Author: susanbassmarcus1

In my life I have worked in museums, on stage as a puppeteer, in studio as a puppet sculptor, in schools as an art teacher, and, for one summer in my teens, as a supermarket cashier. Now I am writing, writing, writing, and occasionally cartooning.
humor, Memoir (fiction/non-fiction)Leave a comment

Dancing in the Kitchen

susanbassmarcus1

Some of the most endearing characters on Saturday Night Live! in the late seventies and into the eighties were Gilda Radner’s creations.  My favorite was Judy Miller and her ‘showtime.’ Dressed in her GSA Brownie uniform, Gilda/Judy hosted and performed some of her ‘shows’ in the privacy of her own pink frilly bedroom. She crashed into closet doors, leaped on the bed, rolled around, and ran through a dizzying series of story lines until she landed, exhausted on the floor. The performances amounted to what appeared to be a great catharsis or at least an escape from a too real … Continue reading Dancing in the Kitchen

A Writer's Progress/Process1 Comment

One of a Thousand Faces

susanbassmarcus1

“There are only two or three human stories, and they go on repeating themselves as fiercely as if they had never happened before.” Willa Cather Yes, Willa, but each re-telling wears a different face and leads us to another place, perhaps never seen before, but somehow familiar. Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with One Thousand Faces and the works of Swiss psychologist Carl Jung propose that all stories, from the latest Star Wars film to Harry Potter’s epic, and—please permit me to promote my own Dragonwolder series–present a hero, among certain archetypes. To quote Christophe Vogler, “The theme of the hero … Continue reading One of a Thousand Faces

humorLeave a comment

Email to Roberta

susanbassmarcus1

Caroline’s husband received an email from his mother, Roberta DeLazio, today. She announced her plans to move in with Caroline and her son. Roberta lives in Oregon and Caroline lives in Maine. Here is Caroline’s gracious response.   Hi- Roberta, dear, Ezio tells me you hope to move to Bangor in three months and that you’d like to live with us. How nice, but I see Ezio didn’t tell you the good and bad news. Good news, because we finally sold the house, which saves us so much $$ and gives us some cash toward our retirement. Bad news because … Continue reading Email to Roberta