by toby | Mar 8, 2012 | Life
I grew up on Kaua`i. You probably don't appreciate what a statement that is, but Kauai is a place of extremes. Extreme beauty. Extreme isolation. Extreme weather. Extreme attitudes. It's a very small place–when I was a kid, stable population of less than 35,000...
by toby | Feb 20, 2012 | Life
I finished my desk declutterizing, and yes, it was somewhat like an enema. (We have lots of people who swear by colonics' health benefits over here, along with crystals, marijuana as a lifestyle enhancer, etc) Here, in no particular order, are some of my discoveries:...
by toby | Jan 2, 2012 | The Writing Life
My first novel, Blood Orchids, debuted in December. This has been a lifelong dream, and a process on a thousand different levels. It's also caused a bit of an upheaval in my personal and professional life as I resolve issues of being a therapist in private and public...
by toby | Dec 23, 2011 | Life
I'm a Christmas lover. And in Hawaii we like to do it up big, with all the trappings–even when they are a little ridiculous (okay a lot ridiculous) like plastic snowmen and spray snow on the windows. This year Christmas is minimalist for us, and that has made me...
by toby | Dec 8, 2011 | The Writing Life
1. Notice everything. The world is filled with sounds, smells, textures, and fabulous stories unfolding all around you. Take the time to notice, and keep something handy to jot down new thoughts/ways to describe that sensory input as it comes to you. Sometimes,...