Wednesday, October 30, 2024 Hello, all. Today I have another companion post, to go hand-in-hand with another blog. I’m pleased to do a new collaboration with photographer, guitar-man, and cat-dad, Timothy Price. There are two old favorite songs of mine that seem particularly Halloweenie, despite the fact that they aren’t about the holiday. One is … More Halloween-ish Songs & Short Story
Wednesday, October 23, 2024 YouTube video above by Teagan Hello, everyone. Today I’m excited to see Author Lady extraordinaire, Marian Allen, chatting about my latest nonfiction book Real Steampunkery Tech: True Contraptions of the Steam and Diesel Eras. Here’s a link to Marian’s post. Please visit us there. Monday Recommends and Nail Art: Steam ♣ … More Whatnot Wednesday at Marian Allen’s with Real Stampunkery Tech
Wednesday, October 16, 2024 Hello, everyone. The Scoobies — Velma and Daphne, enjoyed their last visit with you so much that they wanted to come back. ♣ ♣ ♣ Velma: Are you sure it isn’t Halloween yet? Isn’t that a pumpkin over there? But the color’s sort of… wrong. Daphne: Jeepers, Velma. No, it isn’t Halloween. So … More Whatnot Wednesday with the Scoobies: Halloween Yet?
Saturday, October 12, 2024 Welcome back to my sanctuary, everyone. I need to relax. How about you? So this isn’t going to be much of a post. I’m only sharing a little about what was supposed to have been my August/September project. All the mess I mentioned on Wednesday threw everything off schedule. I’m struggling at mid-October … More A 1920s Moment & a Cover Reveal: A Peril in the Vines
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 Welcome, everyone. I’m concerned for the safety and wellbeing of everyone in the storm’s path. If that applies to any of you, I hope you’re safe. I’m grateful to be spared from that, but just the same, I’m feeling like a punching bag. I’m shocked to say this, because I have … More Whatnot Wednesday: When does it become ___?
Wednesday, October 2, 2024 Hello, everyone. As they used to say, things are tough all over. Everybody could use a little fun. So today we’re just going to have a silly visit with the Scoobies — Velma and Daphne. ♣ ♣ ♣ Daphne: Jeepers, Velma! What the catscratch is that supposed to be? Velma: I’m learning to … More Whatnot Wednesday with the Scoobies: October
Monday, September 30, 2024 Multi-talented author Robbie Cheadle did a wonderful post about the second book in my “Atonement, A Quirky Magical Town.” It is called Atonement in Bloom, and Robbie did paintings of one of the central characters. I hope you will use the link below to visit us at her post. Hugs! (Click … More Robbie Cheadle’s Painting-Review of My Novel, Atonement in Bloom
Wednesday, September 18, 2024 What? Wrong date? Ah… that’s because I’m stuck in a time-loop “hold” with Amazon Publishing. It’s really Tuesday, September 24. Welcome, everyone. Some of you know that the e-book of Real Steampunkery Tech: True Contraptions of the Steam and Diesel Eras published a week ago. Since everything else got frozen, the e-book … More Announcing new nonfiction — Real Steampunkery Tech!
Wednesday, September 18, 2024 Welcome, everyone. UPDATE Recently I began a post with a reminder that this blog is my sanctuary — a safe place for everyone, without judgement, religion, or politics. That seems to be beyond the grasp of some politically inclined people. I usually give those who misbehave the benefit of the … More Forgotten Women Inventors: Let’s have coffee
Thursday, September 12, 2024 Hello, everyone. Wouldn’t it be nice to open the door to something terrific — and free? Well, come on in, because that’s what we’re doing today. Here are two free offers from my author friends. One is an e-book and the other is an audio book. ♣ ♣ ♣ Sarah Mallery: … More #ThursdayDoors to Free Books: Sarah Mallery & Olga Núñez Miret
Sunday, September 8, 2024 IN COMING! WHINE ALLERT! It’s a new week, and I’m trying to find a note of positivity. Horsefeathers… I’m really trying. LOL. It was a rough week, and I’m still dealing with the emotional and physical aftereffects. My therapist of five years retired. I feel like somebody died. Although I’m happy … More Prompt: Beautiful but Destructive
Saturday, August 31, 2024 Welcome to my sanctuary. Pull up a chair. The sanctuary may be found in a diesel-punk train station with an outrageous flapper named Lulu. It might also be at a steampunk submarine port, with an alchemist named Cornelis. Or it might even be at a crossroads in a rural Mississippi town … More End of Summer Memories with Brother Love
Saturday, August 24, 2024 Welcome, everyone. I need to begin by reminding everyone that this blog is my sanctuary. I gladly welcome all of you to join me in this safe place. There are no discussions of anything political or religious, nor of any circumstances or things that have been politicized. I freely admit that … More What a combination: Forgotten Women Inventors
Saturday, August 17, 2024 If only houses could clean themselves… On Wednesday, I started doing a few history-related posts, in support of my next non-fiction volume in my Author Tool Chest collection, “Real Steampunkery Tech: True Contraptions of the Steam and Diesel Eras.” An inventor I stumbled upon while researching that book would have readily answered … More If houses could clean themselves
Wednesday, August 14, 2024 How do you feel about a few non-fiction, history-related posts? It’s not quite my usual brand of whimsy, but I promise they’ll be at least unexpected or unusual in some way. I’ve been working hard to finish up “Real Steampunkery Tech: True Contraptions of the Steam and Diesel Eras,” so my … More When Computers Were Women
Saturday, August 10, 2024 The late 14th century wasn’t exactly an era that was big on invention. It’s been called the dog days of the Renaissance. It was however, filled with wonderful art and poetry. Although let’s not forget the religious strife, or the veritable tide of warring kingdoms. It was also a time into … More Who was My Alchemist?
Wednesday, August 8, 2024 Hello, all. Before anyone starts to think that I’m prolific or anything (although I surely wish I were), this year I’ve redoubled my efforts to publish things that have been waiting in various stages of completion. Otherwise, they might all topple over onto my head. The next novel has been finished … More #Steampunk Double #CoverReveal
Saturday, July 27, 2024 Welcome, all. Today I’m sharing a hilarious misadventure with computer generated images, but I’ll save that for the end. First some blog business. I hope you enjoyed my Christmas in July blog hop/challenge. My last post for the event was on Thursday. However, I’ve left it open to bloggers who want … More Vintage Vignettes: Sprites
Thursday, July 25, 2024 Hello, everyone. I had been feeling as dark and hopeless as the bleak insides of an old coal mine. Certain that I wasn’t the only one who felt that way, I endeavored to add some fun and whimsy to life for as many people as I could — by hosting a … More #ThursdayDoors & Closing Christmas in July
Saturday, July 20, 2024 Welcome back to Christmas in July! I hope everyone has been having a wonderful week. If it wasn’t all sweetness, then this is the place to have some fun. I haven’t been able to squeeze up any energy today. I don’t have any zest. So, my Christmas in July offering this … More Lemony Christmas in July: Short Story
Saturday, July 13, 2024 Welcome back to Christmas in July! While not exactly sad, many “winter holiday” songs are serious. My question to you is this: “What’s your favorite fun or humorous Santa song?“ One of mine is “Santa Baby” as performed by Eartha Kitt. She was also my favorite Catwoman on the original Batman TV … More Christmas in July: Fun Songs
Wednesday, July 10, 2024 Welcome, everyone. It’s been a while since I did a writing process post, so let’s get cooking! (I couldn’t resist the pun.) Adding food to the story can help to bring a story to life in many ways. If a character has a favorite food, they’re more relatable. For instance, my … More Wednesday Writing: Food in Stories
Saturday, July 6, 2024 Welcome to Christmas in July! The challenge is already off to a splendid start. A special shout-out to Marian Allen for diving right in with a post-a-day! She got things going with a decoration and a recipe! Follow those links to her delightful blog. Roberta Cheadle told me yesterday that she … More Christmas in July Kickoff: Hullaba Christmas!
Saturday, June 29, 2024 I rarely mention my birthday, even to the closest friends. Mine is not today, but it does fall between now and when I would normally publish another blog post. It’s also a milestone birthday. Lord of the Rings fans will know that it’s a Hobbit birthday tradition to give gifts to … More A Birthday Thankyou — from Me
Sunday, June 23, 2024 All aboard! After one month, the “launch period” for my duology is over. It was one month ago when the book versions of The Delta Pearl finally got back on the river. However, the story is older than that. For one year in 2016 I wrote the original story. Then it … More Thank you, Dan — from the Delta Pearl
Saturday, June 22, 2024 Recently I mentioned hosting a Christmas in July blog hop in celebration of my friends in the Southern Hemisphere. What got me interested in a celebration that might seem obscure to most of you? Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries. Before I saw the “Murder Under the Mistletoe” episode, where Phryne and company … More Happy Summer & More on Christmas in July
Wednesday, June 19, 2024 All aboard! In honor of The Delta Pearl duology, this time we have airships. The title of book-2 is The Geostrophic Pearl. It will be hard to avoid giving spoilers to book-1 if I go into detail, but a steampunk airship comes into the story. Once again, this post does double … More Wednesday Writing & #ThursdayDoors: Airships
Sunday, June 16, 2024 Check-in Because of some comments I’ve made to a few people over the past week or two, that I had an extremely difficult task coming up (which was on Friday) I’ve made this unplanned post. I’m just checking in, on the outside chance that anyone was concerned. All’s well. More on … More Check-in and the Good the Bad & the Ugly
Thursday, June 13, 2024 Hello, everyone. Originally, I was going to name this post, If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. The trouble is, that it’s even hotter outside. As if I would cook anything when it’s 104°F… If you know me, then you also know that I wouldn’t be cooking … More #ThursdayDoors — Guess the Kitchen
Saturday, June 8, 2024 I realize that this won’t interest everyone here, but sometimes it’s necessary to post such things. All of a sudden, I decided to host a Christmas in July blog hop in celebration of my friends at the other end of the planet… and folks near and far who like Christmastime maybe just … More Summer Planning
Thursday, June 6, 2024 Welcome, all. It’s no big surprise that summertime temperatures in the high desert southwest are once again “higher than normal.” The lack of rain made me think of the quirky-looking water tower in my town. Then I had the idea, “What about a Thursday Doors post with water tower doors?” But … More #ThursdayDoors — Water Towers
Saturday, June 1, 2024 Welcome, all. There’s a lot colliding inside my head with this post, so please bear with me. However, all of it has to do with my Vintage Vignette for today, even though it might seem like I’m jumping around. Let’s begin with the beautiful door photo above. You see, this is … More Vintage Vignettes, #TDWC, & a Hullaba #BookReview
Wednesday, May 29, 2024 Hello, everyone. I’ve noticed that lighthouses don’t tend to evoke neutral thoughts in people. It seems we either think of hope or terrible despair. So, I decided to include both emotions in my story. The “inspiration door” for my TDWC story this week is by fellow author, Noelle Granger. This vignette … More Whatnot Wednesday & #ThursdayDoors TDWC: I Awoke
Saturday, May 25, 2024 All aboard! My steampunk duology, “The Delta Pearl,” is now at the dock. Mystery and adventure await you. ♣ ♣ ♣ This post is more than an announcement for my steampunk duology. It’s also my weekend Vintage Vignette. Steampunk as a book genre has settings, ascetics, and a level of technology that is … More Announcing The Delta Pearl duology
Post updated to include series note at the end. Thursday, May 23, 2024 All aboard! Open the door to a voyage into opulence, adventure, and whimsy. My steampunk duology, The Delta Pearl, is now at the dock. Mystery and adventure await you. Also the books are at the minimum introductory price through this holiday weekend … More All Aboard! The Delta Pearl is here! #ThursdayDoors
Wednesday, May 15, 2024 Hello, all. Today I have a triple-duty post. This is about the Thursday Doors Writing Challenge (TDWC), drawing, a short story, and whatnot! The door images that were provided for the TDWC truly are inspiration for all sorts of creativity. Resa McConaghy‘s fabulous door above sent my imagination down a whimsical … More Whatnot Wednesday & #ThursdayDoors, #TDWC: The Rabbit Hole
Saturday, May 11, 2024 Hello, everyone. Considering my initial intention for this story was a single-post short story, I’ll say we’ve finally reached the concluding installment. All of the plot elements that are rounded up here have already been mentioned during the first two episodes. In part 3, I introduced the Hota character. The part … More Path of Lilies Conclusion
Saturday, May 4, 2024 Hello! I’m back from the horror universe of T-Mobile Internet equipment failure. I won’t torture you with the sordid details. The timing of this post and vignette was pure serendipity. I only just now connected the date with the subject of the video. So let’s get one thing out of the … More Vintage Vignettes: Path of Lilies part-3
Wednesday, April 17, 2024 Welcome to another double-duty post. This is about lawn work, classic rock and roll, and of course, whatnot! Let’s be honest. My yard, front or back, looks awful. Today I thought maybe I could just imagine seeing something fun out there. So let’s set the tone with some music from Credence … More Whatnot Wednesday & #ThursdayDoors — Looking Out My Back Door
Saturday, April 13, 2024 Welcome, everyone. We’re still on “The Path of Lilies.” I hoped to finish this story in two installments. However, since I don’t want to make the episodes long, it’s going to take three. Thanks to Chris Graham for the stunning image of Compass looking out the window of the puddle-jumper craft. … More Vintage Vignettes: Path of Lilies part-2
Thursday, April 11, 2024 Welcome, everyone. Some of you will recognize the person above. She is beloved by many small children. Others will know the lady who is right behind her, who is loved by countless readers in the blog-verse. ♣ ♣ ♣ Who’s at the door? Please welcome, mind-cultivator, teacher, and inspiration, Jennie Fitzkee. Jennie comes … More Who’s at the Door? (5) #ThursdayDoors
Saturday, April 6, 2024 Welcome, everyone. Finally, I have a new story to share. It’s science fiction. The video above added my vintage element. Now, you might ask what could the film Lilies of the Field have to do with a science fiction story? Read on — I tied it together. The nuns inspired an … More Vintage Vignettes: Path of Lilies part-1
Wednesday, April 3, 2024 Welcome, everyone. To write these Whatnot Wednesday posts, I let my mind meander down a path of diverse but related subjects. The Scoobies are indoor cats, so I decided to give them a plant. That’s when they took over this post. Velma didn’t give a mouse’s butt, but Daphne went cray-cray … More Whatnot Wednesday: Cat Seeds
Saturday, March 30, 2024 Above, two chuckaboos? Or perhaps something more? Welcome, my chuckaboos! The vintage of choice today is Victorian. Some of you will remember from my posts (years ago) that “chuckaboo” was slang in that era for a dear friend. Those with great recall will notice that I posted this two years ago. … More Vintage Vignettes — The Letter A. #VictorianSlang
Wednesday, March 27, 2024 Welcome, all. Vehicle doors are certainly “doors.” My guest today chose Land Rover doors. When my angel-bots from Hullaba Lulu heard, they insisted on coming along for the ride. ♣ ♣ ♣ Who’s at the door? Some of my readers are familiar with my guest through his mom, with whom he has collaborated … More Wednesday Writing & Who’s at the #ThursdayDoor? (4) A Doors Safari
Saturday, March 23, 2024 Welcome, back to my “Vintage Vignettes.” How is this new season starting out for you? I want mine to be a commitment to putting full focus on one of my unfinished writing projects. There are far too many from which I could choose… I never intended these posts to be about … More Vintage Vignettes: Meet Harley
Wednesday, March 20, 2024 Hello, everyone. Happy spring. To celebrate the new season, I have a handful of “whatnots.” They range from sublime to silly. We all need a big dose of happy. Have fun. Music This swaying, sultry, sublime song of spring in the video below is Ella Fitzgerald and Some Other Spring. I … More Whatnot Wednesday: Spring
Saturday, March 16, 2024 Happy Saint Patrick’s Day Hi, everyone. Yes, I’m a day early, so I’ll say happy St. Patrick’s Weekend. I’m back with Vintage Vignettes. This one really is a vignette, as opposed to a short story. Last summer I was preparing to write a novella for Halloween. I wanted it to be … More Vintage Vignettes: Lost Treasure
Thursday, March 14, 2024 Welcome, everyone. Who’s at the Door today? Throughout my blogging career, I’ve been lucky to know people who are generous, talented, and generally wonderful. Several of my blog friendships go all the way back to the first novel I published, Atonement, Tennessee. One of those people is at the door now. ♣ ♣ ♣ … More Who’s at the #ThursdayDoor? (3)
Saturday, March 9, 2024 WKRP’s Doctor Johnny Fever and the Red Wigglers commercial Welcome, everyone. I’ve been pondering what to do for my weekend posts, and nothing seemed right. Suddenly an idea popped into my mind for “Vintage Vignettes.” That gives me a broad range of topics. It might be a fictional vignette, a memory, … More Vintage Vignettes: the Red Wriggler
Monday, February 12, 2024 Hello, everyone. First, something good. Today is the first anniversary of the day Velma and Daphne arrived. I wanted to use names of a fictional detective duo. During the night before they came, my mind had briefly flitted across the names on which I eventually settled. However, if Chris The Story Reading … More Things change — and usually not for the better. Announcement
Saturday, February 10, 2024 Welcome back to the strange town, Atonement, Tennessee. Today’s soundtrack is Strange Magic, by ELO. The song was suggested by Dan Antion, who also offered up one of his favorite photos. Midweek, Dan’s photo inspired me to do a post offering a writing exercise/challenge. You’re still welcome to come out and play … More Weekend Serial — Atonement: Bad Bishop, Episode- 7: Strange Magic
Saturday, February 3, 2024 Welcome everyone. Today’s soundtrack tune was offered by Liz Gauffreau. It’s our second song by “Cream” — Strange Brew. Be sure to click over and check out Liz’s blog. Previously With the sun to one side, I shielded my eyes, squinting into the distance. As the black mist reached the ground … More Weekend Serial — Atonement Bad Bishop, Episode 6: Strange Brew, featuring Liz Gauffreau
Thursday, February 1, 2024 Welcome, everyone. This year, I had the idea to do an occasional blogger feature, called Who’s at the Door? Today we have the second installment. The kitty above is not one of my “Scoobies.” No, that’s Leo, who belongs to our featured blogger. Readers of my Atonement: Bad Bishop serial will … More Who’s at the Door? (2) #ThursdayDoors
Saturday, January 27, 2024 Welcome everyone. Horsefeathers! How can it be that January has gone by so fast? Yesterday (as I write this on Friday) I emailed several people for ideas for another soundtrack song. Thanks to everyone for the great song ideas. I’ll be choosing one of those for next weekend’s episode. However, right … More Weekend Serial — Atonement Bad Bishop, Episode 5: Riders on the Storm
Wednesday, January 17, 2023 Welcome, everyone. I hope your week is going well. Maybe it’s just that it’s early in the year, but I was feeling a little reflective. If I had never written my first published novel, Atonement, Tennessee then I would have never started this blog. I wouldn’t have written any of the … More Wednesday Writing: A Snippet from the first appearance of the Atonement Pigs
Saturday, January 13, 2024 Welcome back to the strange town, Atonement, Tennessee. Today’s soundtrack is Tales of Brave Ulysses, by Cream. It made me think of Donny Metatron and his predicament with the sirens. However, the otherworldly pigs took over it — at least for this episode. The song was suggested by photographer and cat-dad (and … More Weekend Serial — Atonement: Bad Bishop, Episode-4, Tortured Ears, Featuring Tim Price
Wednesday, January 10, 2024 Welcome, everyone. As you probably know, I typically only do two posts per week. When it fits, I sometimes combine my Wednesday Writing topic with Thursday Doors. This year, I had the idea to do an occasional blogger feature, called Who’s at the Door? Moments later, a generous blogger had emailed … More Wednesday Writing & Who’s at the #ThursdayDoor? (1)
Saturday, January 6, 2024 First, a big thank you to Dan Antion for making a post of the writing exercise I did on Wednesday — and giving my books a double shout-out, with Speak Falpper and Hullabal Lulu, a Diesel-Punk Adventure. Don’t miss Dan’s post. Since Daphne was being such a character (if not a … More Weekend Serial, Characters
Saturday, December 30, 2023 This is my last post of 2023. Before I do anything else, let me wish each of you a sparkling New Year. Honeybell, Moccus, and Deme are having a party to celebrate. Today’s soundtrack is White Rabbit by Grace Wing Slick and Jefferson Airplane. It fit Pepper Riley’s disoriented state, now … More Weekend Serial — Atonement: Bad Bishop, Episode-3, Logic and Proportion, Featuring Roberta Cheadle
Saturday, December 23, 2023 It’s wonderful to see you in Atonement, TN and reading this serial. Whether you love the holidays and are happy that it’s only a couple of days before Christmas — or if you’re glad it’s finally almost over, I hope you’re having a wonderful holiday season, with joy to in your world. … More Weekend Serial — Atonement: Bad Bishop, Episode-2, Both Sides Now, Featuring Geoff Le Pard
Wednesday, December 20, 2023 Welcome, all and happy hump day. It’s been a while since I did a “writing” post. I hope you’re in the mood for a ramble. Did you ever have to find your way to a rural or remote place? I mean the kind of destination where you have about 30 turns … More Wednesday Writing — the Unlikely Path to a Character: Enoch Metatron
Saturday, December x, 2023 Welcome back to the Atonement, Bad Bishop serial. I’m glad you’re here. Like they say, great minds think alike. This time, the random reader things, which drive this episode were from the “soundtrack” offerings. Two of you suggested the same song — I’ve Seen All Good People, by the group Yes … More Weekend Serial — Atonement: Bad Bishop, Episode-1, All Good People, Featuring Dan Antion & Kerfe
Saturday, December 9, 2023 Welcome back to Atonement, TN. It’s good to see you. This time, the random reader things, which drive this episode were from the “soundtrack” suggestions. Resa McConaghy suggested Hotel California. It seems like if a song fits my mood, the ability to write arrives soon after the tune gets embedded in … More Weekend Serial — Atonement: Bad Bishop, Prologue 2, Featuring Resa McConaghy
Thursday, December 7, 2023 Yes, there’s a door on the amphicar above, but the idea is so fun it’s hard to think about the door. Wouldn’t you just jump right into the seat, forgetting the door? Hop aboard and take a little tour of some boat houses with me. Take me back to my boat, … More #ThursdayDoors: Boathouses
Saturday, December 2, 2023 Book-2 Begins Now Welcome everyone, and welcome December. Wow…how did it get here so fast. Wasn’t it just March? Just an eye-blink ago wasn’t it September, when I finished Book-1 of the Atonement serial. Believe it or not, I’ve been thinking about the serial all this time. I keep changing my … More Atonement: Bad Bishop, Prologue-1 Adelle’s Diary
Friday, December 1, 2023 First let me apologize for a week’s worth of unanswered comments. Horsefeathers! Comments are the whole reason why I blog in the first place. The latest “improvements” to WordPress apparently prevent me being notified of your comments — so I didn’t think anybody was commenting. I was very discouraged… And then, … More #ThursdayDoors on a Friday: Windmills
Saturday, November 25, 2023 Update: I need to share two responses to my creativity challenge. Both fellow authors did journal entries for their characters. Robbie Cheadle used a character from a novel in progress. Dan Antion worked a bit about the journal of one of his bartender characters into his post today. Hello, everyone. I realize … More Daphne-cat’s Dance
Wednesday, November 22, 2023 Hello, everyone. Let me begin with gratitude to fellow authors John W. Howell (a diary entry from Lucifer!) and Geoff Le Pard (a journal worthy of P. G. Wodehouse) for their responses to my Creativity Challenge. Those of you in the USA are most likely getting ready for the Thanksgiving holiday. … More Happy Thanksgiving & #1920s Recipe
Saturday, November 18, 2023 Hello, everyone. Before I get to the point, we do have a response to the creativity challenge. It’s from fellow author Geoff Le Pard. Don’t miss his is hysterically Ruthless response. Be sure to check it out. Anyway, you aren’t mistaken — I was late publishing this post. I’ve been banging my head … More Atonement, TN Soundtrack
Update: Saturday, November 19th. I don’t have a post for today, but we do have a response to the creativity challenge. It’s from fellow author Geoff Le Pard. Don’t miss his is hysterically Ruthless response. Wednesday, November 15, 2023 Hello, everyone. Where I am, I didn’t see, hear, or smell anything that seemed remotely like … More UPDATED, Creativity #Challenge, & #1920s Recipe
Saturday, November 11, 2023 Welcome to my sanctuary, everyone. In honor of Veterans Day in the USA, let me begin with a simple… Thank you for your service. I’ve barely made a start on Part-2 of Atonement in Zugzwang, but I am working on it. I admit that I have a terrible time keeping myself … More Atonement Serial, before part 2 begins
Wednesday, November 8, 2023 Welcome, all and happy hump day. As I persisted in futile attempts to get my head back into the universe of Atonement, TN, I decided to do another “Artifacts” post. Update: this actually did help. Last evening I sketched out the opening scenes for part-2 of the new serial. I hope to … More Wednesday Writing — Atonement TN: Artifact Notes, the Barber Pole
Saturday, November 4, 2023 Welcome, all you sheiks and Shebas. Through the magic of the blog-verse, I’m in two places at once this weekend. I’m here sharing a couple of Roaring Twenties recipes with you — and I’m at Dan Antion‘s virtual bar answering his questions about my new novella, A Peril in the Bayou. … More A Visit at Dan’s Virtual Bar — Join Us
Saturday, October 28, 2023 Welcome to my sanctuary, everyone. You’d think I would be refreshed after such a long blog break. Instead, I wrote a novella (A Peril in the Bayou). Writing a short novel during that long break was actually arduous, and it didn’t lead to a replenishment of energy. However, to keep the … More Atonement Serial Research
Wednesday, October 25, 2023 Welcome back, everyone. Unless I’m mistaken, this is the last recap of responses to my Halloween Creativity Challenge. His persistence paid off and G.P. Cox wrote a fun poem using the prompts for his first and last initials. I really got a kick out of it. Since he put it … More Halloween Creativity Challenge Responses: Dan Antion, GP Cox, and Teagan
Wednesday, October 17, 2023 Happy hump day, everyone. I’m excited to say that there are more responses to my Halloween Creativity Challenge. Author and man with a wonderfully, hysterically unique sense of humor, Geoff Le Pard, of the TanGental blog, posted a fantastic short story called “The Hole in the Wall.” Don’t miss it … More Halloween Creativity Challenge Responses: Geoff Le Pard, Robbie Cheadle
Saturday, October 14, 2023 Welcome to my sanctuary, everyone. This is a safe place where you are safe from hobgoblins and any leftover curses from Friday the 13th. (Although, personally I chose to see 13 as a lucky number.) Today I have more responses to the Halloween creativity challenge I last weekend. The above … More Halloween Creativity Challenge Responses: John Howell, D.L. Finn, Chris Graham
Wednesday, October 11, 2023 Hello, everyone. Today I’m sharing some responses to the Halloween creativity challenge I posted this past weekend. The cobwebs in Kerfe’s photo remind me of a wizard’s cape, so her post sort of gave me a double response. Kerfe wrote a wonderful poem including three Halloween things for the letter K. … More Halloween Creativity Challenge Responses: Kerfe, Resa, and Teagan
Saturday, October 7, 2023 Hello, everyone. Could you come out to play? I didn’t intend to do a post today. Then I was suddenly inspired to make this game/challenge. As an October treat, I’m giving you a game – or creativity challenge. Often the hardest part of writing is the lack of boundaries. So, I’ve … More Halloween Game/Creativity Challenge
Thursday, October 5, 2023 Hi, everyone. As you know, I’ve been kinda-sorta taking a blog break. I wanted to finish at least a couple of writing and/or editing projects. Then, as usual… I got sidetracked by new inspiration, and suddenly wanted to write a story in time for Halloween. Then the story became a novella… … More Announcing, A Peril in the Bayou! #NewBook #1920s #LightHorror
Wednesday, September 13, 2023 Hello, everyone. I’m easing away from my so-called break, although I’m not fully back in the blog-verse yet. Anyhow I didn’t want you to go away, so I’m rerunning this short story from 2018. I’m also participating in Thursday Doors, hosted by Dan Antion. by showing you VW Beetle doors. When … More Wednesday Writing & #ThursdayDoors — Blossoms & Bears, a short story of Atonement, TN
Saturday, September 9, 2023 Welcome, everyone. I hope your September is going well. I’m still on a blog “break.” That word is kind of hard to say considering that I’ve been staying up past 1AM several nights, working on books and related tasks. However, to tide you over until I come back to do the … More Atonement in Zugzwang, Book 1 — Now available
Saturday, September 2, 2023 Hello, everyone. Thanks for visiting my sanctuary. My break from blogging isn’t precisely over yet. As Olga Núñez Miret once told me, sometimes doing something different is as good as a break. That’s what I’ve been doing. But first a boo-hiss to WordPress for continuing to crop large swaths off my … More Atonement in Zugzwang Part 2: Call for Things
Monday, August 21, 2023 Those of us who have been in the blog-verse for several years (or more) talk about the dreaded “summertime slump.” It happens every year. This year is no exception. I realize that summer is almost over… However, many of us experienced a big decrease in followers, views, and comments throughout the … More Before “part 2” of Atonement in Zugzwang, a break
Saturday, August 19, 2023 Welcome back to Atonement, TN. It’s good to see you. Today I’m welcoming fellow author/blogger Marian Allen back to the blog-verse. Marian hasn’t been able to post much this year because she fell and broke both wrists. Back in DC, I had a severe break to my right wrist (that of … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 23, Featuring Marian Allen
Saturday, August 12, 2023 Welcome back, everyone. I’m happy that you’re following this urban fantasy serial. To drive this episode, I used John W. Howell‘s “finger point prompt.” Here’s how John uses this prompt, “The idea is to open a book randomly and, without looking, point to the page. The word or words closest to the … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 22, Featuring Teri Polen
Wednesday, August 10, 2023 Welcome, all. Thanks for opening this door to “Atonement, TN” in the middle of the week. If you opened the door to Annie’s Antiques and Consignment Shop, you’d hear the old-fashioned tinkle of a little bell attached to the door. It wouldn’t be unusual for you to smell home-baked cookies. Often … More Wednesday Writing — Atonement TN: Artifact Notes, the Mirror of Truth
Saturday, August 5, 2023 Welcome to my sanctuary, everyone. Thanks for following this wild, urban fantasy serial. When I asked Pat at e-Quips blog for the random reader things for this episode I asked her to think about things that might be at or near a lake. Pat gave us boat house, hammock, and oar(s). … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 21
Wednesday, August 2, 2023 Coming Soon to a Steampunk Port Near You! Hello, everyone. I’ve been hinting around now and then, that I’m working on an editing and illustration project. I reached a good milestone with that over the weekend, so now I’m talking, not just hinting. Back in 2016 I wrote the original version … More Cover Reveal: The Delta Pearl, Book-1 — Coming Soon!
Wednesday, July 26, 2023 When you open a door anywhere in Atonement, TN, you’re bound to find friends. I’ve done a lot of long-running blog serial stories (at least eight, but I always overlook a couple when I try to think of them all). At some point during any of them, I do a post … More Wednesday Writing & #ThursdayDoors to Atonement in Zugzwang — The Good Guys.
Saturday, July 22, 2023 Hello, everyone. This is a rather long episode, although it’s still under 2,500 words. I didn’t want to split it, because we’re going to be hanging on the cliff about Donny Metatron for long enough as it is. So, there’s not much preamble today. Fellow blogger, Fraggle. posted a photo that inspired me, … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 19, Featuring Fraggle
Wednesday, July 19, 2023 Hello everyone. It’s good to see you. My post is doing double duty today, for Wednesday Writing and Thursday Doors. I wrote the story below several years ago as a teaser for book-2 of my Atonement, Tennessee series, Atonement in Bloom. In this story I bring up the grandfather of mysterious … More Adelle’s Teapot, a short story of Atonement, TN — Wednesday Writing & #ThursdayDoors
Saturday, July 15, 2023 Welcome back to my sanctuary in the town infested with “supernaturals,” that I call Atonement, TN. Before we get to the story, I need to apologize because I haven’t been around the blog-verse as much as I would like. As you know I’ve had Internet problems ever since I moved into … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 18, Featuring Dan Antion
Saturday, July 8, 2023 Thanks for coming back to Atonement, TN. As you know, I first wrote the Atonement “universe” back in 2012, and there are two novels and one collection of snort stories. This serial uses several of the minor characters from the books, and a new heroine. I’ve avoided using the main characters … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 17, Featuring Anita & Jaye Marie
Saturday, July 1, 2023 Welcome back to the strange little town of Atonement, TN. I’m very happy to see you. If you’re in the USA, you might be doing some preliminary celebrating for Independence Day, so I appreciate it even more that you’re spending part of your weekend here. This is a week when my … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 16, Featuring Kamal Roohani
Saturday, June 24, 2023 Thanks for coming back to Atonement, TN. My featured guest today has been a blog-friend all the way back to the creation of my Atonement series. She even did the Spanish translation of Atonement, Tennessee. (The Spanish version is called Expiación y Magia.) Of course, I’m talking about Olga Núñez Miret. … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 15, Featuring Olga Núñez Miret
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