Yasmine Galenorn's Blog

As we approached the portal, Grandmother Coyote was waiting for us. She gazed at us implacably and I swallowed, trying to wrap my mind around the fact that Morio's father had spent time living with her when he was a child.

She motioned to me and I stepped forward. Hell, what had I done now? The steel-tooth crone had a certain magnetism that made her alluring in a run-to-your-death kind of way. Her face was a topographical map, ridged with the ravines and valleys and mountains that time forged ...

View full post on Yasmine Galenorn's website »

Holidays are more difficult when you're gluten free. Dressing, pie crusts, holiday cookies—how do you enjoy the holiday traditions you loved as a child when you can no longer eat the same way?
Well, there are a tremendous amount of possibilities out there now, and if you check on my gluten free blog, you'll find all sorts of sites and recommended books and magazines to help you out. I'm going to give you some tips and things to be watchful for when eating out or choosing holiday treats. It...

View full post on Yasmine Galenorn's website »

Life is composed of milestones and markers that see us from one stage to another, and transformation is a natural part of our destiny. I have been in constant transformation throughout most of my life—it's part of who I am and I'm surprised when there isn't some sort of change taking place. I've reinvented myself through an abusive childhood, through an abusive nine-year hell I called a relationship, I've reinvented myself as a writer—moving from niche nonfiction to writing mysteries to...

View full post on Yasmine Galenorn's website »

When I first wrote this, it was the December after 9/11. Life seemed bleak, people--including myself--were terribly depressed. And though I wanted to celebrate, I felt guilty for trying to enjoy the holidays when so many were afraid and mourning.

And then, I had an epiphany. I realized that the more we feed into anger and fear, the more it grows in the world. And that we can mourn, even as we celebrate that which we have in our lives and that which we love.

Though it's been years now since...

View full post on Yasmine Galenorn's website »

My Top Ten Holiday Movies

I love holiday movies during the Yuletide season. No matter whether they're Christmas-oriented or secular, these movies make me smile and they speak to the joy that we can find with others. Demented as in pink bunny suits, or heartfelt as in four poverty-stricken sisters.
My top ten favorite movies, not necessarily in order:

1. A Christmas Story: Yes, I love this movie. From Darrin McGavin's swearing to the Red Ryder fantasy scenes to the demented pink bunny suit poor ...

View full post on Yasmine Galenorn's website »

Fresh snow kissing the ground, the smell of bayberry and cinnamon drifting through the kitchen, mistletoe peeking over your shoulder, gold and silver ornaments nestle in their boxes ready to bedeck the Yule tree, holly berries cluster amongst dark glossy leaves...it is December, Yule Eve, and we gather to rejoice as the Sun King is born again.

Yule is the celebration of Midwinter. The Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year when the Sun King is reborn to light the world and free it fr...

View full post on Yasmine Galenorn's website »

I thought I'd talk about a couple of my favorite holiday memories today. None of them were earthshaking, but they'll remain with me forever because they touched me so much, or made me smile in ways that warmed my heart forever.

To understand my reaction to the holidays, you have to understand that from the time I was 12 to the time I was 30 I didn't get to celebrate holidays. So between age 13 to 29, I had no real celebrations. Explaining why would take a blog in itself—but leave it to say my ...

View full post on Yasmine Galenorn's website »

Camille: What I remember most from my childhood is how our mother loved the holidays. She'd taken our customs, added her own, and created a truly beautiful blend for the Midwinter celebration. She would fill the house with holly and evergreens, and white poinsettias and red carnations and starberry flowers the color of gold. Each year Father brought in a tree and we'd decorate it with spikes of polished quartz and delicate porcelain ornaments that Mother had made, and we hung up baked...

View full post on Yasmine Galenorn's website »

Don't forget the Reader Chat in my forums tonight at 6:00 PM, Pacific time. We'll be discussing the special Bone Magic Excerpt I'll be posting, and the link will only be posted during chat and you'll have 24 hours to read the excerpt before it comes down. The other excerpts will be on this blog.

See you there!
Yasmine

View full post on Yasmine Galenorn's website »

Well, here it is, my last blog. That is, my last blog before the month long Bone Magic extravaganza of posts here on the blog!! (And there was much rejoicing.)

We're kicking things off tomorrow over at Sidhe Vicious's blog and anybody who leaves me a comment over there (who is in either Canada or the US) will be in the running for one of 6 free books: 2 copies Dragon Wytch, 2 copies Night Huntress, and 2 copies of Demon Mistress!

So welcome to December at Life in the Fringe. We're going to be h...

View full post on Yasmine Galenorn's website »