Weekend Serial — Atonement: Bad Bishop, Episode- 7: Strange Magic

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

Weekend Serial — Atonement Bad Bishop, Episode 6: Strange Brew, featuring Liz Gauffreau

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

Weekend Serial — Atonement Bad Bishop, Episode 5: Riders on the Storm

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

Weekend Serial — Atonement: Bad Bishop, Episode-4, Tortured Ears, Featuring Tim Price

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

Weekend Serial — Atonement: Bad Bishop, Episode-3, Logic and Proportion, Featuring Roberta Cheadle

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

Weekend Serial — Atonement: Bad Bishop, Episode-2, Both Sides Now, Featuring Geoff Le Pard

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

Weekend Serial — Atonement: Bad Bishop, Episode-1, All Good People, Featuring Dan Antion & Kerfe

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

Weekend Serial — Atonement: Bad Bishop, Prologue 2, Featuring Resa McConaghy

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

Atonement: Bad Bishop, Prologue-1 Adelle’s Diary

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

Daphne-cat’s Dance

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

Atonement, TN Soundtrack

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

Atonement in Zugzwang Part 2: Call for Things

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

Before “part 2” of Atonement in Zugzwang, a break

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

Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 23, Featuring Marian Allen

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

Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 22, Featuring Teri Polen

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

Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 21

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 Writing & #ThursdayDoors to Atonement in Zugzwang — The Good Guys.

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.

Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 19, Featuring Fraggle

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

Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 18, Featuring Dan Antion

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

Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 17, Featuring Anita & Jaye Marie

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

Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 16, Featuring Kamal Roohani

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

Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 15, Featuring Olga Núñez Miret

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

Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 14 — & Recipe from Robbie Cheadle

Saturday, June 17, 2023 Welcome back to Atonement, TN.  Last week I hosted a Roaring Twenties blog party, featuring S. R. Mallery.  With all those links to so many other people, it was a big undertaking for me.  As a result, I had little time for this serial, or for arranging to feature someone. Roberta Eaton … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 14 — & Recipe from Robbie Cheadle

Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 13 part 2, Featuring John W. Howell

Saturday, June 2, 2023 Welcome back to our weekend sanctuary in the weirdly magical town of Atonement, Tennessee.  The residents of this town are just like everyone else— Well, that’s way off.  Some of them are like everyone else, but others…  Anyhow, now and then, they all enjoy watching a game or going to the … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 13 part 2, Featuring John W. Howell

Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 12 — Featuring Rebecca Budd

Saturday, May 27, 2023 Welcome back to Atonement, TN.   Today we are joined by Rebecca Budd, who has been a wonderful source of encouragement. On Wednesday I shared a link to a podcast we did together.  I was honored to be interviewed. She has quite a number of blogs including Tea, Toast & Trivia, and … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 12 — Featuring Rebecca Budd

Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 11 part-2 — Featuring Jennie Fitzkee & Dan the Tool Man

Saturday, May 20, 2023 Hello, all.  Thanks for coming back for part 2 of Episode 11 of Atonement in Zugzwang.   As you’ll recall, Jennie Fitzkee from A Teacher’s Reflections provided this episode’s three things.  In part-1 the only thing I used was Nancy Drew book.  Today I’m using emerald, and grandfather clock.  Jennie recently had an in-person … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 11 part-2 — Featuring Jennie Fitzkee & Dan the Tool Man

Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 11 part-1 — Featuring Jennie Fitzkee

Saturday, May 13, 2023 Welcome back to my sanctuary in the very strange little town called Atonement.  It’s a relief to be here with all of you. I admit that my “stuff” has made coping with an unpleasant neighbor situation even more difficult. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to write (or anything else for that … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 11 part-1 — Featuring Jennie Fitzkee

Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 10, & Doors Writing Challenge & the Kitten is Named!

Saturday, May 6, 2023 Welcome back, everyone.  Three is certainly my number today.  As you know, this is one of my “three things” style pantser serials.  So of course, there are three random reader things driving the story. Beyond the three random reader things, I’ve tied this post to three other types of things.  First … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 10, & Doors Writing Challenge & the Kitten is Named!

Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 9, Featuring D.L. Finn

Saturday, April 29, 2023 Welcome back, everyone.  After doing various types of refresher posts during the past couple of weeks (here and at my midweek posts), I’m going to move straight into the new episode. Today the random reader things, which drive this episode are from fellow blogger and author, D.L. (Denise) Finn.  She already … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 9, Featuring D.L. Finn

Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: a Refresher

Saturday, April 22, 2023 Hello, everyone.  Welcome back to my very strange fictional town, Atonement, TN.  Pepper Riley, and the guardians of this small town that is full of (secretly) supernatural beings are about to be placed in “zugzwang.”  To over-simplify, zugzwang (German for “compulsion to move”) is a situation found in chess and other … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: a Refresher

Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 8, Featuring G. P. Cox

Saturday, April 15, 2023 Thanks for coming back to my sanctuary, everyone.   I put the chessboard (above) on a tropical shore.  It reminded me of the blog, Pacific Paratrooper.  Actually, the special guest this week is GP Cox, who runs that blog.  He provided this week’s random reader things:  Musket, pawn, and barber pole. One … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 8, Featuring G. P. Cox

Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 7, Featuring Teri Polen

Saturday, April 8, 2023 Hello, everyone.  The month of April has begun with odd weather again for many of us.  Not to mention the odd happenings under my kitchen sink.  I’ve had the plumber out for my badly leaking sink three times in as many weeks.  “Nothing is wrong” with the sink.  I guess that … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 7, Featuring Teri Polen

Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 6, Featuring Fraggle

Saturday, April 1, 2023 Hello, everyone.  Welcome back to my new, spontaneously written, reader-inspired serial, Atonement in Zugzwang.  If you missed the beginning of this serial, or if you need to refresh your memory about where it began, click here for Episode 1.  Each week I feature the person who provided random reader things that … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 6, Featuring Fraggle

Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 5, Featuring John W. Howell

Saturday, March 25, 2023 Hello, everyone.  Welcome back to our weekend sanctuary.  It’s in the weirdly magical town of Atonement, Tennessee.  Today’s random reader things are from a blogger-author I’ve been privileged to collaborate with several times.  That goes all the way back to Pip’s adventures, set in the 1920s, which were my first blog … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 5, Featuring John W. Howell

Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang Episode-4, featuring Robbie Cheadle!

Saturday, March 18, 2023 Welcome back to Atonement, TN, everyone.   If you saw my post yesterday, then you know that this new installment of Atonement in Zugzwang was driven by a recipe (from which I chose 3 things) created just for this post by the amazing Robbie Cheadle.  Here’s a link to the post where you … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang Episode-4, featuring Robbie Cheadle!

Prelude to Episode 4 — A Special Recipe from Robbie Cheadle!

Friday, March 17, 2023 Hello, everyone and happy Saint Patrick’s Day.  I put a lot of thought into how to handle the next episode of Atonement in Zugzwang.  You see, I asked Robbie Cheadle for a recipe to use to drive the next installment.  I randomly chose the “three things” that drive that episode from … More Prelude to Episode 4 — A Special Recipe from Robbie Cheadle!

Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 3, Featuring Dan Antion

Saturday, March 11, 2023 Welcome to my sanctuary, everyone.  After another rough week, I hope you are ready to enter this safe place and relax. The random reader things, which drive this episode are from fellow blogger and new author, Dan Antion.  Last year he gradually released three books of a series.  And a little bird … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 3, Featuring Dan Antion

Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 2, Featuring Resa McConaghy

Saturday, March 4, 2023 Hello, everyone.  Welcome back to my new, spontaneously written, reader-inspired serial, Atonement in Zugzwang.  If you missed it, or if you need to refresh your memory, click here for Episode 1.  Many of you know Resa McConaghy for the mural photos, Art Gown sketches, and the gowns she actually makes.  Did … More Weekend Serial — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 2, Featuring Resa McConaghy

New 3-Things Serial! — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 1, Featuring Chris Graham

Saturday, February 25, 2023 Hello, everyone. I’m finally ready to take the plunge into an all new, three things style serial.  You may have noticed that strange word in the title. To over-simplify, zugzwang (German for “compulsion to move”) is a situation found in chess and other turn-based games when a player is forced to … More New 3-Things Serial! — Atonement in Zugzwang: Episode 1, Featuring Chris Graham

Get Caught Reading — The Sign of the Ape 2 (2016 Rerun)

#GetCaughtReadingMonth Hello everyone.  As you may have noticed I’m rerunning last year’s mini-series.  It’s about the escapades of our intrepid band of bloggers and their pets.  That was how I participated in Get Caught Reading Month.  After May I’ll get back to my usual posting schedule. This when I’m not working at my “real” job, … More Get Caught Reading — The Sign of the Ape 2 (2016 Rerun)