Today, as I and most of the world wait on tenterhooks for the outcome of the 2024 US presidential election, I read a news article about the Voyager 1 spacecraft probe, launched back in September 1977. It explained how NASA is instructing it to turn off and on various components to attempt to extend its […]
Pale Blue Dot…a nonpartisan view on Election Day Read More »
As I face my computer screen to write this month’s Blog post, my mind and heart are filled with the heartbreaking images of so many who have been affected by the recent Hurricane Helene and its path of destruction from Florida through my home state of North Carolina and up into Virginia. Our beloved mountain
Hope…is a tattered flag and the thing with feathers Read More »
Oh, Happy Day! We have sweltered through a miserably hot, muggy, buggy summer here in northeastern North Carolina, but a shining light beams forth on the calendar as brightly as the Harvest Moon: “Fall Begins, September 22!” Although there will be plenty of sweaty days ahead, at least the calendar gives one hope. And, so,
And So It Begins…all things pumpkiny! Read More »
Recently, I’ve been asked why I write books for the middle-grade readership, those roughly between the ages of 9-12. My reply is that this age group, spanning the bridge between childhood and young adulthood, represents the betwixt and between phases of life that we all inhabit throughout our lives. We so often find ourselves in
Betwixt and Between…a different kind of B&B Read More »
Please pardon me while I climb up on my soapbox for a moment and speak of something close to my heart: There are those who eschew efforts by humans to lower our impact on climate change by stating that the earth has always gone through major climatic changes, well before the Industrial Age. They point
Cooling the Fever…of Planet Earth Read More »
In my part of the world, June hails the re-blossoming of the Crape Myrtle tree—that arboreal Queen of Summer with the one-hundred-day reign of blooming beauty. Frothy bouquets in a variety of shades of white, pink, purple, and red decorate the branches of these graceful trees. As in many southern towns in the United States,
Long Live the Queen…of summer Read More »
I’ve been asked, recently, to capsulize my writing journey into a short blurb. As is often the case, I begin with the long version, then whittle it down to something more succinct. So…here’s the long story! When it comes to published work, I’m a late bloomer. Although I’ve enjoyed creating stories since I was a
My Circuitous Journey…as a writer Read More »
(April Iris, Author’s Back Garden) As a writer, I find it useful to explore all types of literary
Say It With Seventeen…haiku inspiration Read More »
After receiving all of our Covid vaccinations and boosters, and after dodging the bullet for four years, my husband and I both finally succumbed to that insidious virus, this past week. I can only guess how ill we would have been had we not been fully vaccinated.The good and the bad of us falling ill
In Sickness and in health…a covid challenge Read More »
Although we feel love throughout the year, it’s the month of February that officially celebrates it, crowned mid-month on Valentine’s Day. For me, a celebration of love includes all of its beautiful forms. In addition to Valentines for our romantic partners, I believe in presenting them to family and friends—including pets who prefer edible ones!
A Celebration of Love…in all its forms Read More »