It is shaping up to be a good summer on the boardwalk. It is unofficially summertime in case you are wondering, especially since today is a ski day in Aspen. I spent Memorial Day afternoon in Santa Cruz riding the roller coaster, twice, the double shot, the log roll, and the awesome flying thing, exactly... Read more →
CON GAMES: On Writing The Post-Papyrus Novel
During the dark ages of technology—this would be 1984 or so—I found myself lucky enough to go to the first-ever Microsoft conference on CD-ROM, AKA “CD-ROM: The New Papyrus,” held in Seattle, Washington. It would be impossible to exaggerate the level of excitement (and, ultimately, hype) at... Read more →
Paul Andersen: Homegrown Aspen Writers
It was amazing to see at the Aspen Historical Society’s recent book sale and cookie exchange how many homegrown authors are here. It’s not because writing is easy and lucrative; it’s because there’s plenty to write about here. If the number of authors is any measure of intellectual... Read more →
CON GAMES: How Charles Dickens Saved My Life
In the wee small hours of the morning — about 10:05 PM Mountain Time last night — I turned to the final page of the novel “David Copperfield” by Charles Dickens: no small feat, when you consider the final page in my phat falling-to-pieces paperpack is number 734. With this amazing book,... Read more →
Oh, THAT’S How It Works
Hey, here’s what I’ve discovered – in order to write a show you have to write, and write some more, and rewrite, then keep writing. And maybe keeping a public journal of that process isn’t as interesting as I initially thought it would be. So, I’ve been writing, and writing,... Read more →
Hemingway’s Shoes
Think you’re a big bad macho type. Then walk in Hem’s loafers with blogger David Frey as your guide. Read More →
Hemingway’s Favorite Barstool
Blogger David Frey continues tracking his hero throughout Europe with a trip to one of Ernest Hemingway’s favorite haunts. Read More →
CON GAMES: Future Shocking For Aspen Writers
“Writers, a breed full of need, are a painful planetary species to emerge from both primordial bog and unspeakable blog,” blogs the Con Man. “Take it from me, a writer who is about to make a real pain in the ass out of himself about…writing. After decamping to the Aspen Ideas Festival,... Read more →
CON GAMES: Shocking Ideas For Writers In Aspen
Writers, a breed full of need, are a painful planetary species to emerge from both primordial bog and unspeakable blog. Take it from me, a writer who is about to make a real pain in the ass out of himself about…writing. After decamping to the Aspen Ideas Festival, I came away thinking that no one... Read more →
Comment on High Speed Rail by Michael Conniff
“Trains are some of the coolest things on the planet, and very American, especially those that blow through small towns late at night and let loose with that primal, lonesome, familiar cry. I went to bed by the 11 pm train until I turned 16, and I have missed it ever since. It’s nostalgic. It’s... Read more →