Welcome! Donald Paul Benjamin is a novelist, journalist, cartoonist, and photographer. He’s a member of the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, a regional group of authors based in Denver. However, he lives on the Western Slope of Colorado about as far from the teeming metropolis of Denver as he can get without falling into Utah. It’s rural country with lakes, rivers, and streams; mountains, mesas, and valleys; cattle, sheep, and sheep dogs; apples, peaches, cherries, and corn. And breathtaking vistas.
Recent Posts
Googly-Eyes and the Writing Life
Once upon a time, I taught cartooning and storybook illustration to elementary school children. At our first class meeting, I came prepared with a variety of fruits, vegetables, and inanimate objects like a stapler, a bottle, and a cup. I lined these objects up on a raised box and invited the children to tell me … Continue reading Googly-Eyes and the Writing Life
Packing to Perfection in Pompeii
Around lunchtime, in the year 79 of the Christian Era, on the coast of what is now modern-day Italy, a once-dormant volcano rumbled. Ash rained down on the first day as residents of the nearby city of Pompeii gathered their belongings and debated whether to leave or stay. A day later, Mount Vesuvius erupted in … Continue reading Packing to Perfection in Pompeii
Breakfast Serial
The English language is resplendent with homophones—words which are spelled differently but pronounced alike. By some estimates, there are more than four hundred such conundrums. Examples are the words ail and ale, bate and bait, cheap and cheep, and so on. My favorite pair is cereal and serial. A misuse of this duo gives a … Continue reading Breakfast Serial
One Finger or the Wave?
I live in a rural community where it’s common practice to acknowledge a passing motorist. If the acquaintance is a casual one or even a complete stranger, lifting a single index finger will suffice. If the relationship is closer, a purposeful wave is best. When creating a character, I apply the passing motorist test. Meeting … Continue reading One Finger or the Wave?
d.p. BENJAMIN 