Desert Fun, a Story Published, Some Publicity, and Highway to Hell
Time has a funny way of feeling quick as a snap one moment, then like it has hitched a ride on a slug the other. Its perceived flavor and contours depend on the lens you view it. Nothing enlightening there. But it’s on the edge of my mind since the interim from my last post to today is over two months. A lot has occurred in those two months, so I have a lot of delights to share. That’s not to say I haven’t had my deep valleys to trudge through where time felt stuck, my focus on whatever ailed me. So it goes. That’s life, right? Peaks and valleys. Gutters and strikes, as a great philosopher once said.
I’m consciously working on believing the peaks will come or at least be seen when I’m feeling low. Easier said than done. It’s a practice and a large motivator for Dopamine’s Delight. To seek out delights to spur dopamine that at times feels dormant or dysfunctional. It takes work and time to build new neurological pathways. And that time is riding that dang slug while screaming giddy-up in a slow, drawn-out drawl. So onward to the delights: desert fun, a story sold, some publicity, and the highway to hell.
Desert Fun
We road-tripped to the Utah dessert to camp in Canyonlands this hot July. People said we were crazy. Well. One person did. The smart money is on many others thinking it. No matter. We laugh (awkwardly) in the face of conventional wisdom. Was it hot? Scorching. But so was Missoula once we left. As is most of the United States right now. Hope sweet, cool relief finds you somehow. Not this way though.
No. L.L. Cool J. Just no. Stop your destructive train conducting. But I digress. Back to Canyonlands National Park.
We camped in the Needles District portion of Canyonlands National Park, so called for its copious needle-rock formations. Time and erosion are the rock stars of this landscape.
Being accustomed to the crowds of Glacier and Yellowstone (both are a hop and a skip away from Missoula) the park felt surreally empty of people. There wasn’t even a ranger at its entrance. Ever. Morning. Day. Or Evening.
Now don’t think the lack of people was for any lack of beauty. The setting was otherworldly, full of red spires and canyons. Directly behind our campsite stood a rock formation that a five-minute climb during sunset would gift a panoramic view, full of varied hues of reds and browns, that catches the breath.
Videos and pictures don’t do it justice. Nevertheless, I did my best to capture its beauty. As with most within the natural world, it’s best to experience it in person. Be present with it. Perhaps find transcendence, believing oneself insignificant, the world grand.
The first full day, we hiked six miles on a popular trail, called Chesler Park. By popular, I mean we ran into maybe five to eight hikers. Likely a few others heard us. The kiddo dug the echo effect in the canyon. So much, that we finally nixed his vocal calls for the sanity of us and others.
Predominantly, using cairns to find our way, the trail took us around the most fantastically bizarre rock formations and into a deep canyon trench before a steady climb took us to an overlook.
We each packed lots of water—more than the recommended amount—and bathed in sunscreen. With the kiddo and the sun and the heat, six miles felt like a trek Goldilocks would appreciate. Beforehand, we briefly entertained a longer hike to the confluence of the Colorado and the Green Rivers before caution won the discussion. Glad it did. Heat can kill. Tragically, it has this summer. If you hike here, please heed their warnings about how much water to bring. And plan on hiking fewer miles than you usually do.
The evening temperature cools, and we built a fire each night. It wasn't cool enough where we needed a fire. But camping brings the pyro out in me. And a good book with a fire and a drink is one of my happy places. Besides camping isn’t camping without roasting marshmallows. Disagree? Fight me!
The night sky in southern Utah is spectacular with the Milky Way seen and shooting stars streaking the sky. Craning our necks up, the wife and I discussed the important and the non-important. The kiddo read by lantern late into the night with the occasional ask for me to check the perimeter whenever he heard a noise that went rustle or bump. These are the moments that make living lovely.
In Arches, we found our expected crowds. I’m slightly embarrassed to say we didn’t learn about the time-entry permit needed to visit the park until we entered the gate. After the ranger kindly told us how to get a permit, we drove a U-turn of shame. Luckily for us, permits were still available for the early afternoon.
After a picturesque picnic at the Colorado River in Moab, we returned. With only a half day to visit, we hiked a short three-mile out-and-back trail to the Delicate Arch. If you’ve seen most Utah license plates, you’ve seen the illustration of the Delicate Arch. Here’s it el natural.
Can rocks be sexy? You betcha! While short, the hike to the arch offers little shade, so lather up with sunscreen and bring lots of water. After our hike, we drove to the trailhead of an even shorter hike (1/3 of a mile) that led to our favorite arch in the park, the Double Arch.
It earned the fave status because one it is wicked cool. Two because exclaiming Double Arch with the same degree of verve and unadulterated joy as the double-rainbow dude never gets old. To me, anyhow. My wife and kiddo probably feel differently.
On a future trip, I’d like to spend more time exploring Arches. Next time. Absolutely.
We spent our last full day in Utah in Moab to give the kiddo a respite from hiking in the sun. While he was a trooper with all the hot hikes, his face lit up when we told him he’d spend his last day watching Despicable Me 4 in an air-conditioned theater and swimming in a pool with a diving board and waterslide.
A Story Published
Hey! Ho! A short story of mine has recently been released into the wild. I’m beyond thrilled to have “She Came Down From the Sky” in the Summer 2024 issue of The Colored Lens Speculative Fiction Magazine. It’s a sci-fi, neo-noir, contemporary western set in rural Montana. Want a logline? You should know by now I came prepared: A woman in strange urban warfare fatigues has fallen to her death onto the Montana prairie. From where? How? That’s up to George and his deputy to find out.
It’s available now. Check it out!
Some Publicity
I’m a writer, not a public speaker. The publicity side of the writing gig is new to me and outside of my comfort zone. Put me in front of the mic or a crowd and my heart loudly beats rap-a-tat-tat. Afterward, I often over-analyze what I said.
Despite my discomfort, I’m throwing myself into this side of the game because...well...I aim to have my stories read by many. And guess what? I’m finding joy in meeting new readers and am becoming more at ease when in the spotlight. Here are a few events, past and future, I’m proud and excited to share with you.
Writers of the Future Podcast
As a long-time listener to the Writers of the Future podcast, I felt the urge to pinch myself when I was a guest on the podcast. What made the experience even better was sharing the mic with fellow Volume 40 winners, Kal M., James Davies, Amir Agoora, and Galen Westlake. Not only are they incredibly talented writers, they’re all-around cool and kind humans. You can listen to the full podcast here.
Shakespeare & Co.
Another author milestone was having a reading and signing at Shakespeare & Co. here in Missoula. A long-time patron of the independent bookstore, I was pleased as punch for the platform and opportunity. I’m grateful to all who attended. Meant the world to me.
The Instant Story Hour
I’m stoked to join Martin L. Shoemaker on his podcast, The Instant Story Hour, Thursday, July 25th, 2024 at 6:00 PM MDT (8:00 EST).
When he told me its format, I jumped at the opportunity because he’s doing something magical with this podcast After a reading and a conversation about my writing, I’m to give him a story prompt, which he will use to dictate a short story. Live on the spot. I can’t wait! I’m a turtle at drafting and so amazed by anyone who can pull off such an improvisational feat. And he can. Very well. I’ve seen him do it.
Here’s a link to RSVP for this virtual event, hosted on Zoom.
Barnes & Noble Signing
This Saturday, I’ll be at my local Barnes & Noble to sign some books. I predict a lump in my throat as seven years ago I used to meet at this very B&N for my first writing group, We Write Good. I often made it a point to walk the store, envisioning one day sharing the shelves with many authors I so admire. If you’re in the Missoula area, come say hi and perhaps buy a signed copy of L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 40.
Highway to Hell
The kiddo is one cool cat! A hell-raiser, the very best kind.
Until next Dopamine’s Delight…