Update

Yes, I'm still alive. Yes I have plans to write more books and short stories and produce podcast episodes of those stories. I've been focusing on an intensive chaplain training program for over a year and that has consumed most of my life. It has been amazing and I'll always be super thankful for it! I'm also excited to have an easier schedule with less overhead stuff going on in my life super soon. Look for more updates about me picking up writing projects again. Some things I left off doing over a year ago:

• DanDanTheArtMan's Book Reviews podcast episodes
• Finishing an illustrated children's book
• Finish outlining a coming of age Science Fiction adventure novel called "Flying Away From Home.
• The cover is already done for this one. Read about it here.
• A novel I started for the Kindle Vella serialized stories platform which has closed called "I Can Fly."
• And many more things in the works...

Tapping a Screen | A Poem

Poetry is likely best produced

By scratching away at parchment thick

Across creamy tan 

Not xerox white

The corners curled not pressed flat and tight 

With quill freshly dipped

In ink as black as night

However 

This deviation distraction device 

Is always by my side

Or in my pocket on a ride

Continuously within reach

To scroll and swipe and waste my time

Or tap away and write lines

True and deep

My thumbs pecking here and there

Rather than the usual fair

Of older tools full of analog texture and flair

Yet this thin thing can produce art

In the form of words trailing after each other 

I’ve read different tools you write with

Interact with your brain in distinct ways

But as for me, a tool is a tool

And while it’s true handwritten notes

Stick in my mind with thicker strokes

To compose upon a glowing screen

With tips of thumbs dancing

Is lovely in the way its speed

Keeps pace with the flow

Spilling from my mind 

To the muscles in my hands

To the symbols made of pixels

On my pocket notebook sized

Computer of a popular brand

Dan's Book Reviews | Episode 85Purple Hibiscus

In this 85th episode, I review Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Listen to hear why even though this is a book I never thought I would have been interested in, it was one of the best most well written books I've ever had the pleasure to read. I'm glad an old friend recommended it to me.

Play or download the .mp3

Buy "Purple Hibiscus" on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Purple-Hibiscus-audiobook/dp/B004XUNVMM

Check out the author's website:

https://www.chimamanda.com/

Check out a couple of my novels:

Haunted House Flipper:

https://www.amazon.com/Haunted-House-Flipper-Dan-Absalonson-ebook/dp/B079K6MP28/

The Case 2of the Missing Snowman:

https://www.amazon.com/Case-Missing-Snowman-Thackeray-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B07LHGPW61

FOLLOW ME:

https://www.facebook.com/dandantheartman

Dan's Book Reviews | Episode 84Keeper of the Lost Cities

In this 84th episode, I review Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger. Not only did I really enjoy this fun and easy to read urban fantasy, but my kids are HUGE fans of the series. I've spent most of my audible credits on the books in this series for them lately!

Play or download the .mp3

Buy "Keeper of the Lost Cities" on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Keeper-Lost-Cities-Shannon-Messenger-ebook/dp/B005C776A8

Check out a couple of my novels:

Haunted House Flipper:

https://www.amazon.com/Haunted-House-Flipper-Dan-Absalonson-ebook/dp/B079K6MP28/

The Case 2of the Missing Snowman:

https://www.amazon.com/Case-Missing-Snowman-Thackeray-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B07LHGPW61

FOLLOW ME:

https://www.facebook.com/dandantheartman

Poetry

You may have noticed a few new poems I've published on this site recently. I stumbled across this amazing project where a renown guitar player lays down gorgeous tracks beneath a master poet reciting poems. It's called Strings and Sonnets. Check it out. After listening to these prodigious poems, I was inspired to try my hand a few again. It's been quite some time since I've written a poem.

Source: https://philkeaggyfriends.bandcamp.com/album/strings-sonnets

I am now inspired to record my poems and then write instrumental music to go with them just in the way these fine gentlemen accomplished their resplendent album. I'm sure I'll put them out on the podcast and here on the website as I get each one made. It is a project I'm very excited about. Now I just have to learn how to get all of the other projects I'm excited about finished and shipped, because real artists ship. While I have published many things, there are also many things on my back burner or half finished that I must get to eventually!