I am overjoyed to share two powerful creative triumphs with you. My friend George Forss, the world famous urban landscape photographer, has just successfully funded his Kickstarter Project, “The Way We Were,” a collection of photographs taken before 911 that he will shortly be publishing in a book of the same name.
George asked for $8,000, he received $14,000 in pledges and another $8,000 from an anonymous donor. The money is going to pay to publish his book and to buy some urgently need photographic and printing and computer equipment. As Gordon Parks said of George, his work reminds us that genius will overcome the greatest odds. George is back in the light where he belongs, in the darkroom spinning his wizardly, congratulations George, you never quit on yourself, the world will never quit on you.
Also today, the writer and illustrator Rachel Barlow, a student in two of my writing classes, has just published her second e-short story, “What Happens On The Road,” for $1.29. Rachel is a hero to me, she has overcome depression, bi-polar disorders and the challenges of raising two children and writes with insight, warmth, great human and compassion. She is a natural writer and illustrator, she just needs to believe it.
Rachel keeps asking me if I think she could ever make a living writing full-time, I have told her 100 times that she can, and sometimes, she even is beginning to believe it. This story is charming, very real and skillfully told, it is a story any parent, mother or pilgrim on the road to life can relate to.
Rachel is gifted, she can make it and she will make it as far as she wants to take it. This short story is another huge step on the road to where she wants to be. She ought to charge more for her work, it is a give-away for $1.29. I am urging Rachel to gather her wonderful illustrations and sell them as an e-collection. Take a look at her blog and her great work for yourself. I call her the sustainable Erma Bombeck, she is a committed environmentalist, and she writes with power, humor and much wisdom.