It’s been quite a while. I’ve been busy exploring Oaxaca and the pueblos nearby, taking a two month road trip from here to Maine and back, and working on Ocean, the sequel to Atmosphere.

This image is from my 5th trip to Monte Alban. A friend from Tucson was visiting, who happens to be a biologist, so we spent much of his time here at spectacular archaeological sites, looking at plants and bugs. With one exception, I had already visited the places more than once, so I likely would have ended up photographing the mundane anyway. I doubt I would have ever seen this critter, though, had I not been specifically looking for bugs.

I suppose there is a lesson here, maybe something about perspective, or attention to detail. Maybe about camoflage, or adaptation. Or maybe the lesson is that even if you think you know a place inside and out, it will often surprise you.

You could apply that to people as well. You think you know them, or you think you’ve figured them out, when all of a sudden, they throw you a curve ball. I have come to realize that when I am surprised by someone, it is rarely because they were hiding anything from me. It is usually because I wasn’t paying attention, was making assumptions, or both.

When I titled this post, I thought I might make a reference to Greta Thunberg, who continues to stand up to world leaders in defense of the world itself. We would be foolish to not pay attention to her, or to make assumptions about her or her message.

The world is changing before our eyes, and at an accellerating pace. I’m sure nature will survive, and it is likely that a portion of humanity could adapt and or migrate in the face of rising temperatures and sea levels, but is that what we want?

When it comes down to it, I doubt many people prefer smoke filled skies, polluted water, and mass extinctions. I don’t have the answer, but Greta and her generation might.

A while back, I entered Atmosphere in a writing contest. I’ll find out in February whether it wins. In the meantime, I’m getting constant invitations to enter other contests. Today it was one asking for an 80 word story. Turns out I have to subscribe for $10 a month to enter, so no thanks. (Entering my novel cost a one-time fee of $65)

So here is my 80 word story.

“Thank you,” she said, for what he wasn’t sure.
It wasn’t as if he knew what he was doing, or had some kind of innate ability. In fact, he was quite aware that he was painfully inexperienced and inept.
Yet “thank you,” was what she said.
Many years later, it occurred to him that he had been nothing more than a donor.
“You are welcome,” he whispered, and then laughed, in that dishonest way that terribly sad people often do.

A few days ago was the one year anniversary of the debut of Atmosphere on Amazon. Ratings on both Amazon and Goodreads remain around 4.5 out of 5 stars, and the book has recieved some great reviews. If you have read the book but not reviewed in on either platform, please do. The algorhithms like reviews, and so do I.

Last week I released the harcover version, perfect as a gift for that science fiction fan in your life. Please consider it as the season comes around.

I entered Atmosphere in a first novel contest. I’ll find out if I win in February.  Because of my entry, I recieve weekly emails trying to get me to enter other contests.  Today I got one asking for an 80 word story. I wrote the story, but decided I wasn’t interested in a $10 monthly subscription just to have a chance at $100. Here is the story:

“Thank you,” she said, for what he wasn’t sure.
It wasn’t as if he knew what he was doing, or had some kind of innate ability. In fact, he was quite aware that he was painfully inexperienced and inept.
Yet “thank you,” was what she said.
Many years later, it occurred to him that he had been nothing more than a donor.
“You are welcome,” he whispered, and then laughed, in that dishonest way that terribly sad people often do.

Ocean is progressing slowly. I had to work out some issues with the science and lost track of my flow. Now I am working my way through the 33 chapters I have finished, partly to polish them up, but also to get my creative momentum back. I know where I want the story to go, but haven’t figured out how to get it there yet.  I had hoped to release it lat this year, but I may not make it until January.

It will be really nice to have this in hand. I think Atmosphere is a good book, but Ocean will be even better. I highly recommend picking up a copy of Atmosphere so you have the background to fully appreciate Ocean.  You won’t be sorry. Just listen to what these people said:

B.K. – I was hooked from the word go. Well written, tightly plotted and such an interesting world. I don’t want to add any spoilers as the way the story unfolds is so engaging.
The characterizations are interesting and though we are just beginning our journey with them, you can already see them as well- rounded whole people.
Super excited for the next book.

J.T. – Whether you are a fan of sciFi or not, this book Is a totally enjoyable read; a vacation from reality. I genuinely look forward to the next book in this series. Kudos to David Scott Moyer. Well done!

S.J.L. – Tight plotting with an unusual thematic approach. Very engaging storytelling. Well developed diverse characters. Lush, rich, other-world flora and fauna depicted to draw the reader into the characters’ experience there. Departs nicely from pseudo-technical description of physics and spaceship operations found in many sci-fi novels. I shared it with two young adults who were very enthusiastic about the read.
Looking forward to the next one!

B.H. – I surprised myself on this one. I don’t usually read science fiction! But I was captured right away and fully enjoyed this playful romp through time and space. This book takes on serious issues but doesn’t weigh heavy. The characters are nicely developed and there are good surprises. A fun afternoon read – but leaving you with some things to ponder!

and my personal favorite:

S.K.C. – What a treat! The characters grabbed me from page one. I was impressed by the author’s ability to keep the many characters distinct and relatable. Each character was made into someone I could see and hear as I read. I felt like I knew them.
There were plenty of details, and yet never did I find myself skimming ahead to skip over an overly expansive description, because there were none (unusual for me not to skim ahead!). All the details needed were provided, but never more than were needed. Some very important facts were dropped like Easter eggs in an open field. They were there and obvious, but the author trusted his readers to pick them up, without making a huge fuss over them.
Science fiction by its nature is a balance of suspending logic and having believable (within the suspension of logic) situations and mechanics. This book nailed it!
Having met the author randomly under a giant statue at the confluence of two rivers in what seemed like the opening of a great book itself, I was excited to buy his book. I love reading “first novels,” and didn’t expect it to be this GREAT! I had to double check his bio to be sure I had it right about it being his first, because this does NOT seem like a “first novel.” It was more in the league of a Crichton or Koontz.
Nicely done! Now, I NEED that second book! 

Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, Mexico, 07-30-21

Which reminded me of this brilliant lyric by Bruce Cockburn:

I went to Mitla when I was here in 2019 and took all the requisite photos.  The place was nearly empty. When I took a couple of my neighbors there this past weekend, It was obscenely overpopulated.  None of the photos I took last time would have been possible. The Guelaguetza Festival is normally at this time, so a lot of Mexicanos take vacations here.  The festival was cancelled, but the throngs still came.  Anyway, I already had all the touristy photos, so I took these three.  There used to be a trash can in the third one, but thanks to the magic of Content Aware Fill, you can enjoy the view without distraction.

Went to Villa De Etla for their inaugural cultural festival.  It was nice, with the usual over-long speeches that any inaugural event in Mexico has, some music and dancing, a few tables sampling cane sugar alcohol and sweets, and a contemporary art exhibit which was the highlight for me. All of these photos are from after, when we drove into town and wandered around.

I’m not sure of the exact story behind this magnificent mistake, but the young couple we met out front told us that it was a magical building and that construction had been halted for some reason.

Aqueducts are all over the place down here.  I’m pretty sure they predate the Spanish invasion.

The church here was way bigger than one might expect for such a small community.  I think there must have been mineral deposits here which made the Spaniards value the location.

That second image was taken through a hole in the door.  The church was locked up tight.

Air Plants on the power lines

On my second visit to Monte Alban (founded 500BC and most significant site of the Zapotec culture), I took a slightly different approach, less about documentation and more about getting good images. My results were mixed.

I first came to Oaxaca in 2009, on an epic road trip from Tucson to Lago Atitlan in Guatemala and back. We descended into the town out of the mountains and stayed a week.  I was completely unaware of Monte Alban sitting nestled in the hills above town.

I came again in 2018, for Dia De Los Muertes.  On that trip I visited a smaller site, Mitla, but did not go to Monte Alban because my legs would not permit me to climb around (long story).

Then I was back one more time this February, but that trip was consumed by the search for the apartment where I now live.

Today, I finally got to see the site in all of its magnificence.  Well, almost all.  Because of Covid, access is closed to the tombs which contain some spectacular paintings. I’ll have to see those next year.

Here are some photos and a video from today, starting with the “discoverer” of Monte Alban.

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In Mexico, you don’t put your trash bins at the curb to be picked up.  The garbage truck drives slowly down the street, honking its horn, and residents run out to put their own trash into it. The guys working the truck separate out some plastic bottles and cardboard by hand. I’m not sure where those go in the end. I’m not sure where any of it goes, actually.