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“But in the world according to Garp, we are all terminal cases.”  —The World According to Garp I knew it was going to be sad, but I didn’t realize how sad it would be. Tuesday, I took myself to the Arclight Cinema to see a special showing of “The World According to Garp” as part […]

Remember those germination experiments in elementary school? The ones where you press a sunflower seed or mung bean into wet paper towels and watch as they sprout, their softened bodies cracking open to release delicate tendrils of life? That’s what’s happening now with my novel, Still Life, Las Vegas.  We’re slowly starting to move from the theoretical […]

Once, many years ago, I had a screenplay I was flogging around town. It was an amusing little ditty about being Asian-American in Hollywood. I had a manager involved, it placed in a screenplay competition, there was actually some interest in the project, but I needed a director to make it happen. A director to, […]

It’s finished. Three long months ago, I undertook a challenge to write a novel in 90 days, with the aid of a book called, uncannily enough, “The 90-Day Novel.” I took with my on my journey my friend and colleague Holly Myer, who was going to draw ninety illustrations in that same time period. How […]

In which we check in our participants of the 90-Day Challenge, one happy and one hapless, at the 2/3 mark, and discover that things are looking up. But not for everyone. Some of Holly’s work James Sie: We’re on day, what? 56? Are you on track? Holly Meyers: Okay, slightly less focused that I thought, bc I’m still technically behind […]

                                             “Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.” —Michelangelo I won’t lie— it’s been a slog. A month and a half […]

The doorbell rang just as we were getting ready for dinner. Doug went to answer it as I was taking out the plates. A delivery. I knew what it was even before he started whooping.  I continued setting out the plates even when he came into the kitchen, waving the parcel about madly. “Do you […]

Disney movies. And now Zac Efron. Since beginning this 90-Day Novel Challenge I’ve been checking in with my cohort and pal Holly Myer (who is going to be drawing 90 illustrations in 90 days) and our conversation has been turning ever to the sunny side, much to my dismay. I chalk it up to Holly’s […]

Dear 90-Day Novel: Okay, I just want to say up front that I think you’re really special. These last three weeks, they’ve changed me. You’ve introduced me to worlds I never knew before. I think about you every night, and our daily dates have been inspiring. You’re an inspiration. I’m glad you’re in my life.  […]