Hobbies

I have an odd mixture of passions that may seem a bit antithetical to some. Naturally, I love being outdoors. Bird-watching, fish-watching, butterfly-watching, wildflower identification—you name it and I’m into it. Of course, this sort of voyeurism doesn’t always lend itself well to fitness. I’d much rather sit and observe an animal, flower, or natural feature than hike 20 miles from point A to B and miss everything in between.

Of course, I love great nature and natural history writing. Some of my favorites are:
-Song of the Dodo, David Quammen
-The Darkness is Light Enough, Chris Ferris
-The Mystical Nature Diary of Opal Whiteley, Benjamin Hoff
-The Moon by Whalelight and Rarest of the Rare, Diane Ackerman
-The Practice of the Wild, Gary Snyder
-most works by Wendell Berry
-Dwellings, Linda Hogan
-A Country Year, Sue Hubbell
-Last Chance to See, Douglas Adams
-most works by George Schaller
-Two in the Far North, Margaret Murie
-‘Shake Them ‘Simmons Down – Janet Lembke
-An Unspoken Hunger, Terry Tempest Williams
-poetry by W.S. Merwin, Mary Oliver, Pattiann Rogers
 
Here’s where I depart into the strange. I also have a lifelong love and interest in writing, reading, and studying science fiction and fantasy. Here’s a short list of my faves (in no particular order):

-Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll (of course!)
-Tales of Nedao series, Ru Emerson
-The Blue Sword and The Hero and the Crown, Robin McKinley
-Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien (of course!)
-The Grey Mane of Morning and When Voiha Wakes, Joy Chant
-Chronicles of the Cheysuli, Jennifer Roberson
-Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis (of course!)
-Drowntide and Deepwater Dreams, Sydney J. van Scyoc
-Plainsong, Deborah Grabien
-Gormenghast (omnibus edition), Mervyn Peake
-anything and everything by Patricia McKillip
-Quest for the White Witch, Tanith Lee (though just about anything by Lee is wonderful)
-The Djinn in the Nightingale’s Eye, A.S. Byatt
-The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories, Angela Carter
-The Earthsea books and Always Coming Home, Ursula Le Guin
-all by Jeanne Larsen (brilliant historical fantasies)
-Kushiel’s Dart, Jacqueline Carey
-The Never-Ending Story, Michael Ende
-The Princess Bride, William Goldman
-The King of Elfland’s Daughter, Lord Dunsany
My all-time favorite, hands down, is Dune by Frank Herbert.

I’m a movie aficionado of the same genre, as well, with the David Lynch Dune and Ridley Scott’s Legend as favorites.

I have a long-standing interest in all things Chinese, including movies, art, Beijing opera, pop culture, mythology, and martial arts. At various times in my life, I’ve practiced Shaolin kung fu and Hsing-I. Lately, an old interest in anime (Japanese animation) has re-emerged, and I’m considering working up a script for series if I can find an illustrator. (Any takers?)

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