My twelfth book just came out today!

NOTES OF A DEAF GAY WRITER: 20 YEARS LATER (published by Hot Off The, as in www.hotoffthe.net) came out earlier tonight. I'm very happy with the way the chapbook (a chapter-length book; in this case, it's 50 pages long) has turned out. It was published as an extremely limited print edition of only TEN copies. These precious few editions are unfortunately sold out already, but I do plan to have it put out as an ebook in the near future. [Noted on 11/26/10: It is now available as an ebook at this link.] (Thanks again, Kevin, for taking a quick snapshot of moi!)

This essay holds a very special place in my heart. As I've said elsewhere before, the piece was written during a very difficult summer of my life—added job responsibilities and stress, lousy love life, doubts about my abilities as a writer, and uncertainties about staying on in New York. I managed to piece together a string of short observations about being a deaf gay writer. After whittling down some 60 pages to a manageable 28 pages, I sent "Notes of a Deaf Gay Writer" off to the magazine CHRISTOPHER STREET. The rest, as one might say, is history, and it eventually inspired my eighth book ASSEMBLY REQUIRED: NOTES FROM A DEAF GAY LIFE some nineteen years later. This time I revisit the original essay with a 20-year hindsight and offer a running commentary on whether things have changed since its initial publication in December 1990.

I'm just very pleased with seeing this back in print, even if for a very short time. Be on the lookout for the ebook edition! Enjoy the rest of your summer, everyone!

Ah, San Francisco!

Getting away to San Francisco last week was truly restorative to my spirits. I was there to moderate a very successful panel discussion about the Deaf GLBT community at the SF Public Library. It was so great to meet some of the writers from Eyes of Desire 2: A Deaf GLBT Reader in person!

It was so delightful to see Rocky break into a sudden fit of mad joy, leaping bouncing and prancing once he touched the shores of Pacific Ocean. He really loved the sand there. He accompanied me all through the art museums and he was so patient whenever I paused to drink in visually the work of art before me; I think he was quite bored with the empty walls at his height. I particularly enjoyed the Gilbert & George show at the De Young. (Granted, that show is not for everyone, as it's so in-your-face, far more than Andy Warhol and Robert Mapplethorpe ever were, if you can imagine such a combination.) He has proven to be a great companion. Planes, trains, and buses all seem the same to him. :-) We did a lot of walking over these five days, so he was quite exhausted by the end of the day. In fact, he got into the habit of drinking a lot of water whenever I gave him some and grabbing a power nap when I wasn't moving!

On one of my many walks throughout the city, I stopped by the San Francisco Conservatory. They had nothing but orchids everywhere, so it was so soothing. I was very happy that no one was around, as it was just what I needed. I used my cell phone to take a few pictures there (I'd forgotten my regular Canon camera), and this is my favorite one. (No, I swear, I didn't Photoshop this one!) Enjoy.



These days I'm waiting for the weather to warm up again and resume an active walking schedule. I think Rocky would be too happy to sniff the pores and wafts of spring opening up everywhere!