As a writer, photographer, and graphic designer, I have been producing digital and print publications for more than 30 years. First as a freelance webmaster, later as a managing editor for an alternative newsweekly in Western Massachusetts (The Valley Advocate), and then as a communications and marketing specialist. In short, I’m a words and pictures guy.
Deep dives into historic subjects have always been central to the work that brings me the most joy. Subjects vary, but generally I write about the struggle to create lasting democratic spaces. Think: parks, labor rights, and revolution. As an aspiring novelist, I’ve been working on a trilogy about the Franco-Prussian War and the Paris Commune that followed. They are all historical-fiction—adventures about astonishing people and unbelievably true events. (Two books done, one published, one underway!)
As a journalist, the public parks of Frederick Law Olmsted have long been a chief interest and inspiration.
My last full-time job, before returning to the life of an independent journalist, was as part of the four person team that ran the Olmsted Network. They are a national organization devoted to promoting and protecting the parks and principles of the Olmsted firm. My time with them only strengthened my resolve to visit all his parks and create an updated, modern photographic record of them. I want Olmsted’s parks made available in one place for everyone’s viewing pleasure. My plan is to document several parks a year, host free tours on my site, and design books to accompany them. Maybe I’ll even present a talk or two with a virtual stroll through multiple parks.
I’ve already completed tours of World’s End in Hingham, MA and Fairsted in Brookline, MA, each with online tours and book versions. Next up are Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn, NY and Walnut Hill Park in New Britain, CT, each of which should appear online this year. Work is also underway on tours of the Emerald Necklace (Boston) and Prospect Park (Brooklyn).
Other interests: Beyond writing and panoramic photography, my obsessions include (in an ever-revolving order): reading and collecting physical print books, stereoviews, dinosaurs, all-day breakfast, being an obedient dog-dad, rock & roll (can’t stop listening to Valerie June these days), board games, trolleys, Star Wars, European comic books, popcorn movies, zeppelins, Planet of the Apes, Monty Python, The Muppets, The Mighty Boosh, oysters, musicals, and travel. I suspect at some point, I’ll blog about each of these things.
Origin Story: The son of Australians, I grew up in a village along the Hudson River in New York, went to college in Vermont, and have lived in New England my entire adult life, most of it in a red bungalow in Northampton, Massachusetts with my family: my wife (the artist), our son (the scholar), and the nine pound pup who rules us all.
Fun facts: At various times in my life, I’ve been able to speak Dutch and French. Those times are distant now.
