Rue's Blog
September 1, 2019
If I can just jump back to Santorini for a minute…
I’ve been to Greece and the surrounding islands a couple of times and I’ve let it inspire many a tale. One of my favorites is part of the Lake Effect Series. If you’d like to journey to New Zealand, San Miguel de Allende, and Greece with the Hutchinson sisters, CLICK HERE! Week 14 (Oh, and […]
August 9, 2019
Reading and Tea: Lord of the Rings and Green Seaside Tea
Childhood treasures and grown-up pleasures! So much of what I love about epic fantasy came from reading the wonderful works of J.R.R. Tolkien in junior high. I devoured The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy! And later when I realized my dream of writing an epic fantasy with a female lead—The Chronicles of […]
July 7, 2019
Once upon an island…
My writing and research retreat to Santorini gave me some wonderful inspiration and some priceless material for characters. One of my deepest joys is meeting odd people. Not because I like people. I’m happily introverted and could blissfully exist in solitude for the rest of my days. However, I am passionate about writing and no […]
October 29, 2018
I rescued a hummingbird a few months ago…
I rescued a hummingbird a few months ago. I fed him several times and found an animal rescue that would take him. His wing was broken and I have to believe he probably did not make it. I’ve done a ton of research on hummingbirds as background for my faery characters. The bones in their […]
October 22, 2018
Come up with a plan
Today I am knee deep in COSTUME business and I don’t really have time to post. However, I know if Hazel were MY best friend, she would encourage me to come up with a plan to complete my costume and post this lovely image of her on my blog. I love Hazel to death and […]
October 15, 2018
Hollywood movie portrayal of violence
I’ve always had trouble with the Hollywood movie portrayal of violence. Calm down, I’m not trying to start a debate. I’m just saying that it strikes me as odd how characters in films can witness, enact, and assist in extremely violent acts of war, murder, or even self-defense—and simply walk it off. Occasionally we get […]
October 8, 2018
Fall, Mabon, the autumnal equinox…
My favorite time of year is fast approaching! Fall, Mabon, the autumnal equinox… Cool nights, crisp leaves, apple-picking – no, that’s not why at all. I like fall because the blistering heat of summer is finally over. I am no fan of the sun, sunbathing, suntanning, whatever you want to call it. I have no […]
October 1, 2018
Water, Air, Earth, and Fire
Water, Air, Earth, and Fire. In the Chronicles of Hawthorn I chose to create a nature-based magickal society that relies on ritual, magick, and honoring the turning of the seasons. I get tired of seeing/reading witches portrayed as ugly old hags with warts and possibly green skin. I wanted magick to be the “norm.” Of […]
September 24, 2018
Horrific fascination in killing off characters…
There is a strange, horrific fascination in killing off characters that you have painstakingly crafted out of the ether. As a reader it makes me furious, but as a writer it is a glorious walk in Un-reality. All the dark swirly bits get to go somewhere—do something. Holding the darkness inside is mind-numbing and sucks […]
September 22, 2018
Ritual & Spell to Heal Your Past
General disclaimer regarding how Master Hinaki designs rituals for the inhabitants of Aotearoa. He believes that magick lives inside each one of us, so he tends to keep most of his rituals fairly simple. solar holidays and cross-quarter celebrations aside. If (and that’s a big if) he casts a circle, he may use an athamé or a wand—but most […]
