Author Archives: Norm Benson

There's something you don't see everyday, Edgar

For reasons known only to sociologists and writers (fiction writers are free to make stuff up as long as it sounds plausible), Memorial and Labor Day Weekends provide the bookends to summer for Americans. In that time that we Americans define as summer, Clear Lake squeals (see my previous discussion in Anthropology 101), throbs withContinue reading “There's something you don't see everyday, Edgar”

So, what happens next?

In Poetics, Aristotle called plot the “arrangement of incidents.” More informally, plot is “one damn thing after another.” It’s the answer to “what happens next?” In order for a story not to feel episodic, this has to be answered satisfactorily. Even if the next event is thirty years in the future, it has to feelContinue reading “So, what happens next?”

Harry Splutter & the Lure of Hollyweird

“When in doubt, have a man come through a door with a gun in his hand.” (Raymond Chandler) Epi-soda 14 “Look out!” shouted Hermione shrilly while pointing and hopping from foot to foot. “Wha?” said Harry and Weasel unanimously and also stupidly thinking that she might need to use the little witch’s room again. “Mmmmph”Continue reading “Harry Splutter & the Lure of Hollyweird”

Harry Splutter & the Lure of Hollyweird

Episodah 13 (I hope you don’t have triskaidekaphobia) is from Alan Hutcheson. Drop by and see his Sketches by Plumboz. “Do you think you might do that again?” Bumblebore said nonchalantly to Hermione. “Do what?” Hermione said perplexedly. “That little, you know,” said Bumblebore. He made a kicking motion and then tipped his head back.Continue reading “Harry Splutter & the Lure of Hollyweird”

Harry Splutter & the Lure of Hollyweird

Episode 12… “Harry, they’re not using wands,” Hermione shrieked shrilly. Harry had indeed disarmed the battling wizards. Four arms now paired off and arm-wrestled at his feet. “Brilliant, boy genius,” said Weasel as he refereed the match. “That put an end to the fighting….Not!” For the two wheezing geezer wizards, it only meant a changeContinue reading “Harry Splutter & the Lure of Hollyweird”

Harry Splutter & the Lure of Hollyweird

Today’s episode comes to us from Lexi, writer, silversmith, repairer of rocking horses. Episode 11 Bumblebore’s eyebrows knitted furiously, till it seemed they might produce a small sock or even a scarf. Following his gaze, Harry saw an elderly, upright man in brown flowing robes holding a staff, striding towards them. ‘You know who thatContinue reading “Harry Splutter & the Lure of Hollyweird”

No need for coffee, now you can get caffeine right in your oatmeal

Coffee just too much to deal with in the morning? All that measuring, filling, gurgling, etc., not to mention all that drinking of a liquid that you’ll just need to deal with later. You say to yourself, ‘what if there was something caffeinated that could stick to my ribs?’ Great news! Now there is caffeinatedContinue reading “No need for coffee, now you can get caffeine right in your oatmeal”

Harry Splutter & the Lure of Hollyweird

Episode 10 “As I was saying,” Bumblebore continued, “A Horcrux contains a piece of a wizard’s or witch’s sole.” “S-O-U-L, right?” “Nay, verily,” the wizened wizard whispered conspiratorially. “Like the sole of their shoe.” He plunked his size twelve dirty canvas sneakers, complete with a huge hole, which let his big toe out to lookContinue reading “Harry Splutter & the Lure of Hollyweird”