This Christmas I will leave you with this short story I wrote. Merry Christmas! I shouldn’t have shown myself, Kitsune thought. Below her perch in the tree, two human kits walked toward the edge of the forest. They didn’t pay attention to her now. They had dismissed her soon after they held their strange glowing…
Your Book Won’t be Read
If you’ve considered writing a book, here’s the reality: your book won’t be read. Okay, it will be read by friends, family, and a few others, but becoming a full-time author is a moonshot, a lottery win. It’s possible (and yes, hard work matters) but the probability works against you. According to Gallup, Americans read…
Tamamo Chapter 1
Below is the first chapter from my newest book Tamamo. If you like what you read, you can buy the ebook or paperback on Amazon. The story takes place in an alternative Heian period. Here’s the blurb: Tamamo grew up in the imperial court, where the space between words mattered more than the words themselves,…
TokyoTreat’s Santa Snackfest
TokyoTreat sent me their December snackbox to review. If you aren’t familiar with TokyoTreat, the company offers a monthly subscription that sends you a themed box of Japanese goodies. For those who aren’t familiar with Japanese snacks, TokyoTreat includes a booklet that introduces every goodie along with their allergy information. The booklet also contains cultural…
Of Boys and Men
I’ve often written about the struggles of men here on JP. Japan leads the United States and the West when it comes to social problems. This also applies to man’s issues to a good degree. Japanese men have a high rate of suicide and a high rate of men becoming hikikomori. Lately, the US has…
Hanasaku Iroha
Anime often does character studies and coming-of-age stories well. Hanasaku Iroha centers on Ohana Matsumae who is sent from Tokyo to live with a grandmother she had never met. Her grandmother runs a hot spring inn called Kissuiso. Her grandmother, at first, comes off as stern, uncaring, and harsh. She slaps the faces of the…