really appreciated every editor whom I've worked with. I learn something new everytime I have one. If I have to name a favorite, though, it would be Theodore "Eibon" Donald Klein.
I can never forget the way he tracked me down by phone at a party to tell me that my first story had been bought. And how I knew AggieCon at College Station was still in full sway so I came home and called some writer friends (Howard Waldrop, George R.R.Martin, Joe & Karen Lansdale, Edward Bryant, Lisa Tuttle, Leigh Kennedy/Priest, George Proctor, Neal Barrett and probably someone I'm accidently leaving out as it's hard to know who else was there in the room) to let them know and how everyone clapped and screamed to let me know how special it was to make that first newsstand sale. Ted also called me "Fort Worth's answer to Shirley Jackson," something I've had as a hard a time living up to as a PW reviewer's comparing my short story, "The Brush of Soft Wings" to that of Truman Capote's. I have had good reviews and lukewarm, even hostile reviews of my short fiction but I really enjoyed Edward Bryant's consistently iintelligent reviews in LOCUS. Now I don't pay as much attention to reviews as I used to. Time has a way of changing things. Like Joe Lansdale once told me, "If you believe the good reviews you have to believe the bad ones." I've been on both sides of the fence, too and that helps!
Texas born, spent some early years in Massachusetts but the rest of my life has been deep in the heart of Texas. I have a degree in Communications Journalism from the University of Texas at Arlington. While attending UTA, I worked for the award-winning SHORTHORN as Entertainment Editor. While the Entertainment Editor I also reviewed movies, interviewed celebrities such as Richard Harris, Blythe Danner, Mercedes McCambridge and the late but great Director of the Amon Carter Museum of Art, Mitchell A. Wilder. While attending UTA, I met Howard Waldrop, who asked if he could cheat off my paper in a Journalism class. I told him, "Absolutely not!" but I think he did so, anyway.
A pivotal moment as a writer arrived in 1978 in downtown Fort Worth, TX. At the time I was working for Barber's Bookstore and we were doing a promotion for Ace Books in conjunction with the Fourth World Fantasy Convention. My boss, Brian A. Perkins gave me time off to go crash the convention on behalf of good P.R. as a bunch of writers could then be lured into the bookstore which was just a couple of blocks away from the store. I went down there to sign in and got in a line with Judi Lynn Del Rey and her bearded husband, Lester Del Rey, a man who introduced himself as Stephen R. Donaldson and then another man walked up whose face I recognized from a photo. I couldn't believe it was Harlan Ellison, who promptly introduced himself. Then I kept meeting more and more professionals, including Lisa Tuttle, Stephen King, Charles L. Grant and others...which led me to getting more involved in writing, attending conferences, etc., networking and learning more about the world of fantastic fiction.
Meeting Lisa Tuttle led to a trip to England...and many trips to Austin, Bryan College Station and eventually back to Massachusetts and a friendship with Jane Yolen. Trips to Providence, Boston, New York, Denver, Phoenix, Los Angeles...Paris....