>VCCA: Thanksgiving

>Okay, now it really is Thanksgiving. Our feast last night was fantastic — turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans, all beautifully prepared. The chef kept the dining room open later too, so most of us sat around drinking wine and enjoying our premature celebration. Afterwords, several of us watched The Lives of Others, the wonderful German film about arrogance and corruption in East Germany just prior to the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Today a front moved in and cooled things off — it was really warm yesterday and this morning and now it’s more seasonable. I don’t know if it was the weather, the aftermath of the feast, or general tiredness, but I didn’t get much done today. I had written myself into a corner in the current story and basically had to start over again. I think I know where it’s going now, so I hope tomorrow will be better.

Tonight one of the resident composers (Andrea Clearfield) presented some of her work, just a few excerpts from finished pieces that have been performed and recorded. It was amazing work; breathtaking, really.

About the author

I am the author of three novels--THE LAST BIRD OF PARADISE, OLIVER'S TRAVELS, and THE SHAMAN OF TURTLE VALLEY--and three story collections--IN AN UNCHARTED COUNTRY, HOUSE OF THE ANCIENTS AND OTHER STORIES, and WHAT THE ZHANG BOYS KNOW, winner of the Library of Virginia Literary Award for Fiction. I am also the co-founder and former editor of Prime Number Magazine and the editor of the award-winning anthology series EVERYWHERE STORIES: SHORT FICTION FROM A SMALL PLANET.

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