On April 15th, 1817 Students gathered in Hartford, Connecticut for the opening of the very first school for the Deaf in the U.S. It was here, and at other subsequent Deaf schools across our nation, that students intermingled Native American Signs, French Sign Language and Martha Vineyard Sign Language, and together developed the language we…
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These are dark times. In our country and our world, we’re surrounded by divisiveness, greed, mean-spiritedness, hatred, cynicism, fear, and rage. So much so, the darkness sometimes threatens to cover us all in shadows. That’s why we need to double down on goodness. Each of us has that power. Even if we don’t remember that,…
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Real heroes are those who overcome obstacles to make real, positive changes in the world. Their stories help to inspire us with evidence of the power of people just like ourselves who have worked to change things for the better. For over 15 years the Barron Prize has celebrated heroic young people, and this year…
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I am thrilled to share this article I wrote for the Aug/Sept 2017 edition of National Geographic Traveler magazine. The article is featured in a section titled “British Accents” and includes a selection of beautiful photographs and stories about the British countryside, including this short essay about the mythical land of Merlin – Wales! Stand on…
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These remarks were given as part of my address to the graduating class of the University of California Santa Barbara in June 2017. If you folks like a good story, as I do – then try this: Think of your life as a story. A Story You Create Yourself My own story is one with…
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Much of the focus of my stories is on the path of heroes, since, as Joseph Campbell so wisely taught, every great and enduring adventure involves the journey of a hero who works toward a worthy goal. But some of the most memorable stories have another very important character…. the villain. Villains are hugely important…
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I remember the very first time I saw the stars on a high mountain ridge in Colorado. It was a clear summer night; no artificial lights distracted from the vista. The evening was calm, but I could feel a gentle breeze, lighter than an owl’s feather, tousling my hair as I gazed up at the…
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In my last blog entry I shared a few of the entries from my recent Origin Story contest. The competition invited fans of my books to imagine the background of any character from one of my books, and write a short piece of fiction outlining their history. I can’t tell you how pleased I am…
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Exploring stories of untold beginnings has always appealed to me as a writer. The Merlin Saga began after I wondered about the early life of the man who became the wise and powerful old wizard we know so well from the tales of Arthurian legend. And instead of focusing solely on the mystery of the…
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The very first time I hold a new book that I’ve written, I gently give it a loving hug… just as if it were a newborn baby. And maybe, in a way, it is. For giving a new book to the world is the closest thing to delivering life that I will ever be able…
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