Esme Addison's Blog, page 2

Five Fantasy Young Adult Novels You Need To Read

by Esme Addison

As a reader, my interests are pretty diverse. But when it comes to young adult novels, I generally read fantasy only. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s the gorgeous covers? Sometimes I want to write a YA fantasy just to get that pretty cover.

I jest. (sort of)

I’m a fantasy writer too. Occasionally I veer into scifi land, which makes me a writer of speculative fiction. I like that title. It’s accurate. But my fantasy novel with occasional scifi elements is also a mystery. And...

Dyngus Day & Dragon Mythology In A Hex For Danger

by Esme Addison

When I visited Wavel Castle in Krakow, I was really taken with the dragon mythology associated with the area and castle. I knew when I heard about the Wavel Dragon that I would one day write about it. I didn’t think I’d add it to my Enchanted Bay Mystery series because mermaids are enough… right?

Wrong!

I found a way. It just came to me… by accident. Not planned. Not outlined. It just popped into my head the way plot points do for writers. And et voila there were dra...

Paczki Day, Polish Food & Mythology In The Enchanted Bay Mystery Series

by Esme Addison

One of my favorite cozy mystery bloggers is Cozy Up With Kathy. She’s Polish-American and celebrates several Polish holidays. So of course we’re going to celebrate Pączki or Paczki day by discussing all of the great food in my series, the history of Packzi day and much more!

Pączki in Poland

In Poland, pączki are eaten on Fat Thursday or Tłusty Czwartek, also known as Pączki Day.

Fat Thursday used to mark the beginning of Fat Week –- the period of gluttony during whi...

My Polish Mother-In-Law Teaches You How To Say The Polish Words In My Novel

by Esme Addison

There are two questions I get asked the most about my series.

One, where can I find recipes for the Polish food featured in the series. And how do you pronounce the Polish words written in the book? I’m still working on those recipes, though I do have a post about the desserts included in A Spell For Trouble.

When my mother-in-law came for a visit from Poland, I knew it was the perfect time to do a video on Polish words. Who better to help me than a native Polish speake...

Love Essential Oils & Herbal Tea? Read These Four Novels

by Esme Addison

If you’re following my blog, you KNOW I love herbs and herbal remedies in all forms, especially essential oils and herbal tea. My reading interests aren’t much different. I enjoy reading books set in apothecaries or dealing with herbal tea (magical or otherwise). I also love reading books that deal with botany and the science around natural healing.

So, I have some reccs for you. They span genres. Adult. YA. Historical. Fantasy. Mystery and more.

Watch the video and tell...

Three Ways To De-Stress And Relax Naturally

by Esme Addison

I work a lot. I have a day job. And then I write. And then I promote my work on social media. And with my website. I really enjoy taking pictures of food and books and other things for Instagram. And I also enjoy making instructional videos for Youtube (hopefully someone is watching and finding the information I share useful!)

But… It’s a lot.

And that’s not including being a mother of boys. Or the editor of a southern lifestyle digital mag.

Needless to say, I need ...

Nine Of The Best Essential Oils For Hair And Scalp

by Esme Addison

Essential oils are nature’s haircare.

But you already knew that, right? Almost every issue you can have related to scalp care, hair growth, hair cleanliness and much more can be addressed by essential oils. For that reason, I lovelovelove dressing my hair with essential oils.

The fact that my hair smells fabulously like a flower garden is just a perk of having healthy hair and scalp. Win. Win.

Watch the video below to find out nine ways you can use essential oils ...

Nine Ways To Use Lemongrass Essential Oil

by Esme Addison

One of my favorite forms of lemongrass is the essential oil.

Like lavender, I use this as a perfume. I don’t care if people ask me if I”m wearing natural bug repellent. lol I’m not. But it doesn kind of smell like it. Because lemongrass naturally repels lemongrass, making it a great perfume-slash-bug repellent in the summer.

I also rub it on my hair. What I don’t do is put it directly on my skin without a carrier oil. I learned the hard way that lemongrass EO is an irrit...

Three Ways To Use Peppermint For Health And Healing

by Esme Addison

Did you think peppermint was just for candy canes?

While it does taste good in candy and baked goods and is also delicious in tea, peppermint has historically been used as a medicine. For that reason, I always keep a bottle handy.

Living at the beach, mosquito bites are plentiful during the summer. I used a lot of peppermint oil for itchy bites. It smells wonderful, and is a strong tool for respiratory issues during cold and flu season. It’s one of the more inexpens...

Five Ways To Use Lavender

by Esme Addison

I love lavender. It’s my favorite essential oil.

Why is it my favorite? For one reason, it smells so good. It’s a wonderful, natural and therapeutic perfume. I rub it on my hair and face. Dab it on my neck and wrist, just so I can walk around smelling like a field of lavender.

But I also love that it’s naturally calming. Just a few deep breaths – or three and your nervous system calms itself down.

Lastly, lavender is a natural antibacterial and antifungal oil tha...