Why Christmas Hates Me

I have a love/hate relationship with Christmas. I love it. It hates me.
I still believe in Santa Claus, but he's starting to piss me off. In five years Santa hasn't left one present under the tree for my son! He's a good kid. He doesn't deserve this. Santa hasn't brought me anything either, but I understand. He's neglected me ever since I moved out of my parent's house.
I thought this was supposed to be a cheery holiday, but every year the wild hordes

Red Sand Book Launch a Success!

Thank you to everyone who suffered a bitterly cold New York night to attend my book launch. As a writer, I spend long hours in front of a computer screen with nothing but Netflix for company. It’s nice to see other human beings once in a while. It was a great night with beer, friends, and frivolity. I admit I really enjoyed the attention! It’s good to see stacks of Red Sand in print, and even better to see those stacks dwindle into eager readers’ hands. My little books have started their journey. Like a sail, they’re meant to unfurl, not to decorate the deck. My aspiration is to spot my work in a used book store someday. A book that holds value through several hands is a success, and only time makes it so. For those of you who missed it, I’m planning another launch in January. Until then, Cheers!

Why We Love the Mayan Apocalypse

With Dec 21 just around the corner, I won’t bother to do any Christmas shopping. 
We’re not afraid of the end of the world; we’re looking forward to it. Disaster movies make great blockbusters, the Second Coming fills the pews, and historical figures from Nostradamus to the Mayans become news again. But why? Why do we love the idea of The End?

Red Sand Book Launch Party

You're Invited!
The best part about spending months alone in front of a computer writing books is the party afterward.Come to the Red Sand Book Launch Party! Get an autographed copy of Red Sand and have a beer with me!


Tuesday, November 27, 2012
6:00 - 8:30 PM
The Caulfield
119 East 27th Street
New York, NY 10016
Edmont Room
Please RSVP to ronancray@gmail.com

How To Be A Man

Not a carpet - pine needles.

There’s an old Swedish saying that lays out three steps on how to become a man.

Bear a son, build a house, plant a tree.

In the old days, a son meant your family line continued, a house meant you owned the land you worked, and a tree meant you aimed to stay there. 

As I reach middle age, I’m reflecting on my own progress. Wanna know how I'm doing?  I write all about it in "How to be a Man" over on The Scrib.  Check it out here.

Ordained!

I am now an ordained minister.

A friend of mine asked if I could officiate her wedding. I told her, as an atheist, I would have to become a judge first. Could she wait that long? No, and, thanks to the internet, she didn't have to.
After about 15 seconds on the Universal Life Church website, with little more than my name and address, I became an ordained minister, capable of marrying and giving last rights. For only $34.99 more, I can get

My "Cabin in the Woods"

Two years ago I bought a cabin in rural Pennsylvania. It may not have an elevator to ancient subterranean gods, (I wish), but it does fulfill every writer's dream of a retreat far from the madding crowd. After three years combing "Farm for Sale" advertisements on the internet, I found the perfect one. The old man who died there owned it as a retreat from his wife. She wanted nothing to do with it. She didn't even clean it out. As a result, I became the proud owner of