Learn more about the books (and how to buy) on ej Morgan’s Amazon.com Author Page. including the latest Dharma in your Ear mini book (99 cents for limited time, 2023.) For large print paperback of Seeing Clearly — click here dear “hard copy” readers. 😉
Some info and history of ZiaLink and ZenWoman on the “about” links at top of home page.
Other projects underway:
aBoP (too good and too early to reveal) but think freaky near future with androids, the singularity, the plague and consciousness exploration. Yep, a new fiction!
#grappling — another nonfiction take on reality and realizations.
the mini-book version of #grappling aka Dharma in Your Ear was published 5/2023 “May Day” An “inner” dimensional experience, a promo for me from Tony as TFG “Dear Leader”
Simply Divine! — nonfiction on health & wellness (mental and physical) <<< client project
#PeacePledge — NOW more than ever we need humor and healing.
This, pen pals, is a “modern Maki-e” finish on a Platinum Procyon fountain pen. Aficionados of the Japanese art known as Urushi Maki-e will know it’s a tedious, time-consuming hand-crafted process of applying layers of materials, powders (often gold and silver dust) then lacquer. Maki-e fountain pens are one-of-a-kind works of art and command high prices.
THIS (Procyon pen above) is the “Luster” version which was then layered with stencil work of the moon and cranes art and further embellished with “gold and silver” dust (how pure is unknown.) My version is “flat” kind of matt finish which I prefer for actual use. The highly polished lacquered versions sell for several hundred, if not thousands, and are works of art like fine Japanese swords. The pen is mightier than the sword, said UK novelist Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1839.
I don’t regret this choice, since my most perfect writer remains my Italian Visconti fountain pen with medium iridium nib (see previous Aug 27 post.) It too was a less expensive model (based on Rembrandt “chassis”.) The Eco-Logic uses hemp where the Homo Sapien model uses Basaltic lava. The point being, for me the Visconti is writing perfection. Smooth as silk with its J Herbin cartridges, never inked from bottle, flows easily 24/7 for days (even a week capped) without a dry start or skip. PERFECTION.
This is not the case with the Procyon. This nib is borderline “scratchy” and runs dry while writing. I’m so surprised because I ordered new Carbon black Platinum cartridges so I could compare to my test pen (a medium Platinum Preppy, with similar nib.) That $7 pen writes like a dream and Platinum’s carbon black is so dark and silky. I thought this Procyon could be my dream pen… not yet.
Something is probably wrong with the nib/feed, but I’m in no mood to return it given how long it took USPS to get it here. I’m going to attempt some nib adjustment and see if this uses removable sections. Anyway, I will update. It arrived two days ago, Monday 12.04.2023. BTW, maki-e is pronounced mah-key-A (long /a/ sound.)
Hey pen pals, recognize these? Fountain pen fanatics will think of Sailor “PGS” but …
These beauties are Jinhao 82s or J82s as I call them. We’ve been calling them Frankenpens for a while, but now (October 23, 23) it’s truly timely. I’m posting so pen pals can see what I was referring to on Drew’s October Frankenpen Youtube video (truly SCARY, ha!) So in case you get lost in the spooky woods and can’t get back here’s what I said:
“When it comes to experimenting with pricey Frankenpens that is frightening ; ) The photo shows my inexpensive J82s: instead of Moonlight over Ocean, think Sun over Grass, Fuki Light with Rikyu tea ink, Reverse Nuts, Gray Crane, Cloudy Sky instead of Pelikan Pastel (M200), willow-ish and finally No Moon not Snow Moon. FUN and they all have related inks and variety of nibs.” ENJOY!
2023 pens for my pen pals 😉 Can you guess what pen is with the Endless notebook? How about the cloth under my eco-logic Visconti fountain pen? OR what is that with my journal in the pen loop? I’ll link to that Limited Edition Retro 51 rollerball. Mine is #584 of 600.
Endless notebook for endless words.
Endless notebook for endless words.
Visconti and journal w/ Retro 51
I’ll update soon, promise, with more thoughts on journaling with FPs vs. “fast writing” BPs and even Frixion pens. Also, I hope to post a video soon on reading eBooks with Kindle readers and apps. My friends are having trouble reading my books, including my latest: Dharma in Your Ear , a sampler of a larger commonplace book called #grappling (still editing.) Thanks for stopping by!
There are links at the top of this site about ZiaLink’s history. This post is about actual ink and handwriting. Sometime in the early 2000s, having survived the Y2K computer crisis, a sort of “gilded era” emerged where many of us preferred stationery. Leather or vegan journals, often traveler’s style, were the rage. Some people were creating art journals using embellishments, and lots of folks wanted a fountain pen. There lies the rub. Exotic handmade papers and expensive journal covers did not mix with messy fountain pens.
FF to present time where I found Brian Goulet and accomplice Drew Brown’s Pencast on Youtube (cued to 55:40 “heat setting” topic.) These guys (and others) have answers to leaky/dry pen probs. 50 episodes… check them out.
Drew in a T’ai Chi / Matrix pose, as Brian blathers on… j/k ha!
Below are a few of my pens (described in the captions), the glorious LMZ (that I almost ordered) and some current faves.
Yes, Jinhao dragon pen below!
Top left 1970s Lady Scheaffer (XF), new Chinese Wingsung (F), 2 vintage “bladder” pens: a Scheaffer and a Scout, beautiful BROWN custom acrylic, Picasso (M) with Caran d’Ache “Storm” ink and one of my many Jinhao dragon pens.
I’ve been researching flex or soft nib pens that allow more variation in writing style and ink flow. Brian & Drew have several video reviews of flexible nibs, so does Doodlebud in his Friday Flex off (2020): That’s how I learned about this beauty (below.) The Pen Addict blog features this gorgeous LMZ (drool) but Drew & Doodlebud have convinced me it’s pretty pricey for limited flex.
This image of the LMZ (Leonardo Momento Zero) is from Pen Addict blog, linked above.
Table top (late June, 2022) BEFORE I spilled some ink. GADZ! Baking soda is the answer for ink on wood and hands.
Upper left is a Zebra “disposable” (that I nearly disposed of since it’s over 5 yrs old!) Not only does it work, it’s smooth. Then old to new: my beloved Monteverde “tiger eye” (purchased new in 1995 at a local pen show), my new 2022 silver metal Japanese Muji pen with fabulous Herbin “Moonshadow” cartridge, plus a Jinhao “Gullor” (barely used since 2019 due to inking issues, resolved with new converter), two Tuls (described below) and my #BuJo (bullet journal.) NOTE: new limited Lamy purple “Candy” not shown, just flimsy box & red-tipped converter. Sorry.
As for daily writers, a few years ago (while writing LOTs of notes) I gave up and turned to Tul (shown above.) I know Goulet Pens and other FP loyalists shudder at BP (ball point) or gel pens, but OMG these attractive inexpensive Tul pens make fast writing a pleasure. I was given one at a journaling session and have bought many since then. (I’m not affiliated with Tul or any product and have NO advertising on my blog.) For fast, reliable never-blotchy no-fuss notes and journaling, Tul pens– BP or gel– are perfect IMHO.
That said, I will always have a passion for fountain pens. To me they’re for pleasure and treasure writing, not for scribbling notes or signing store receipts. Collect, enjoy, & tinker on.
UPDATE on my first eyedropper fill, my Pilot Prera:
close-up to see Diamine Shimmery Ivy green ink (loaded in barrel) Posted Pilot Prera with barrel-fill writing on Clairefontaine paper. Yikes, clipped the pic which says NO O-ring only dab of beeswax on the threads. Works GREAT. Love it!
Lower Left: Muji, Pilot Metro & Prera (next row up) Kaweco, Jinhao, Lmtd Ed Candy Lamy, Taccia BP, copper Jinhao dragon and last but not least my original Monteverde Olympia (1990s era.)
Asvine…
While investigating several pens I noticed this one in a youtube post. This Asvine V169 checked off a lot of want boxes: smooth writer, unique style and color-scheme I love, vacuum filler (wanted to try one) and the price point– under 50 bucks! (Some places sell for $75)
This beauty will arrive in a few days and I plan to load with Organics Studio Nitrogen ink (purchased from Goulet Pens.) I’ll add more thoughts once it’s here and inked. Labor Day Update: W o W! Love this pen. Super smooth even with F nib (more like M) and so juicy. The Nitro ink (with sheen) matches perfectly. I’ll post more on Youtube and link below. Write on, peeps!
Can’t find anyplace to vote online this year, other than one #OscarFanFavorite on twitter. I voted for Don’t Look Up. HOWEVER… Having watched pros and youtubers give their picks for pics, it appears: CODA will take Best Pic; Spider-Man: No Way Home will probably emerge as “Fan Fave” (many love Dune); Actor Will Smith is nearly hands down and Actress HUGE fave is Jessica Chastain; Director is nearly a lock for Jane Campion; Supporting Actor beloved Troy Kotsur (CODA) and Best Supporting Actress Ariana DeBose for Westside Story; Documentary Summer of Soul vs. Flee; Animated Feature Encanto (also Best Song giving Miranda an EGOT); Adapted Screenplay writing for CODA and Best Original Screenplay Licorice Pizza. Most technical, editing, sound awards may go to Dune, along with Cinematography, but I wonder if Production or Costumes or something will go Westside Story and Visuals to Spider-Man? Flee should take an award, maybe International Feature.
Robin, Robin is a fave for Animated Short and Live Action Short seems to be The Dress, although many say The Long Goodbye. Make Up of course, to the crew who re-created The Eyes of Tammy Faye 😉 Enjoy the awards. We’ll tally up winners after that.
I promised myself no more blogging until I finished my #grappling book (that’s why so few posts this year), BUT Cajun cultural “icon” Carville really raised my hackles with his comments to Vox: Wokeness is our problem. Really?
Even though eventually the pundit makes a valid point about messaging, most of it sounds like more Morning Joe “latte shaming” or Bill Maher mockery of WWW “woke white women” or #WSJW’s (White Social Justice Warriors) as we’ve been labeled on Twitter. Sure, mock us, but when “woke” women marched in the streets all around the world in January of 2017, we pledged to get Don the Con out of our WHITE House and we did.
It was the combined effort of white and “woke” women of color who fueled the #Resistance and worked tirelessly despite GOP’s “fascist four” creeps like #MoscowMitch McConnell, Fox f**k Tucker Carlson, Ron “Anon” Johnson (R-WI) or Cancún Cruz who sold out America to an autocratic wannabe like tRump… and STILL DO. (Add “#LeningradLindsey to the list.) But no, according to Carville women like me are the problem. We’re too woke.
THAT is why I’m still #grappling. I simply cannot get my mind around that mentality. If we had not kept these issues front and center for four long painful years, it’s more than likely that the #CapitolRiot would have worked. Trump might still be in power, journalists jailed, perceived antifa executed along with many more blacks gunned down in broad daylight.
As is, HUNDREDS of new voter suppression laws are being passed in red-state legislatures. If we don’t continue to rise up and speak out, America will be autocratic not democratic with greedy GOP goons running US into the ground.
THINK! It’s not woke white women who are the enemy, it’s apathy and greed. VIGILANCE truly is the price of Freedom.
ZiaLink Ink 