2020
July 9 - My poem “A Black Crow Walks the Sidewalk” was published in the 27th Annual Border Voices Anthology, Springtime in Paradise: How 83 Kids Became Their Own Heroes (Some Older Folks, Too), edited by Jack Webb.
2019
September 26 - I wrote a reader’s theatre piece as part of a Banned Books Week event Judy Reeves and I produced at Lestat’s West. The piece was performed by a cast of nine readers, including me, to raise awareness about efforts to censor what we read.
2019
July 25 - I performed my true story, “Always More,” at the July VAMP showcase at the Whistle Stop Bar in South Park. VAMP is a monthly curated storytelling program sponsored by the amazing folks at So Say We All. I was honored to have my story selected and included among so many amazing storytellers.
2019
June 2 - I participated in San Diego Writers Ink’s 12 annual Blazing Laptops Write-a-thon. A full day of writing to benefit a terrific nonprofit organization that nurtures writers in the San Diego region.
April 13 - Judy Reeves and I hosted a lively hour of Poetry Karaoke at the inaugural San Diego Writers Festival at the beautiful downtown San Diego Central Library.
February 7 - In celebration of Thursday Writers’ 13th anniversary at Lestat’s West, Judy Reeves and I hosted San Diego’s first-ever Poetry Karaoke event. Performers select a poem from our Poetry Karaoke binders—everything from Angelou to Yeats, Brooks to Whitman—and drop their names in a hat. When the performer’s name is selected, s/he goes to the stage to spin the Big Wheel of Musical Genres, and then reads the poem to the beat of whatever music genre the wheel lands on. Great fun, and some wild readings!
2018
November 28 - My flash fiction story, “Hashtag Vote,” received a “Best of the Rest” designation in the annual San Diego CityBeat Fiction 101 contest.
October 14 - Judy Reeves and I co-hosted the Scary Story competition in conjunction with San Diego Writers Ink’s E.A. Poe Memorial Benefit and Wake. I also hosted Scaryoke.
September 15 - I read my story “Passing”—an excerpt from my Boy of Steel memoir—at the launch party for the publication of the anthology, Shaking the Tree: brazen. short. memoir. The party took place at Humphreys Half Moon Inn.
My story, “Passing,” was selected for publication in the anthology, Shaking the Tree: brazen. short. memoir., edited by Marni Freedman and Tracy J. Jones (MCM Publishing, 2018), an outgrowth of the San Diego Memoir Writers Association’s Memoir Showcase.
June 24 - I participated in San Diego Writers Ink’s 11th annual Blazing Laptops Write-a-thon. A great day of writing and working on my musical—all for a terrific cause.
February 16-17 - I volunteered to help my friends Rick & Linda Ochocki at the registration table for the Southern California Writer’s Conference.
2017
November 29 - My flash fiction story, “Untitled,” won First Place in the annual San Diego CityBeat Fiction 101 contest! Yay!
September 8 - I served as guest host at DimeStories, the monthly three minute prose open mic held at The Ink Spot in Liberty Station on the second Friday of each month.
July 16 - I co-hosted, with the effervescent Judy Reeves, “Coming Out Stories,” a reading in celebration of San Diego’s LGBTQ+ Pride weekend, and in honor of the 20th anniversary of Ellen Degeneres’ historic coming out episode on the television show Ellen. We sponsored a contest, asking LGBTQ+ writers to submit their coming out stories. Six stories were chosen, and the authors were invited to read their stories at the event, held at the Ink Spot in Liberty Station. Five authors read their stories in person: Jim Brega, Mary Sue Doyle, Patrick McMahon, Jefferey Pinkston, and Dylan Yates. The six author, Katie Krantz, was living in Atlanta, Georgia, and she read her piece via Skype.
May 21 - I co-chaired—with my partner in crime, Judy Reeves— San Diego Writers Ink’s 10th annual Blazing Laptops Write-a-thon. We had amazing participation, and helped raise over $25,000 for our favorite nonprofit organization for writers!
2016
October 21 - I hosted Scaryoke at San Diego Writers Ink’s E.A. Poe Memorial Benefit and Wake.
My story, “The Last Trip We Took,” was published in the Thursday Writers Anthology: Celebrating 10 Years at Lestat’s West (Thursday Writers Press, 2016, p. 26).
July 14 - In honor of ten years at Lestat’s West, Judy Reeves and I hosted a Thursday Writers Anthology Launch Party, featuring readers from the anthology.
May 22 - I participated in San Diego Writers Ink’s 9th annual Blazing Laptops Write-a-thon. An all-day writing marathon to raise money for a great organization.
2015
June 7 - I participated in San Diego Writers Ink’s 8th annual Blazing Laptops Write-a-thon. An all-day writing marathon to raise money for a great nonprofit organization that benefits San Diego area writers.
April 9 - In observance of National Poetry Month, Judy Reeves and I hosted “A Special Poetry Edition of Thursday Writers Readings,” featuring acclaimed poet, Roger Aplon. Held at Lestat’s West, the reading featured local poets Art Campbell, Shadab Zeest Hashmi, Sylvia Levinson, Joe Milosch, Carol Moscrip, Michael Moynihan, Jesse Robinson, and Chris Vannoy.
2014
June 8 - I participated in San Diego Writers Ink’s 7th annual Blazing Laptops Write-a-thon. An all-day writing marathon to raise money for a great organization.
2013
June 9 - I participated in San Diego Writers Ink’s 6th annual Blazing Laptops Write-a-thon. An all-day writing marathon to raise money for a great organization.
2011
My story, “This Time, She Kept Her Promise,” was published in the inaugural Thursday Writers Anthology: Celebrating 5 Years at Lestat’s West (Thursday Writers Press, 2011, p. 71).
September 22 - In honor of five years at Lestat’s West, Judy Reeves and I hosted a Thursday Writers Reading From the Anthology Launch Party, featuring readers from the anthology.
2010
May 23 - I participated in San Diego Writers Ink’s 3rd annual Blazing Laptops Write-a-thon. I served on the committee this year with my pal Judy Reeves, who chaired the event.
May 7 - DimeStories reading on the occasion of Amy Wallen’s retirement as the Mistress of Ceremonies. I read a piece I wrote specifically for Amy, entitled simply, “Farewell.”
2009
July 19 - I chaired the fourth and final “Authors & Art” event, a reading co-sponsored by the San Diego Art Institute and San Diego Writers Ink, and an official event of San Diego Pride. The 2009 event featured these local LGBTQ+ writers reading from their work: Kimberly Dark, Fergal O’Doherty, and Rob Williams. The event took place inside the beautiful Museum of the Living Artist in Balboa Park.
May 9 - I participated in a reading with Tom Spanbauer and other writers who had participated in his “Dangerous Writing” workshops. I read my prose poem, “Darkness Beneath the Darkness.” Held at the Ink Spot.
May 3 - I was a featured reader at the DimeStories of Orange County Showcase held at Laguna Beach Books in Laguna Beach. I read my story, “What Then I Was,” an excerpt from my memoir, Boy of Steel.
March 28 - I participated in San Diego Writers Ink’s 2nd annual Blazing Laptops Write-a-thon. This year’s event was held at the Swedenborgian Hall in University Heights. I helped lead one of the writing activities as a Red Hot Ink Spot Digiteer.
My story, “What Then I Was,”—an excerpt from my memoir, Boy of Steel—was included on the audio CD, Five & Dime: DimeStories Live Showcase, Fifth Anniversary Edition, 2008-2009 Season, curated by Victoria Melekian, Ellen Meister, Susan Henderson, Emil Wilson, and Meredith Resnick (DimeStories, 2009). I read my story live at The Loft on the UCSD campus in La Jolla, where it was recorded for the CD. [Original music by Penguin Cafe Orchestra. CD design and illustration by Emil Wilson. Sound Engineer, Eber Lambert. Producer, Amy Wallen]
March 10 - I participated as a featured reader at the DimeStories Showcase at The Loft on the UCSD campus. I read from “What Then I Was,” and pieces were recorded for inclusion on the audio CD Five & Dime: DimeStories Live Showcase, Fifth Anniversary Edition, 2008-2009 Season (more information above).
January 25 - I participated as a reader at the release party for A Year In Ink: Volume 2, edited by Sandra Alcosser and Arthur Salm (Ink Spot Press, 2009).
Two of my stories—both excerpts from my memoir, Boy of Steel—were chosen for publication in the anthology A Year In Ink: Volume 2, edited by Sandra Alcosser and Arthur Salm (Ink Spot Press, 2009). The two published stories are “Passing” (pp. 63-70) and “One of These Nights” (pp. 73-80).
January 2 - DimeStories reading from “Prologue.”
2008
November 23 - I participated as a featured reader at a memoir panel held at Bookstar in Costa Verde Plaza. I read my story, “Learning to Burp,” from my memoir, Boy of Steel.
October 14 - I was a featured reader at the inaugural DimeStories San Diego Live Showcase at The Loft on the campus of UCSD. I read my story, “Zeus, The Father Almighty,” an excerpt from my memoir, Boy of Steel.
October 10-12 - I participated in a “Dangerous Writing” workshop conducted by esteemed author, Tom Spanbauer. Held at the Ink Spot.
October 3 - DimeStories reading: “Bridge to Alcatraz” (about a disgraced future and former President Palin going to prison). This was also the fourth anniversary celebration of these open mic prose readings.
September 5 - DimeStories reading from “Zeus, The Father Almighty.”
July 20 - I chaired the third annual “Authors & Art” event, a reading co-sponsored by the San Diego Art Institute and San Diego Writers Ink, and an official event of San Diego Pride. The 2008 event featured these local LGBTQ+ writers reading from their work: Frank DiPalermo, Abigail Padgett, Jeanne M. Peterson, and Allan J. Wager. The event took place inside the beautiful Museum of the Living Artist in Balboa Park.
March 29 - I participated in San Diego Writers Ink’s 1st annual Blazing Laptops Write-a-thon. I was one of the “Red Hot Ink Spot Digiteers” who helped lead one of the writing activities. This inaugural event was held at SDWI’s Ink Spot location at 710 13th Street in downtown San Diego.
March 7 - This was the first official DimeStories open mic event (replacing First Friday). I read from “Next.”
February 25 - My poem, “A Pacific Union,” was selected by the Pocatello Arts Council to be included as part of their Literary Pavers Project. My poem engraved on a square of granite and embedded into the sidewalks of downtown Pocatello. Amazing. Was selected in the same year as they also chose to honor Tom Spanbauer with a Literary Paver.
My story, “Tough Guys,” was published in A Year in Ink: San Diego Writers, Ink Anthology - Volume 1, edited by Thomas Larson (Ink Spot Press, 2008, pp. 96-101).
My story, “Black-Eyed Birth,” was published in the anthology, Mourning Sickness: Stories and Poems About Marriage, Stillbirth, and Infant Loss, edited by Missy Martin and Jesse Loren (OmniArts, LLC, 2008, pp. 28-33).
2007
My story, “Boy of Steel,” was published in the anthology, Black Rock & Sage, edited by Greg Olsen (Department of English & Philosophy, Idaho State University, 2007, pp. 36-44).
My story, “Boy of Steel,”—an excerpt from my memoir, Boy of Steel—was included on the audio CD, First Friday: The Best 3-Minute Stories of Year 3, edited by Samantha Dunn (San Diego Writers Ink, 2007). Our stories were originally recorded live at The Grove bookstore in South Park, and we then recorded them for the CD at a later date. [Sound engineering by James Spring. Original music by Jon Autry. CD design and illustration by Jennifer Grisard.]
December 7 - First Friday reading from “Zeus, The Father Almighty.” This was the third anniversary party, also held at the Swedenborgian Hall, and both Amy Storey and Nancy Magee were in the audience for this reading.
November 2 - First Friday reading from “Best Boy.”
October 5 - First Friday reading from “One of These Nights.”
September 27 - I read an excerpt from The Geography Club, by Brent Hartinger, at San Diego Writers Ink’s 2nd Annual Banned Books Reading: Celebrating the Freedom to Read, at Lestat’s West.
August 3 - First Friday reading from “Learning to Burp.”
July 22 - I chaired the second annual “Authors & Art” event, a reading co-sponsored by the San Diego Art Institute and San Diego Writers Ink, and an official event of San Diego Pride. The 2007 event featured special guest author, Tom Spanbauer. The event also included these local LGBTQ+ writers reading from their work: David Cohen, Patrick McMahon, and Lisa Shapiro. The event took place inside the beautiful Museum of the Living Artist in Balboa Park. The event was supported, in part, by Poets & Writers, Inc., through a grant it received through the James Irvine Foundation.
July 6 - First Friday reading from “Bernie’s.”
June 1 - First Friday reading from “Joseph Smith and the Temple of Doom.”
May 19 - I was acknowledged at The Thirteenth Annual San Diego Book Awards ceremony for being selected as a finalist in the Unpublished Memoir category for my memoir, Boy of Steel.
May 17 - Judy Reeves and I hosted “Thursday Writers Read” at Lestat’s West, featuring twelve readers from our Thursday Writers drop-in writing practice group. Judy and I both read stories as part of the celebration.
May 4 - First Friday reading from “What Then I Was.”
February 2 - First Friday reading from “What Then I Was.”
2006
My story, “Black-eyed Birth” was awarded First Runner Up in the Nonfiction category in The Second Annual University of New Orleans Writing Contest for Study Abroad in Europe.
December 1 - First Friday reading from “Tough Guys.”
November 3 - First Friday reading from “Do You Know the Way?” This was the first time James Spring—and later Eber Lambert—began recording the First Friday readings and posting them on the web.
October 6 - First Friday reading from “Pomp and Circumstances.” This was the second anniversary celebration of First Friday, held at the Swedenborgian Hall in Normal Heights. It was also the event at which I helped James Spring, Eber Lambert, and others carry out a man we knew as “Lee,” and who we would learn years later was James J. Lee—the same man who strapped explosives to his chest and took hostages at the Discovery Channel Headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, and was eventually killed by police. At the First Friday event, many of us saw Lee drinking a lot of red wine, and by the time he got up to read his piece, he was drunk and belligerent to the point that we had to drag him out of the church and ban him from attending future events in the San Diego writing community. Scary.
September 1 - First Friday reading from “For Ever Young.”
August 4 - First Friday reading from “Learning to Burp.”
July 30 - I chaired “Authors & Art,” a reading co-sponsored by the San Diego Art Institute and San Diego Writers Ink, and an official event of San Diego Pride. Featuring special guest author, Bernard Cooper, the event celebrated LGBTQ+ writers in San Diego. In addition to Cooper, there were readings by Veronica Cunningham, Liz Morrison, and me. The event took place inside the beautiful Museum of the Living Artist in Balboa Park. The event was supported, in part, by Poets & Writers, Inc., through a grant it received through the James Irvine Foundation. The initial idea for the event came from the always-brilliant Judy Reeves.
July 7 - First Friday reading from “Joseph Smith and the Temple of Doom.”
May 5 - First Friday reading from “Prologue.”
April 29 - I was a featured reader at the Black Rock & Sage Release Party, held at College Market in Pocatello, Idaho.
My story, “Black-Eyed Birth,” was published in the anthology, Black Rock & Sage, edited by Bern Mulvey (Idaho State University, 2006, pp. 38-43). “Black-Eyed Birth” is an excerpt from my memoir, Boy of Steel.
April 7 - First Friday reading from “Blood Brothers” (now entitled “What Then I Was”).
March 29 - I was a featured reader at the Rocky Mountain Writers’ Festival in Pocatello, Idaho. I read “Black-Eyed Birth,” the story selected for inclusion in the Black Rock & Sage anthology. The reading took place at College Market.
March 4 - First Friday reading from “Water Babies.”
February 3 - First Friday reading from “Boy of Steel.”
January - I was selected as a finalist in the 2005 Santa Fe Writers Project Literary Awards competition for my 50-page excerpt of my memoir, Boy of Steel.
January 6 - First Friday reading from “One of These Nights.”
2005
December 2 - First Friday reading from “Bernie’s.”
October 7 - First Friday reading from “Black-eyed Birth.”
August 5 - First Friday reading from “Featherweight” (now entitled “One of These Nights”).
July 1 - First Friday reading from “Y’all Come Back Now, ‘Hear?”
June 3 - First Friday reading from “X is Not a Word.”
May 6 - First Friday reading from “Zeus, The Father Almighty.”
April - I was awarded Honorable Mention in the Nonfiction category in the University of New Orleans First Annual Writing Contest for Study Abroad in Europe for “Pocatello Stories,” an excerpt from my memoir, Boy of Steel. [“Pocatello Stories” combined “Prologue” and “Tough Guys.”]
April 1 - First Friday reading from “Joy of Sax.”
February 4 - First Friday reading from “Passing.”
January 22-23 - I participated in the San Diego State University Writers’ Conference.
January 7 - First Friday reading from “Avon Calling.”
2004
December 3 - First Friday reading from “Best Boy.”
November 5 - First Friday reading from “Prologue.”
October 1 - I read at the inaugural First Friday prose reading, held at The Grove bookstore in South Park. Hosted by Amy Wallen, this monthly event was the forerunner of the long-running DimeStories events. An open mic event, readers are invited to read three minutes of prose (no poetry). I read three minutes of my story about Tough Guy Lanes.
January 25 - I received the Editor’s Choice Award from Kim Meisner (Senior Editor at Harmony Books) for my story “Just a Tad to the Right,” from my memoir, Boy of Steel. The award was presented to me at the San Diego State University Writers’ Conference.
1986-2002 - Under Construction
1985
I wrote, produced, and served as on-air host for several episodes of a television show called One in Ten, which looked at San Diego’s LGBTQ+ community.
1984-1985
I wrote, co-produced, and was an on-air interviewer for segments of a radio show called Out in San Diego, which aired on KPBS and featured stories about San Diego’s LGBTQ+ community.
1978
May - I was thrilled to have my Graduation Poem published in our high school yearbook, Highlander, at the conclusion of my senior year.
1977 or 1978
I entered a high school drama competition in the solo acting category with an original scene I wrote entitled, “The Dream.”