The whole time I was in New Orleans, the word “grace” came to mind. The part of the city that I saw, the French Quarter and the Garden District are admittedly the tourist areas, though I did briefly tour the areas hit hard by Katrina with author Lynn Lorenz, who grew up there. There isn’t a doubt that the devastation will take decades to overcome, yet I was struck so many times by the people who live and work there now. They had such grace.

I guess I’m not talking about the clothes or the cars or the houses, but the fact that the people of New Orleans undertake things with a kind of pride of place, acknowledging the history of the city, acknowledging her faults and her shortcomings and celebrating her anyway.

I saw new Orleans as an aging femme fatale, whose careful use of light and make up and subtle spandex formed the structure of a magnificent, decaying beautiful dream. I dunno. Better folks than I have talked about New Orleans. But as a fellow aging femme fatale I felt a kinship to her, and a desire to help shore her up a little, I wanted to pass her my mirror and comb when the wind blew so she could make little adjustments. I wanted to buy her a cup of tea and make her sit with me outdoors under those vast wrought iron galleries just to listen to her speak. I wanted to hear all the stories of her life, the people she’d loved, the people who’d abused her trust.  I loved her and wanted her to love me back.

So… speak she did, to me, personally. I am all agog. It was a reminder that it’s possible to be poised under all kinds of duress, poverty, naturally, because it’s a city of haves and have-nots, but also disaster and illness. It reminded me many, many times that there are people in the world who can take a rather humble job and make it into an undertaking of such caring it becomes high art, nearly theater. It was a bit of a reminder that youth and vigor hasn’t got the concession on beauty any more than we allow it to. (A nice reminder as I approach my fiftieth birthday.)

And thinking back, what made the least sense of all at the time because I had three days to squeeze in the love affair of a lifetime with a multi-layered city like New Orleans, I was once again reminded that sometimes, you have to slow down and notice and appreciate tiny details that escape you otherwise. That the city is like the river, and it has its own course and its own pace which is slower than an Angeleno’s normal tempo. Slowing to that pace enabled me to notice things I ordinarily take for granted.

As an example, I will say that the French Quarter was a feast for all the senses, but my nose particularly went on high alert constantly. The entire Quarter was redolent with the richness of restaurants and creole cooking, onions, garlic, bread baking, spices like caiyenne and herbs like thyme… all underscored with the oddly enticing scent of Worcestershire sauce and the occasional rich perfume of cigar smoke, maybe pipe tobacco…

Oh, my goodness… If I don’t get a book out of that it will only be because I’m too busy lying on my bed imagining it to write…

Drawn Together, my screwball road story starring Rory Delaplaines and graphic novel artist Ran Yamane will soon be available IN PRINT, at your local bookseller (Okay, you’ll probably have to special order it *sighs*) and wherever fine books are sold.

If you like to grab a book with your hands… Here’s one that might just grab you back…

This JUST IN… Here’s a link.

Here’s a little something special just for members!

When Angels Fall

By Z.A. Maxfield

Click here to Join Z.A. Maxfield’s Cyber Cafe

To download your free copy of When Angels Fall, available for a limited time in the files section.

This week is bringing us torrential rain in California, enough that my neighbors used kayaks to navigate one of the streets in our neighborhood. We’ve had floods, landslides, hail, lightning and thunder. I’m enjoying a nice fire in a fireplace that doesn’t get much use.

Once, when I was quite young, I had the pleasure of hearing Ray Bradbury speak, and at the time he said that Singing in the Rain was his favorite science fiction movie. He defined science fiction as a literary exploration of the effect of new technology on society. In the case of Singing in the Rain, the effect of cinema with sound.

That made a huge impact on me, because at the time, I believed that all science fiction had to be an inexplicable morass of spandex clad space men and superior alien technology. So much Mr. Bradbury said that night stuck in my mind, to percolate there, for maybe thirty years, until I took his advice on writing and found that yes, wow. It was possible for me to write stories and have them published. To do what I loved best, to pull something out of my imagination, to play those childish games I loved, pretend, and make money in the effort.

It’s not as if I make a living at it, yet. And of course Mr. Bradbury has no idea I’m alive.  But I will always love him and think of him fondly as I am today, in the rain.

Today I’m blogging at BookWenches about laughter an hope, and what I hope readers take away from my work. You can find out what I said right HERE.

And now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some singing and dancing to do…

The second novel in the St. Nacho’s setting, Physical Therapy, is going to print and will soon be available at fine bookstores everywhere.

Okay. You’ll have to ask for it by name — and probably special order it — but I really enjoyed writing that. Of course, as soon as it’s available you’ll be able to buy it at Amazon and other Mega Internet Entity Retailers.

I want to thank everyone who has been so positive about this book. The St. Nacho’s series, dumb name and all… (Hello, it’s not about cheese chips, ) is very close to my heart, and represents a little slice of all the things that are important to me, people I’ve met, people I’d like to meet, and a place I’d really like to call home.

Here’s the trailer, because as you know, I never miss a chance to pimp… er… show off my girl child’s wicked video fu.

I got a terrific review from Rainbow Reviews (written by Marame) for Family Unit. In it, she says:

“Family Unit,” Z.A. Maxfield’s stellar new release, tackles themes not often found in gay romance. I was pleasantly surprised to read about two middle-aged men who stumble into lust, then a serious relationship. What follows their physical attraction is a brilliantly rendered, mature love story brought to vibrant life by one of the genre’s most talented writers.”

Wow! Thanks so much for giving it a read, Marame, and anyone else can read the rest of her review, HERE.

To buy Family Unit, which is available exclusively at Loose Id, go HERE.

I got a terrific review today from Bobby at BookWenches, who had this to say about Family Unit:

Family Unit is a story that I believe merits re-reading, if for no other reason than it makes me feel good. It made me laugh, tugged at my heart, and reminded me of the importance of home and family. This one is going on my keeper shelf, and I have no reservations about recommending it to others. Read it for yourself – you’ll be glad you did.

Time to  start decorating for the holidays!

I’ll be blogging at Jessewave’s blog spot today about Christmas, and visiting with some old ‘friends’. Stop by and say hello!

http://www.reviewsbyjessewave.com/?p=12818

ZAM

My dear friend Patric Michael, (Timeless, Dreamspinner, and To Die For, MLR Press) made this video for me to celebrate my newest release, Family Unit, which you can purchase HERE.

Rhonda, Lavern, and Anna! Thanks for making it so much fun!

ZAM