Don Mitchell
@wailuku.bsky.social
writer, anthropologist, photographer, book designer, marathoner (not so much now), life-long leftist
I have some late brush-hogging to do and I thought I'd lay in fuel for winter snowblowing with the big tractor. Yes, I knew diesel was up....but nothing like looking at it on the pump. Ten gallons, $64. I do get an occasional look when I drive in with my Ioniq5. #diesel #dieselprice
September 18, 2026 at 3:28 PM
I have some late brush-hogging to do and I thought I'd lay in fuel for winter snowblowing with the big tractor. Yes, I knew diesel was up....but nothing like looking at it on the pump. Ten gallons, $64. I do get an occasional look when I drive in with my Ioniq5. #diesel #dieselprice
Here's the PR flyer for my novel Mauka. I'm going to play the age card and say that I'm 83 and this is my debut novel (but not my only book). Out in October.
September 8, 2026 at 4:35 PM
Here's the PR flyer for my novel Mauka. I'm going to play the age card and say that I'm 83 and this is my debut novel (but not my only book). Out in October.
A morning morning glory.
August 29, 2026 at 2:20 PM
A morning morning glory.
The box of finals arrived (the box of ARCs came a few weeks ago). It's nice to see Mauka in print. Version 1.0 was in 2018. I put it down to publish a memoir, but got back to it after that. A debut novel at 83.... maukathenovel.com
August 21, 2026 at 9:38 PM
The box of finals arrived (the box of ARCs came a few weeks ago). It's nice to see Mauka in print. Version 1.0 was in 2018. I put it down to publish a memoir, but got back to it after that. A debut novel at 83.... maukathenovel.com
My backlist includes an ethnographic story collection (2013), and a memoir about a murder (2020). #BacklistSaturday
saddleroadpress.com/prose/fictio...
saddleroadpress.com/prose/memoir...
saddleroadpress.com/prose/fictio...
saddleroadpress.com/prose/memoir...
August 8, 2026 at 1:59 PM
My backlist includes an ethnographic story collection (2013), and a memoir about a murder (2020). #BacklistSaturday
saddleroadpress.com/prose/fictio...
saddleroadpress.com/prose/memoir...
saddleroadpress.com/prose/fictio...
saddleroadpress.com/prose/memoir...
The first online review of my novel "Mauka: A Novel of Hawai'i" is up. "Mauka" will be published October 19th, 2026. If anybody out there wants to review it and post the review online, I can certainly supply a PDF ARC.
www.forewordreviews.com/reviews/mauka/
www.forewordreviews.com/reviews/mauka/
Review of Mauka
Mauka: Flush with geographical symbolism, "Mauka" is a thoughtful novel about late-life reckonings—and romance. Don Mitchell’s layered novel "Mauka" considers the topography of a romantic relationship...
www.forewordreviews.com
August 5, 2026 at 11:26 PM
The first online review of my novel "Mauka: A Novel of Hawai'i" is up. "Mauka" will be published October 19th, 2026. If anybody out there wants to review it and post the review online, I can certainly supply a PDF ARC.
www.forewordreviews.com/reviews/mauka/
www.forewordreviews.com/reviews/mauka/
My very old brush hog got caught in a hole and the back end is toast. Not repairable, so the new one comes today. As an earnest young grad student years ago I would never have imagined myself living the rural life, waiting for a new brush hog. But so it is.
July 28, 2026 at 1:20 PM
My very old brush hog got caught in a hole and the back end is toast. Not repairable, so the new one comes today. As an earnest young grad student years ago I would never have imagined myself living the rural life, waiting for a new brush hog. But so it is.
I'm not sure what this is going to be, but it can't get much better than this stage. And no, I didn't crank up the Saturation slider. Freeville Daily Image, Day 2,254. anstapa.com
July 6, 2026 at 12:53 PM
I'm not sure what this is going to be, but it can't get much better than this stage. And no, I didn't crank up the Saturation slider. Freeville Daily Image, Day 2,254. anstapa.com
Advance Reader Copies arrived today. Feels good to hold this book. I began writing it in 2018.
July 3, 2026 at 10:50 PM
Advance Reader Copies arrived today. Feels good to hold this book. I began writing it in 2018.
Sunrise deck scene. 2026 06 30. anstapa.com
June 30, 2026 at 12:01 PM
Sunrise deck scene. 2026 06 30. anstapa.com
Another rose on a sunny morning. Another tree down over the drive, but I took care of that. When you need to cut wood on a Sunday morning, electric chainsaws are just the thing.
June 28, 2026 at 3:54 PM
Another rose on a sunny morning. Another tree down over the drive, but I took care of that. When you need to cut wood on a Sunday morning, electric chainsaws are just the thing.
My debut novel went to the printer today. I'm 83 -- kind of old for a debut. I do have three other books out there (an ethnography (1976) a story collection (2013) and a memoir (2020). This novel is set in Hawai'i, where I was born and raised. saddleroadpress.com/mauka.html
June 24, 2026 at 11:26 PM
My debut novel went to the printer today. I'm 83 -- kind of old for a debut. I do have three other books out there (an ethnography (1976) a story collection (2013) and a memoir (2020). This novel is set in Hawai'i, where I was born and raised. saddleroadpress.com/mauka.html
When there are thunderstorms and a tornado warning and after it blows through you head down to the supermarket...that's why you keep a couple of battery-powered chainsaws handy. Only needed the small one for this tree. Rural life!
June 18, 2026 at 6:37 PM
When there are thunderstorms and a tornado warning and after it blows through you head down to the supermarket...that's why you keep a couple of battery-powered chainsaws handy. Only needed the small one for this tree. Rural life!
Nice early sky this morning. This is Freeville Daily Image Day 2,235.
June 17, 2026 at 10:16 AM
Nice early sky this morning. This is Freeville Daily Image Day 2,235.
Morning sky, afternoon sky. Freeville NY, 2026 06 06.
June 6, 2026 at 10:07 PM
Morning sky, afternoon sky. Freeville NY, 2026 06 06.
The rugosa roses are blooming up here on the ridge. Here's one from this morning.
June 4, 2026 at 12:32 PM
The rugosa roses are blooming up here on the ridge. Here's one from this morning.
I'm all ready for winter 2028. When I was an earnest grad student I never imagined saying "Hey...I have to go to town for diesel." Everything here is electric except for two tractors and the backup generator. Fifty-three panels on the roof. Ground-source heat pump heating, works in sub-zero.
June 2, 2026 at 9:05 PM
I'm all ready for winter 2028. When I was an earnest grad student I never imagined saying "Hey...I have to go to town for diesel." Everything here is electric except for two tractors and the backup generator. Fifty-three panels on the roof. Ground-source heat pump heating, works in sub-zero.
2026 05 25. The first rose of summer showed up on a dark, rainy, foggy, windy, cold morning. Rugosa roses don't give a shit about anything. Toughest roses in the world.
May 25, 2026 at 12:54 PM
2026 05 25. The first rose of summer showed up on a dark, rainy, foggy, windy, cold morning. Rugosa roses don't give a shit about anything. Toughest roses in the world.
Sixty-six years ago today, a great tsunami hit Hilo, Hawai'i, almost taking me. More than sixty people died. My Hilo High School class collected their memories in a PDF you can download at hilodailyimage.com (one of my sites). You might find the collection interesting -- old folks remembering.
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hilodailyimage.com
May 23, 2026 at 1:54 PM
Sixty-six years ago today, a great tsunami hit Hilo, Hawai'i, almost taking me. More than sixty people died. My Hilo High School class collected their memories in a PDF you can download at hilodailyimage.com (one of my sites). You might find the collection interesting -- old folks remembering.
Thunderstorms passing through, with that golden-yellow light after.
May 13, 2026 at 9:55 PM
Thunderstorms passing through, with that golden-yellow light after.
My mother in 1937. Kamehameha Schools, Honolulu, where she was a teacher -- and in this image, just about to marry my father.
May 10, 2026 at 12:55 PM
My mother in 1937. Kamehameha Schools, Honolulu, where she was a teacher -- and in this image, just about to marry my father.
Very unpleasant morning (6 AM) and I had to make the Daily Image early. In the rain. So here's Freeville Daily Image, Day 2,197.
May 9, 2026 at 10:15 AM
Very unpleasant morning (6 AM) and I had to make the Daily Image early. In the rain. So here's Freeville Daily Image, Day 2,197.
Unusual sunrise, probably because a thunderstorm was passing to the north. This is Freeville Daily Image Day 2,193.
May 5, 2026 at 12:35 PM
Unusual sunrise, probably because a thunderstorm was passing to the north. This is Freeville Daily Image Day 2,193.
Six years ago today I arrived here from Hilo, Hawai'i. I had a lot to learn -- how to maintain many acres of woods and meadows, a steep .4 mile long driveway in the winter (big tractor with big snowblower) but it's been six great years. At 83, I don't know whether I've got six more here, but....
May 3, 2026 at 12:02 PM
Six years ago today I arrived here from Hilo, Hawai'i. I had a lot to learn -- how to maintain many acres of woods and meadows, a steep .4 mile long driveway in the winter (big tractor with big snowblower) but it's been six great years. At 83, I don't know whether I've got six more here, but....