Author Archives: mathdreads
Human Trafficking
I’ve been reading quite a lot lately about the various forms of oppression that we women face as research for my latest novel, The Adventures of Infinity and Negativa. Although I’m only going to focus on how a lack of education, a lack of birth control and a lack of income oppress women, I’m beginning … Continue reading
Movie Madness
In an effort to meet more people, I started checking out the weekly Meet Up listings that I receive every Monday. Confirming what I already knew about this lovely city known as The Live Music Capital of the World, there are so many interesting people and things to do…now readingMeet Up, I know about even … Continue reading
Writer Recruiter
I’ve had such a productive week, I’m amazed that only a week has passed! I took the positive energy from last Sunday’s writers roulette and channeled into the new search for some “raunchy writers” for the upcoming “Expressing Your Wild Side” roulette. I attended an open mic, a romance writers’ social, an art opening, a … Continue reading
If You Wanna Do Something Right…
Last year, I dreamed of reading my original work at least once a month; so I prepared about 30 professional-looking press kits, made a list of venues and spent a lot of time driving around and passing them out. Out of all my efforts, I got 2 gigs before I abandoned the mission. This time … Continue reading
Return to Civilization
Once again, I had a brush with my latent psychic skills nearly two weeks ago when I first arrived at one of my sister’s house. I normally keep certain items prepacked in my suitcase–wine opener, goggles, camper’s headlamp. For some inexplicable reason, I handed my 11-year-old nephew my headlamp. I proudly boasted that I liked being prepared … Continue reading
All in the Family
This year’s family reunion had a wonderful surprise: pictures of the original twelve Strange siblings, especially my guardian angel since I’ve been traveling around the world and living in Austin, my Papa, Floyd B. Strange. And I was especially moved to see my grandmother, who married into the Strange family, was the first Avon lady … Continue reading
Lunch with Amiri Baraka
There are some fabulously creative people here in Austin and occasionally, several of them get together and do wonderful, enlightening things. One such occasion was the special lunch that I attended this past Thursday at 11th Street Station. For the second weekend in a row, the Black Arts Movement festival had lined up a selection … Continue reading
Writers, Writers Everywhere!
Just as touted in my all-time favorite book, The Alchemist, when you pursue your life-long dream, the universe conspires to help you. As soon as got the idea to organize a monthly cultural event, the Austin Writers Roulette, I found myself immersed among people who, in some capacity, could help me achieve this goal. I quickly got … Continue reading
Graduation Day 2012
Usually I only attend a high school graduation if there are a significant number of seniors who I know are walking. After teaching at the same high school for the past three years, my advisory class has finally grown up and walked across the stage. For some seniors, they had one of my science classes … Continue reading
What’s in a Name? Austin Writers Roulette
http://www.facebook.com/events/303758879712204/ Back in December 2010 when I self-published my first novel, Tribe of One, I naively thought that after seven years in the making, the book would be easily promoted through email, blog and readings. I enthusiastically bought audio equipment, talked with my friends, Monica and Gustavo, at Esquina Tango about hosting my reading debut, “Cupid’s Naughty Secrets,” … Continue reading