Thanks to the 2020 Soul-Making Keats Literary Competition for the Honorable Mention in the Humor Category for my short, short story “Shut Up and Write.”
I’m currently searching for a nice home for this little story. Hopefully it’ll land a spot soon. We don’t need a twelve-room mansion or anything like that – a sweet little two-bed, two-bath apartment with a small balcony overlooking a park or a river (or the Mediterranean) would be just fine.
Find out what happens after Rael-6 comes in for a bumpy landing on planet Hos. Thanks to 365tomorrows for publishing my flash science-fiction story Transformation.
On the day before Tiny Telephone San Francisco closed forever, I scrambled into the studio to record six songs with guitarist extraordinaire Jules Leyhe. When looking back, I’ll always be thankful that I got one last recording day in this amazing space. And, with the session taking place during the days of COVID, I’m glad to say we all wore masks.
Here’s a look at the concert that never was … thanks to everyone for your support for my album announcement yesterday. Here’s a glimpse into what it looked like in Tiny Telephone studio in San Francisco.
In March, I had to cancel a house concert due to the COVID-19 shutdown. Not knowing when I’d play another show, I decided to record a live album. So, here it is. Just me and my guitar. Playing the songs as you would have heard them at the concert that never was.
Tip Jar PayPal: gregroensch@gmail.com Venmo: @Greg-Roensch
SUPPORT HPP: 50% of all money received from sales, tips, donations, etc. for this album will go directly to the Homeless Prenatal Program in San Francisco. If you’re unfamiliar with HPP, I encourage you to check out their amazing work to help families break the cycle of poverty.
Stay safe out there everyone.
CREDITS
Recorded at Tiny Telephone San Francisco (June 2, 3, 8, 2020)
I was involved in Taekwondo for more than 25 years as an instructor, coach, and practitioner. And I met a lot of great people along the way.
Now, I’m happy to say I have one Taekwondo short story to my name. “The Holding Area” is coming out soon in the most recent edition of Aethlon: The Journal of Sport Literature.
The story’s written from the point of view of a junior competitor seeking a shot at a national title after battling her way back from a disappointing loss the previous year.
I’m happy to report that I just wrapped up recording a new record. It look a fair amount of time (okay, decades), but I think this is the album I’ve always meant to record — just me and my guitar.
Fingers pressed tight I clench the callous-making strings And recall the thunder in your walls. Smokey, Alfie, Jimmy Crucifix, and more Held down the funkified groove For the hounds at the gate and An army of punks and rockers. The carpet is worn, The soda machine sold beer, And my ears ring for joy. Then, in a nanosecond eternity A guitar cries in my dream, A million candles ignite, and …
I pause to inhale one last blast of instant nirvana.
Thank you, Carole Lennon And all the staff over the years For the refuge you gave. An hour or three at a time. From the small rooms To the soundstage To the bones in the hallway. As you dim the lights And shut the door, We salute you.
(Written to mark the closing of Lennon Studios’ hourly space – 1984 to 2020)
Thanks to Potato Soup Journal for picking up my short story “Always on the Run.” This story was inspired by a line from a song. I’ll leave it at that in case anyone wants to guess the song and artist. One clue: the song is not by my favorite band.