Melanie Lamaga, Writer, Editor, Photographer
Fiction on the Border Between the Real and Unreal
A Short Story by Melanie Lamaga I have a story you won’t believe. No one does. And I planned it this way. I know what I look like now, after so many years alone in the woods. But once I was part of the hustle and flow, a regular man like you. True, I had […] Read more »
A Noir Detective Pagan Cyberpunk Novel Zoo City is a ghetto in Johannesburg, populated by outcasts. Each person there is marked by the wild animal that appears just after they kill someone (intentionally or not). Animal and human become extensions of one another, and any “Zoo” unfortunate enough to lose her animal gets a visit […] Read more »
Exploring the Historical Fantastic Karen Joy Fowler is one of the writers who, to me, exemplify the literary fantastic. Her stories crack the shell of history, looking for strange and beautiful pearls. The fantastical elements always seem entirely probable, if mysterious, and serve to deepen our understanding of the human condition. Her writing style is […] Read more »
Where Sexy Genius Meets Muse If you’re a writer or an artist, you probably have an office, studio or a favorite spot where you sit down and make magic. But if you don’t (or if your space is less than inspiring) it’s time to make some changes. Macho or girly, practical or romantic, hippie or […] Read more »
A Simple Strategy for Getting Your Dream Project Done Many people have jobs and families and all the minutia of life to take care of before they can get around to working on their art or business idea. I don’t know about you, but most times if something isn’t in the top three of my […] Read more »
Drum Roll Please! As Alert Readers know, last month I advertised a giveaway of three $50 Amazon Gift Certificates and some Metaphysical Circus tee-shirts. I am very happy to say that I exceeded my goal of 60 subscribers by the end of July! Thank you to everyone who helped get the word out. The winners […] Read more »
A Postmodern Fairy Tale with a Wicked Sense of Humor “He is surprised to discover how easy it is. The branches part like thighs, the silky petals caress his cheeks. His drawn sword is stained, not with blood, but with dew and pollen. Yet another inflated legend. He has undertaken this great adventure, not for […] Read more »
I recently visited San Antonio Necua, a community about two hours southeast of San Diego in Baja California, Mexico. This village is home to approximately 200 of the 600 living members of the Kumiai tribe. The Kumiai are indigenous to Baja California and California, and their culture goes back in this region for at least […] Read more »
To Get a Different Result, Be a Different Person (plus disclaimer and 1970s movie references) This series has been about gaining greater control over your life through subtle shifts in attitude and perception. However, I don’t want to seem like I’m blowing sunshine where the sun don’t shine. So first, a disclaimer. My suggestions do […] Read more »
This very readable book (which won the Nebula Award for Best Novel this year) is part coming of age, part fantasy and part uber-geek love-letter to the classics of science fiction. Much of the drama has already happened before the novel starts. We learn that Morwenna and her twin sister Morganna spent their childhoods playing […] Read more »