Each year around this time I pick up my copy of The Winter Solstice: The Sacred Traditions of Christmas, by John Matthews (with contributions from Caitlin Matthews). (more…)

A recent writing challenge from Vikk Simmons at Down the Writer’s Path reminded me of this DVD, which I’ve watched about a dozen times. It contains a memorable scene depicting the creation of a first draft, the subject of Vikk’s post.

Sean Connery plays William Forrester, the reclusive author of a single, renowned literary novel, who’s been holed up in his family’s Bronx apartment for years. He never goes out, and is known only by an alias to the superficial young man who delivers his groceries. (more…)

Today we have rain in a slow, steady drizzle. The sky is steel gray, the trees wet and shining, and the blue jay acts nervous about a small hawk or kestrel hanging out nearby. Our heater is on and the cat has camped out in front of it. This is the time of year I contemplate what calendars to purchase for the new year.

Last time around we waited until January, and in desperation picked up a free calendar at our local feed store. (more…)

I first learned to knit from my mother, as a little girl, but I didn’t get it back then. There was too much counting and keeping track of stitches and rows. I dropped stitches and wondered where they’d gone, and accidentally added stitches when I didn’t want to. My mother only knew how to knit and purl, and not much more. I soon lost interest. (more…)

I’m just popping in to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving, since I’ll be away from this blog until after the holiday. I consider Thanksgiving the most important holiday I celebrate. It’s one that anyone of any background can enjoy, and a chance to simply appreciate and share the many blessings we’ve been given. My husband and I will spend it this year with my dad and my sister, whom I don’t see nearly as often as I should. This year my brother-in-law is roasting the bird.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING and many BLESSINGS to you and yours

(more…)

It’s been a while since I’ve posted here. I’ve been writing more on my novel this past week. Then today dawned stormy, starting out with thunder, wind and rain, a good day for putting on a sweater and gloves to sit on the front porch and think.

I’m contemplating the pros and cons of writers’ critique groups. (more…)

If you’re in the mood for a little fiction, you may want to check out the new Short Stories page on my website. (more…)

I don’t usually do memes, but this one, found at Live Journal, seems appropriate to start off this week. Everyone everywhere is still talking politics. Perhaps it’s time for a break?

If so . . .
1. Stop talking about politics for a moment or two.
2. Post a reasonably-sized picture of something pleasant, that has nothing to do with politics.
3. Include these instructions, and share the love.

This is a photo taken at sunset from my front walkway, September 6, 2004. (Click to view larger.) I’ve been meaning to share it, and this meme is the perfect excuse.

It begs the question, How high is the sky?

How much trouble can an American schoolteacher get into while on sabbatical in the Lake District of England? When the schoolteacher in question is Grace Hollister, and when ex-jewel thief Peter Fox is involved, the result may be disaster.

Verse of the Vampyre opens with Grace Hollister hiding in a graveyard, late at night, waiting for—well, spying on—Peter Fox, who’s to meet with a mysterious woman. (more…)

It’s a writing day for me. The coffee is brewing, and my mind is busy working out scenes, turning over words, trying out new ideas and word combinations. I think about why I write. Why is it I feel so driven to share my words?

Words are a human phenomenon. They’ve exploded with our population into every part of this planet, even into space. Each of us has so many words they spill over into others’ lives, more today than ever. We may not write letters the way people used to, but we remain an utterly wordy species. Email, blogs, cell phones, text messaging, personal websites, 40,000 people a year participating in National Novel Writing Month. Books, films, songs, news, television, junk mail—all of these incorporate the written or spoken word.

This reminds me of the singing of birds. One bird sings a sweet song, but a hundred birds singing in one tree sound like pure insanity. It can be overwhelming. We live in an age of information overload, and much of it comes to us in the form of words. Why are we so driven to keep adding more? (more…)