how it began. I hear that train a-comin’

John 'Jack' Lucious Quinby is a journalist who specializes in current affairs and American music. Jude Moonlight is a musician and songwriter, a blues singer and guitar playin' vagabond. The following is a transcript of one in several conversations between the two friends, though the date of the recording is unknown.  We are quite sure …

quick tips: start_

When we’re about to begin a project, sometimes it’s tempting to sweat the beginnings.  That is, trying to manipulate conditions, waiting for the right kind of  ‘weather’ before you take the first steps.  This can be anything from those things out of your control, like the actual weather, or things that are in your control, …

Lift the Lamp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtVSrBRmGQM&feature=youtu.be   Music & Lyrics by Ren Michael, Copyright © 2017 As I listen to your wisdom and all the things you hold dear I hear the persistence of your resistance and your fears Though I’m just another daughter, just another son Grown old, grown young, I’m not the only one Well we’ve heard your …

Born or Made (con’t)

Out in LA, one of my acting teachers would often remind me, along with anyone in class venting any sort of self-frustration, that Rome wasn’t built in a day.  Though it was an obvious point, it was easy to forget.  Few of the greats, if any at all, were incredible by day one.  As a …

Born or Made

I'm a man deeply suspicious of creative how-to’s.  That is, any book that advises me on how to approach anything creative.  How to write well.  How to act.  How to draw.  How to sing.  I woke up this morning and worked on “The Morning Pages”, a daily writing exercise that demands three pages of whatever …

Back Home Again

Broward County.  I’ve known that name my whole life.  Broward.  Such a strange sound as I think about it and say it out loud, just a little under my breath.  Broooowwwward. To me it’s always meant home.  Even though, as I’ve said many times over the course of many writings throughout this young career of …

House of the Rising Sun

I first heard the song many years ago and like most people, I most often associated it with the Animals.  Then I discovered they weren't the original writers and that Bob Dylan recorded the song before they did.  But it wasn't long before I realized Dylan didn't write it either.  He only recored it because …

Debut Album Available Now!

The self-titled debut album "Ren Michael" is now available for download on all digital platforms. The story begins with a girl.  She looks, casts one glance in the mirror and is gone no sooner than she arrived, her voice but a whisper as it echoes down the street, leaving the hero alone in the cold …

Old Glory Reloaded

Every issue in politics, I once said, typically boils down to the fundamental, opposing forces of fear and faith. The faith I’m talking about isn’t religious faith, and that’s why I am skeptical to even use the word. To me, it has nothing to do with religion or even God, at least not the God …

St. Petersburg

In the wild cathedral evenings On the St. Petersburg canals Near the church at midnight they call 'Spilt Blood' I met a woman singing a song I knew too well She looked at me Her skin stark white a ghost alone, in the dark of the night She smiled at me Her eyes they gleamed …

Guns a’ blazing (Introduction)

  If there’s anything that I try and avoid writing about, its writing. That being said, I’ll keep this beginning part short. For starters, I really don’t even think of myself as a writer at all. I’m no Hemingway or Kerouac or Walt Whitman. I don’t know how any of those guys fell into the …

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