Writing, Published Works & Blog
Widow Walk – a review
Independent Review Archives, July 2026 With the recent publishing of Little Gangs, the fourth novel in a historical fiction saga by Gar LaSalle, though each book in the series stands on its own, I believe the thoughtful reader is best served by starting at the beginning of the award-winning series – i.e., Widow Walk, first…
Historical Fiction Versus Literary Fiction
Historical fiction versus literary fiction – understand where they differ, where they overlap, and why serious readers often value both forms.
A LOOK BOOK for Widow Walk…Book One in the Widow Walk Saga
Because we are now publishing the fourth book in the Widow Walk Saga, we are offering this “Look Book” for those of you who have not yet begun the series or need a refresher on the first book, Widow Walk. The images (copied with permission from the internet) in this overview are as I have…
Suacit
“Valdez Rising – Suacit (People of the Place That Rises Into View)” This past September, our sculpture team at Classic Foundry in Seattle installed and then attended the unveiling of three of our works in Valdez, Alaska. These monuments resulted from the collaborative efforts of Classic Foundry-Seattle Art & Industrial, the Port Valdez Company Inc.,…
Accident and an Unexpected Awakening
Jules Engel and James E George MD In all that we do, we try to avoid accidents which almost always result in the “unwanted” and “unintentional”, a disruption in plans and the peace that comes with harmony, symmetry and resolution. A Master’s Lesson However, in 1974 after graduating from medical school, I learned an important…
Zorro and My Uncle Tony’s Sword
“Out of the night When the full moon is bright, Comes a masked man known as “Zorro”. This bold renegade Carves a ‘Z’ with his blade, A ‘Z’ that stands for “Zorro” “Bless me Father, for I have sinned. Again,” I said. “What is it this week, Jerry?” he said. It always frustrated me when he responded like that, not…
The Pettibone Venus
A PURPOSEFUL REPURPOSING On August 7th, 2022, my team and I unveiled the Pettibone Venus. I dedicate this monumental sculpture and the landscaping surrounding it to my friend, the late Richard Haag, the internationally renowned landscape architect who, in 1980 with his wife Cheryl Trivison, worked with me to design the Italianate landscape of the…
Stone Sculpture – The Soft and Hard of It
Working hard stone is much more difficult than sculpting softer material like marble that moves relatively easily with the experienced use of chisels and hammers. Working hard stone punishes one’s bones. Granite and Basalt, high up at 6 on the Mohs material hardness scale, are prone to shearing and splintering and thus, often require sculptors…
Aphrodite Asparagus (a.k.a. “Our Lady of the Asparagus”)
In 2016, motivated by the desire to find a fitting classical centerpiece to adorn my wife’s new garden, I began researching classical sculpture related to nature’s inherent beauty. Remembering the myths of Aphrodite and her Roman counterpart, Venus, the goddess of fertility, agricultural bounty and springtime, I decided it would be appropriate to honor that…
Christmas Crabs, Angel Hair, and the Way the Cookie Crumbles
This restrained 2020 holiday season, I have decided to speak of two traditions from my own family: Pasta with crab and Italian cookies. Although I am confident this pandemic will be over soon, with the passing of several loved ones this past year, I felt it important to memorialize this, in case things fall apart…
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