• In Which I Learn to Throw a Pot

    My youngest and I had a lot of fun learning to throw pots last weekend at a local pottery, the Clay Co-Op. 2 hours, we each got to make 2 pots, all materials included. (I’ll show you the pots once they’ve been fired in another couple weeks.) My next book has an important secondary character who’s a potter, so there was a whole second level of interest and enjoyment for me. Very difficult to take notes with hands covered in clay, but I tried to imprint as much as possible on my memory for later!

    Check the studio we took the class at, The Clay Co-Op. They also have members’ work for sale. Also check out the Clay Collective of St. Pete. Wherever you are, consider making an effort to support your local artists and craftspeople, if you don’t already. There are lots of people everywhere making beautiful, intriguing, and useful things.

    The inside of a pottery studio. In the center is a potter’s wheel. The wheel consists of a low, irregularly shaped table. The horizontal surface is yellow plastic. The three black plastic legs rest on red bricks. On the low table on the left side is a wheel, a mostly black circle with a steel border. On the wheel rest a metal scraping tool and a wooden pottery knife. On the table to the right is a plastic bucket filled with clayey water. A large clayey rectangular sponge is draped over the rim. On the speckled concrete floor is the pedal for the wheel, connected to the wheel and table by a cord. A low gray stool is to the left of the pottery wheel table. Toward the upper right, two more wheel stations can be seen. In the upper left stands a sturdy wooden table holding tools, not fully visible.
    A pottery wheel station at the end of class, after we cleaned our spaces!
    Table displaying some of the class’s finished pots. Visible are four finished but unglazed and unfired pots of red clay on flat wood squares. The are two small pots, fully glazed and fired, one yellow, one blue. In the bottom right corner is a crock holding several paintbrushes of different sizes and shapes. In the upper left are three objects like dark cake stands. A red pot on a wood square sits on a fourth stand, for easier painting. The pottery teacher’s red and white striped apron is visible, as is one arm steadying the wood platform. One can just see the blowtorch she is using to quickly dry the surface of the pot to ready it for painting with glaze.
    Some our class’s finished but unglazed pots. The teacher is quick-drying the surface of the pots with a blowtorch so we can paint on the glaze.
    A look at finished but unglazed and unfired pots from class. On a wooden table surface, in the center of the photo are two bowls set on thin wood squares ready to be painted with glaze. One can see the edges of two others along the right side. At the top of the image, from the left, are a plastic tub with tools, a green go-cup, and a white rag.
    A closer look at some of our pots before applying glaze. It will be fun to see what they look like after firing!

  • In Which I Bake Focaccia

    Every few weeks I like to make focaccia. Yesterday made some plain and some with onion, garlic, and rosemary. Very satisfying on a rainy evening!

    Seen from above. A white oval platter on a red tablecloth. Eight pieces of plain focaccia are arranged on the platter. One can see the dimples in the golden-brown bread and the Maldon salt flakes sprinkled on top.
    Seen from above. A wooden cutting board on a dark granite counter that is reflecting a lot of glare. On the board are twelve freshly cut golden-brown pieces of focaccia. A couple of pieces are angled for visual interest. Onion, rosemary, and Maldon salt flakes top the focaccia. To the lower right is a pizza cutter, resting against a couple of pieces.

  • In Which I Open a Box of Author’s Copies

    I’m not going to lie, it was pretty thrilling to open the box of author’s copies I ordered! You can order your own hard copy (or e-book) here.

    Seen from above. A large opened cardboard box containing trade paperback copies of Handsome and Hideous. Six copies are visible, with one copy pulled out of its packing place and set at an angle on top of the others. Along the top of the image bits of white rug and dark wood floor are visible.

  • I’m on Sci-Fi & Sunshine with Bria Burton!

    I was thrilled to appear on the podcast of my friend and fellow writer Bria Burton this week. Check out episode 22 of Sci-Fi & Sunshine on YouTube! We talk about AI, local bookstores, the writing process (we’re both gardeners/pantsers), and of course, Handsome and Hideous. I share a map of the kingdom of Tamtir that I drew while writing and several mixed media pieces I made (and rejected!) while figuring out the cover design.

    Bria and I have been in the same critique group for years. Check out her books, podcast, and more at https://www.briaburton.com/ !

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