2024-04-18 03:02
I recently had a wonderful conversation with Patrick Greenwood, discussing my book and our outlook on the craft of writing. We shared useful insights and a bit of humor about the aging proce… Read More
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Engaging Narratives, New Ideas Blog
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Writing and Art by A. M. Palmer
2024-04-07 14:21
First, there were the many banners, undulating from windows high above as black sedans, the proud vehicles of state, drove slowly for all to behold and regard with wonder. Then, girls with f… Read More
2024-03-17 17:54
Perhaps you feel as I do about Gymnopédie No. 1, regarding it as a melody of the mind possessed of a certain sadness, yet radiant and peaceful, as well. In any event, please digr… Read More
2024-02-28 22:03
Teach your writing students to feel the visceral aspects of life, to trace their subjects with powerful word images, and you have helped them to succeed. Herein we find the essence of commun… Read More
2024-02-21 17:12
The Voice of LeavesOn a very strange occasion, a woman screamed with considerable power, her voice tearing through the air of late morning. The setting was an urban park, not unknown to unba… Read More
2024-02-08 18:06
Greetings and many thanks to you for sharing your coffee time with me, enjoying the latest essays and collages. I greatly appreciate you! As you know, the dogs and I are wintering in Souther… Read More
2024-02-07 15:01
As a stationary expression of time, a photograph suggests the arrival of memories, not necessarily of the prosaic kind but those that speak to deeper emotions. Fragrance does much the same… Read More
2024-01-25 16:47
I had never before seen the crested head of the Cardinal in its glory—at least, not in person. Though familiar with the red birds, as most are by way of photos, I had yet to see them d… Read More
2024-01-25 02:49
For those who enjoy creative writing exercises, I have included a link to one of my workshop packages. I designed the program two years ago, teaching my students to incorporate art into thei… Read More
2024-01-17 15:20
On November 18, 1978, nearly all 900 members of the Peoples Temple in Guyana, a "church" founded by Jim Jones (an un-ordained pastor), died in an apparent mass suicide. I remember well the n… Read More
2023-12-31 16:49
A sense of dignity as well as desolation pervades this town, blue skies punctuating fallen buildings and the rich, yet deeply tragic, existence of many desert nomads. Walking through town on… Read More
2023-12-31 15:56
One evening, in the comforting presence of autumn, I stepped out of my motorhome to appreciate the hour, as shades of blue gave way to pink and violet in the east, and, in a declaration of p… Read More
2023-12-20 15:41
As we gather with friends and family during this difficult year, we remember that the risen Lord rules from heaven and prepares the way for those who love and serve him. Here, I have listed… Read More
2023-12-17 16:22
During the summer months, I enjoyed a visit to the Flagstaff RV Park, a beautiful spot situated among pines at 7,000 feet, literally breathtaking. Possessed of cooler summer weather than Pho… Read More
2023-12-13 17:25
Originally Published in the Adelaide Literary Magazine Awards Anthology, 2018Somewhere in San Diego, CaliforniaIf the woods are haunted, but the forest merely enchanted by shadows and soft l… Read More
2023-11-18 17:44
The edited version of my article will appear in First American Art Magazine, with the original to be included in my next book-length collection of essays. "Texture and Seasons: The History a… Read More
2023-11-13 15:17
I'm not sure why, but I vividly recall where I was when the Shah of Iran fell, when restive mobs assumed control, and the glory of His Majesty was no more. It was 1979, and I was a nine-year… Read More
2023-10-28 15:24
The space unexpectedly opened into a vast realm, undoubtedly unnerving those who discovered it, a cave used by people of another time, exquisitely furnished with statuary and networks of tun… Read More
2023-10-22 04:30
I am excited to announce that my second book, Workman's Orthodoxy, was awarded an honorable mention at The BookFest, 2023 for the category of Nonfiction Anthologies. I hope that everyone is… Read More
2023-09-20 22:07
For those who enjoy craft essays--pieces that examine the writing process and offer ideas for development--this article will be of interest. "Three Computational Methods for Nonfiction Writi… Read More
2023-09-11 17:48
On a fortunate occasion, while boondocking in Northern Arizona, I awoke to a beautiful visitation, no less than a family of wild horses grazing through our campsites. Tossing their elegant h… Read More
2023-09-07 14:19
Once, in the quietness of a late afternoon, as I awaited my simmering beef stew, I decided to explore the remnants of my grandmother’s life and wonder about the mysteries. With that in… Read More
2023-09-04 18:29
The morning is darkly pleasant, a bit cool and hinting at better things to come. You survey familiar surroundings for the last time, noting the emptiness of your old home, now a place of mem… Read More
2023-08-31 15:37
Both of my books are now available at public libraries through Indie Arizona. Inroads: An Urban Park AnthologyWorkman's OrthodoxyInroads: An Urban Park Anthology is something of an artist's… Read More
2023-08-16 15:57
Defiant percussionists assaulting the air, cicadas are a novelty to me, as I don't recall having encountered them as a child. Happily, however, I have recently discovered their seasonal chor… Read More
2023-08-05 14:53
Greetings and many warm thanks to all who read these essays! Creative nonfiction is the great passion of my artistic and intellectual life. And, without readers, the journey would be lonely… Read More
2023-07-31 17:12
One night, during my stay at the Flagstaff RV Park, I heard police sirens howling into the darkness for what felt like fifteen minutes, jarring my sleep, and prompting time to move slowly. G… Read More
2023-07-30 18:17
The fragrance of things remains with us over the years, quite easily, aromas of homecooked meals from childhood, an old apartment--a former lover. All such remembrances can be olfactory. But… Read More
2023-07-26 13:59
Thunderheads rolled in this morning, taunting the seekers of rain with their gray coolness. It's monsoon season, but most locals are skeptical about the arrival of storms, some believing the… Read More
2023-07-23 22:00
Once referred to as melancholy--an affliction of the humors--depression, dreadful and mysterious, has visited humanity for centuries. The other day, I came across a book from my library and… Read More
2023-07-17 15:13
As a graphic designer, I utilize spontaneity above all else, knowing that my work encompasses fun. My typical projects involve creating artwork for clothing and coffee mugs, as well as thumb… Read More
2023-07-08 15:02
Utopian dreams have long accompanied fairs, taunting visitors to imagine life itself as an amusement. In short, fair and festival spaces suspend the normal rules of society, for a time, and… Read More
2023-07-04 14:37
First Published in Nonconformist Magazine, November 16, 2020The other day, while exploring publications online, I noticed a number of artfully-illustrated carcasses; a dog whose wounded side… Read More
2023-06-25 21:45
As light enters the avenues of darkness, night wolves are invoked. I'm intrigued by the city lights that defy stars and promise pleasure to the traveler, one who ventures down streets of the… Read More
2023-06-25 20:59
Since beginning an odyssey of RV life, I’ve been privileged to meet a variety of people, young families living in trailers at the KOA, fellow retirees traveling in the most adventurous… Read More
2023-06-23 01:00
I'm happy to announce that my article on nonfiction writing methods will appear in the September issue of Brevity Magazine. I'll post a link here.Thank you for reading! I appreciate your sup… Read More
2023-06-14 15:44
Photography is very much an art of happenstance, as one captures a moment in time, creating an image for posterity. As for what determines a "good" photo rather than a "bad" one, I'm still n… Read More
2023-06-12 14:47
Although wandering the American landscape in vehicles was popular at mid-century--Jack Kerouac coming to mind--it's even more prevalent today, as we enter the 2020s and wonder about our futu… Read More
2023-06-07 15:33
Throughout various ages, and for innumerable reasons, people have returned to nature, the landscapes and fauna that endure our influence and thrive in our shadow. Everyone who ventures into… Read More
2023-06-05 15:25
The following essay is a reflection I first composed several years ago, while working as a park ranger for the City of San Diego. At the time, I was stationed at Chollas Lake Park, engaged i… Read More
2023-05-31 14:34
I am happy to announce that Feedspot has included A. M. Palmer Literary on their list of the top 100 literary blogs! Many thanks to Anuj Agarwal, Feedspot founder, and his staff! A. M. Palme… Read More
2023-05-19 16:15
Of course he does. Undoubtedly, mayoral privileges in most American cities extend this far, as no honorable personage should be late for a luncheon or a press conference due to a lack of par… Read More
2023-05-09 16:07
As a writer, I derive great excitement and inspiration from photography, as well as graphic design. The richness of visual expression offers a workspace for ideas, a place to experiment and… Read More
2023-05-07 15:47
There is a majesty to rough edges and gathering stains of rust, bits of orangethat hint at previous glory, a usefulnessplain-spoken.And the workers, in their anonymous uniforms of the day,re… Read More
2023-05-01 15:49
Regarding the Books of Richard Macksey and the Decline of Academic LifeOne night, while searching for information on private libraries—and there are quite a few of considerable scope a… Read More
2023-04-27 15:04
Originally Published in MORIA: The National Literary Magazine of Woodbury University, November 30, 2020I recall visiting the grave of my parents in a distant cemetery, a bit older than Mount… Read More
2023-04-20 16:36
This is my final collection of patrol photos, all of which I took over a considerable period of time. At some point, I hope to combine these images with my first album to create a print vers… Read More
2023-04-15 04:45
I discovered this flipbook the other day, a collection of photos I organized during my time as a park ranger. Enjoy a view of the park!Scenes From an Urban Park_A. M. Palmer - humanities.lib… Read More
2023-04-14 05:14
Originally Published in Otis Nebula Magazine, Summer, 2019In previous years, the specimen had stood as a beacon in our local park, hinting at a rich arboreal past. Planted early in the twent… Read More
2023-04-13 19:51
Originally Published in Midway Journal, January 15, 2020Attended by minimal props—and often within the heat and noise of urban settings—street performers create an atmosphere of… Read More
2023-04-13 06:11
No more than the residue of a day, unless otherwise ordained by God for a prophesy in due season, is the dream. A thing is rendered in the shape of emotion, a memory of fading lights and the… Read More
2023-04-05 16:06
I recall that my mother was lovely, even in the closing days of her life, as she sat in her wheelchair and spoke in ways unfamiliar, arms bruised from a fall and her mind an expanse of whisp… Read More
2023-03-29 15:36
First Published in the Adelaide Literary Magazine Awards Anthology of 2018The porch was elegant and functional. It extended from the front door to the yard in a delicate way that discouraged… Read More
2023-03-25 05:34
Perhaps you need to convey technical information to a lay audience, which is often daunting, or inspire colleagues to learn new information and apply it skillfully. In either event, you can… Read More
2023-03-23 03:11
Originally Published in All About Jazz, 2020He was my maternal grandmother’s nephew, the thin, handsome relation who grew to befriend my uncle Bob — also thin and handsome &mdash&hell…Read More
2023-03-16 04:30
The magazine is currently on hiatus, but you can enjoy the premiere issue here:https://online.anyflip.com/jwsef/upjt/mobile/index.html Read More
2023-03-10 04:50
The movement of time becomes painfully apparent when one is ill, either droning on during treatment and recovery, or fleeting when it appears that the illness will not be survived. In either… Read More
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