Author Archives

I'm a a professional writer and editor for a media/publishing firm in Rapid City, South Dakota. When not writing, I enjoy vinyl records, lava lamps, photography, hiking, and Bloody Marys...not necessarily in that order.

• Memphis Mafia, Party Of One

  By Swinged Cat on August 2, 2021 • ( 11 )

  

  Elvis Has Entered the Building Our weekend getaway was a blast! Saturday morning, bright and early, Tara and I hit the road for the tiny burg of Freeman, South Dakota. It’s considered the heart of the Chislic Circle and the… Read More ›

• What’s the Benefit of Pigs?

  By Swinged Cat on July 28, 2021 • ( 21 )

  

  As a writer, I frequently interview people. My methods have evolved over the years, but my goal remains simple: transferring their words as efficiently as possible into a story/article/press release/whatever. For a couple of years, I dragged along a laptop…. Read More ›

• Are You Gettin’ It? Armageddon It.

  By Swinged Cat on July 25, 2021 • ( 24 )

  

  Last Wednesday, I drove the company vehicle to the Pine Ridge reservation to interview a high school student for our annual report. I’m working on a series of stories focusing on how individuals and businesses in rural South Dakota weathered… Read More ›

• I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Plagiarism

  By Swinged Cat on July 22, 2021 • ( 27 )

  

  I think I need to lawyer up. Because six years ago, I came up with this amazing idea: Drumstick Bites. I wrote that the last bite of a Drumstick ice cream cone, with that solid chunk of chocolate, was the… Read More ›

• The Astronaut Button

  By Swinged Cat on July 18, 2021 • ( 33 )

  

  So, This is What It Feels Like To Be An Astronaut… I discovered a nifty button that turns my Hyundai into a zippy little rocket. My driving experience hasn’t been the same since. I’ve been very happy since buying the… Read More ›

• Serial and Milk(ing it)

  By Swinged Cat on July 14, 2021 • ( 24 )

  

  Writers love playing the “what-if?” game. It’s how we get our best ideas. Many years ago, I read a series of articles in The Oregonian about the growing problem of eco-terrorism in the western states. One line in particular grabbed… Read More ›

• Second Fiddle to a Feline

  By Swinged Cat on July 11, 2021 • ( 19 )

  

  Tara came home from an outing with coworkers Friday night, and that’s when I realized my cat is more popular than I am. “How’d it go?” I asked when she walked through the door. “Great!” she replied. “Everybody asked about… Read More ›

• Don’t Worry, Bee Happy

  By Swinged Cat on July 8, 2021 • ( 21 )

  

  When most people think of South Dakota, I’d venture to guess they picture lots of cows and cornfields. Which isn’t exactly inaccurate. But did you know we rank as the #2 honey-producing state in the U.S.? That fact doesn’t receive… Read More ›

• ‘Yak Tracks

  By Swinged Cat on July 3, 2021 • ( 27 )

  

  After the longest week in the history of man, Saturday morning rolled around. Tara and I were up bright and early. Our destination? Pactola Lake. We’d been looking forward to trying out our new kayaks ever since hauling them back… Read More ›

• Winner, Winner, Mexican Dinner

  By Swinged Cat on June 28, 2021 • ( 22 )

  

  Greetings from the pheasant hunting capital of South Dakota! I’m writing this post from a hotel room in Winner, South Dakota. It’s a tiny town in Tripp County, about three hours east of Rapid City, with fewer than 3,000 residents…. Read More ›