C.D. Hersh's Blog, page 4
June 26, 2025
Friday Feature Mayonnaise
I enjoy cooking and making healthy food for my family and, of course, sharing the recipes that are our favorites. Here is the recipe for my yummy homemade mayo that tastes great on sandwiches, as the basis for salad dressing, along with a topping for chicken and fish. Needless to say, we are not buying store-bought mayonnaise since…forever.
Homemade Mayonnaise
1 large egg (must be room temperature)
1 cup (240ml) neutral oil (I use light olive oil)
3 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp Dijon mustard
I don’t use salt and sugar
In a tall container or a food processor, add oil, egg, lemon juice, and mustard.
Place an immersion blender at the bottom. Start blending without moving it until the mayonnaise begins to form. Then slowly move the blender upward until the ingredients are fully combined.
If using a food processor or whisk— add the oil slowly in a thin stream while continuously blending or whisking until the mayo thickens.
You can add a little seasoning like salt or a pinch of sugar. I don’t. Or experiment with flavors by adding garlic, herbs, or a touch of hot sauce.
Transfer the mayo to an airtight container and refrigerate. It lasts about 1 week in the fridge.
Enjoy!
Here is a peek at book one of Stella’s time travel romance series for your reading pleasure.
One key unlocks the love of a lifetime…but could also break her heart.
Nika Morris’s sixth sense has helped build a successful business, lovingly restoring and reselling historic homes on Florida’s Amelia Island. But there’s one forlorn, neglected relic that’s pulled at her from the moment she saw it. The century-old Coleman house.
Quite unexpectedly, the house is handed to her on a silver platter—along with a mysterious letter, postmarked 1909, yet addressed personally to Nika. Its cryptic message: Find the key. You know where it is. Hurry, for goodness’ sake!
The message triggers an irresistible drive to find that key. When she does, one twist in an old grandfather clock throws her back in time, straight into the arms of deliciously, devilishly handsome Elijah Coleman.
Swept up in a journey of a lifetime, Nika finds herself falling in love with Eli—and with the family and friends that inhabit a time not even her vivid imagination could have conjured. But in one desperate moment of homesickness, she makes a decision that will not only alter the course of more than one life but break her heart.
’Til Time Do Us Part is available in Kindle and Paperback at AMAZON.
Stella May is the penname for Marina Sardarova who has a fascinating history you should read on her website.
Stella writes fantasy romance as well as time travel romance. She is the author of ‘Till Time Do Us Part, Book 1 in her Upon a Time series, and the stand-alone book Rhapsody in Dreams. Love and family are two cornerstones of her stories and life. Stella’s books are available in e-book and paperback through all major vendors.
When not writing, Stella enjoys classical music, reading, and long walks along the ocean with her husband. She lives in Jacksonville, Florida with her husband Leo of 25 years and their son George. They are her two best friends and are all partners in their family business.
Follow Stella on her website and blog. Stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
June 24, 2025
Wednesday Special Spotlight Talking Heads
We’ve all seen it. Those long passages of dialogue where readers get lost because the author hasn’t bothered to clue you in to who is speaking. Perhaps we’ve even written them ourselves. Here are three hints to help keep talking heads at bay. Or answer the question of which character is speaking at the time.
1. Don’t write extremely long sections of dialogue without giving readers a clue as to who is speaking. If you’ve gone half a page without some indicator of who’s speaking, consider giving the reader a hint.
2. Use dialogue cues to help identify speakers, but use them sparingly. While he said, she said usually disappears to readers, when you have a string of them at the end of sentences it makes the page read awkwardly. Sprinkling a few here and there is helpful.
3. Use action tags and inner dialogue to help identify characters. This helps break up the monotony of he said, she said. The sparingly rule works here, too.
Do you have a hint you like to use to help keep your characters from becoming talking heads?
Please share them in the comments.
June 23, 2025
Tell Again Tuesday Writers Notebook
The Limits of MemoryBy Kristin Hacken South
Last week I lost my notebook. It is one of three that my son gave me a few years ago when he was consulting on a project with NASA, and it is available exclusively to those who work at NASA. The back cover shows the schematic design of Patent 2,967,393, filed on December 3, 1959, for a rocket-propelled missile. On the front, that patent is put to use in the design for the Saturn V Apollo flight configuration. A quote from Wernher von Braun, one of NASA’s most forward-thinking and creative inventors, offers this invitation to ingenuity: “I have learned to use the word ‘impossible’ with the greatest caution.”
Every time I sit down with this notebook, it reminds me that if the creative minds . . .
For the rest of the blog go to:June 19, 2025
Friday Feature Welcome To Atlantis
Legends. We love them. We can’t get enough of them. In fact, we NEED them. Legends connect humanity in ways we can’t fathom. A legend, by definition is a story handed down for generations among a people and popularly believed to have a historical basis, although not verifiable. In book one of my time travel series, The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, Amanda Sault, her four classmates, and two tag-along adults are whisked through an arch they find buried in an overgrown garden and transported to the mythical continent of Atlantis. They’ve been summoned to become Timekeepers—legendary time travelers sworn to keep history safe from an evil force known only as Belial. Oh, BTW—they’re not just any Timekeepers—they’re the Last Timekeepers. No pressure, right? Well, maybe a smidgen.
The Timekeepers first mission involves going back to 1214 England, actually Nottingham to be precise. There, Amanda and her time traveling cohorts meet an adolescent Robin Hood, although he is known as Robyn Hodekin to the people of Nottingham. So, here’s the rub—in The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, what’s myth and what’s made-up? That’s when it’s up to the reader to seek the truth and dispel the lies.
The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, Book One
Children are the key to our future. And now, they are the only hope for our past.
When 13-year-old Amanda Sault and her classmates land themselves in hot water after a cafeteria food fight, they’re assigned to yard duty as punishment. After the kids uncover a mysterious stone arch hidden in the overgrown backyard owned by the Witch of White Pines, they learn that it’s an ancient portal created by the lost civilization of Atlantis.
Chosen by an Atlantean Magus, Amanda and her reluctant companions are swept into the secret world of the Timekeepers: legendary guardians entrusted with preserving history from a sinister force known as Belial. Their first mission? Travel back to 13th-century England to ensure a young Robin Hood fulfills his legendary fate.
But time travel comes with strict rules, and one wrong move could rewrite the past… and erase the future.
Packed with high-stakes adventure and a touch of ancient magic, The Last Timekeepers And The Arch Of Atlantis is the first book in Sharon Ledwith’s series of novels for middle grade readers and adults alike.
Excerpt:
They were almost inside the glowing archway. Its light felt warm and welcoming, like the rising summer sun. Treena stuck her thumbs in the straps of her khaki backpack as if it doubled as a magic parachute. Amanda mimicked Treena and grasped the straps on Jordan’s backpack that she was still wearing. Ravi was the only other person wearing one, so all the rest had nothing to break their fall if that light suddenly cut them loose.
The brilliant, fathomless glow swallowed Amanda, blinding her. Calm and silence overrode her senses. In that moment, two things happened—Amanda sensed that there was no separation between her and the others—as if they were all connected by these tiny threads of light. Second, she started to feel as though she were free falling, moving fast and out of control. She regained her vision, just as the white light exploded into a whirling rainbow.
Drake laughed. “Wicked! This feels like a ride at Disneyland!”
“It feels better than that!” Jordan replied. “I’ve been to Disneyland twice, and there’s no ride that even comes close to this!”
“It’s as if we can fly!” Treena shouted, doing a somersault in mid-air.
“It does feel wonderful, doesn’t it?” Melody said dreamily.
Amanda grabbed both ankles and flipped herself over. She giggled. This freedom, this feeling, this flux was awesome. The huge, spiraling rainbow surrounding the group of seven gently juggled them in mid-air like floating balls in a never-ending lottery game. She glanced over at Jordan’s uncle. His cheeks were sucked in, and his body flopped one way then another like a fish out of water.
“Is your uncle okay, Jordan?” she asked.
Jordan maneuvered over to his uncle by spreading his arms and legs wide as if he were a free-falling parachutist. He grasped his uncle’s shoulder and shook him. “Uncle John? Uncle John! Don’t make me slap you again!”
He reached over, grabbed Jordan, and kissed him on the forehead. “It’s all true, Jordan! It’s all true!”
Jordan squirmed. “What’s true?”
“Time flows through us,” he answered, his voice cracking as if he were a young boy again.
The whirling rainbow burst into shards of light, and they all touched bottom.
It felt soft—like a cushy trampoline—as Amanda, her classmates, Melody, and Professor Lucas bounced easily until they all stood still. Then the ground became solid again. Polished marble walls and finely crafted pillars materialized through the fading light. A sudden high-pitched buzzing noise made her wince. Everyone seemed to hear it too; they cringed in unison. The sound of waves crashing against a shore replaced the buzzing, and a set of deep purple curtains miraculously appeared in front of them. Amanda rubbed her eyes. In the time it took her to take a breath, the curtains were drawn. The brilliant white light that had pulled them into the stone arch now hovered between the open curtains. It started to radiate out, then draw in, out, then in, changing its shape with each rhythmic movement, until it finally transformed into a woman.
The woman was beautiful in an otherworldly way. She had long, fair, flowing hair adorned with quartz crystals. Piercing blue eyes stared back at Amanda like she was peering into her soul. She had a long narrow face with high cheek bones that tapered down to a firm chin. Her nose was long and slender. Amanda smiled at her. The woman smiled back. Her teeth were white, small, and even. She was perfect in every way. A rich-blue sleeveless linen robe adorned her slim body, accentuating her ivory skin.
I wonder if she’s a princess. Amanda didn’t doubt it, especially with all the jewelry the woman wore. A sparkling metallic snake bracelet wound around her left arm, a string of gleaming pearls and shells hung around her neck, and a silver belt strewn with various green, blue, and red gems hugged her waist. The only piece of clothing that didn’t seem to belong was a plain pair of woven sandals.
Melody pushed Drake behind her and took a few steps forward. “I demand that you tell us where we are!”
The beautiful woman gave Melody a gentle smile and nodded. She opened her arms wide and said, “Welcome to the Temple of Poseidon, in the City of the Golden Gates.”
Melody jerked. “I-I beg your pardon?”
“Atlantis,” Professor Lucas answered in a whisper. “We’re in Atlantis.”
UNIVERSAL BOOK LINK:https://books2read.com/u/4NE2kx
ADDED BONUS: The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis eBook is permanently free in all online bookstores! Welcome to Atlantis. We’ve been expecting you.
Here’s a glimpse of the premises of both my young adult series:
The Last Timekeepers Time Travel Adventures…
Chosen by an Atlantean Magus to be Timekeepers—legendary time travelers sworn to keep history safe from the evil Belial—five classmates are sent into the past to restore balance, and bring order back into the world, one mission at a time.
Children are the key to our future. And now, they are the only hope for our past.
Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls Teen Psychic Mysteries…
In the small, quiet tourist town of Fairy Falls, a new-to-town teen, an unlikely hero who possesses an unusual psychic ability, is drawn into a mystery and is tasked with uncovering corrupt truths that threaten the town’s future.
Welcome to Fairy Falls. Expect the unexpected.
Buy Links:
The Last Timekeepers Time Travel Adventure Series:
The Last Timekeepers and the Noble Slave, Book 3
UNIVERSAL BUY LINK ׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES & NOBLE ׀
The Last Timekeepers and the Dark Secret, Book 2 Buy Links:
UNIVERSAL BUY LINK ׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES & NOBLE ׀
The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, Book 1 Buy Links:
UNIVERSAL BUY LINK ׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES & NOBLE ׀
Legend of the Timekeepers, Prequel Buy Links:
UNIVERSAL BUY LINK ׀ AMAZON ׀ BARNES & NOBLE ׀
Mysterious Tales from Fairy Falls Teen Psychic Mystery Series:
Lost & Found, Book One Buy Links:
PANDAMONIUM PUBLISHING HOUSE ׀ AMAZONBARNES & NOBLE ׀
Blackflies & Blueberries, Book Two Buy Links:
PANDAMONIUM PUBLISHING HOUSE ׀ AMAZON
Sharon Ledwith is the author of the middle-grade/young adult time travel adventure series, THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS, and the award-winning teen psychic mystery series, MYSTERIOUS TALES FROM FAIRY FALLS. When not writing, reading, researching, or revising, she enjoys anything arcane, ancient mysteries, and single malt scotch. Sharon lives a serene, yet busy life in a southern tourist region of Ontario, Canada, with her spoiled hubby, and two shiny red e-bikes.
Learn more about Sharon Ledwith on her WEBSITE and BLOG. Look up her AMAZON AUTHOR page for a list of current books. Stay connected on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, LINKEDIN, INSTAGRAM, and GOODREADS.
BONUSES:
Download the free PDF short story The Terrible, Mighty Crystal HERE
Download the free PDF writing resource Tips, Tools & Tricks for the Tenacious Writer HERE
June 17, 2025
Wednesday Special Spotlight Six Ds of Dialogue
Dialogue is paramount in any story. Dialogue is the backbone of stage plays and screenplays, and is what actors memorize. Dialogue is the hinge pin of novels, especially in today’s fast-paced, want-the-story-to move-forward world. Yet, for many writers dialogue is the hardest thing to write. We can fill pages upon pages with purple prose, narrative, and information dumps, but often avoid dialogue.
Why? Maybe we’re afraid our characters will sound stupid, or their words will be stilted. Perhaps writers fear their characters will sound flat, or they will say too much or too little. Or maybe we think our characters will sound the same, because, after all, it’s only one person creating all those different voices.
Personally, we tend to write dialogue first then going back and fill in the narrative, the senses and other parts of the story. Maybe that’s because of our acting or playwriting background. Sometimes we must scrap the dialogue, having discovered some of the problems mentioned above. At any rate, along our writing journey we’ve picked up a few tips to help with writing dialogue that we’d like to share with you. We hope you find them helpful.
Six Ds of Dialogue:
1. Deliver content. Every word, every scene, every sentence in your book should move the story forward. Dialogue is part of that forward motion. Use dialogue to propel your story forward by revealing new obstacles, introducing pivotal moments in the plot, reminding the character of goal, and deepening emotions. Don’t waste words on unnecessary stuff like greetings, talk about the weather, discussion about the song on the radio (unless it will figure in the story later) or idle chit chat inserted to fill time or make up word counts. Get right to the point.
2. Differentiate voice. No one person sounds like another. The way my sister pronounces the word “picture” is unlike anyone else, and I’d recognize her voice anywhere. Make sure your characters’ voices are just as distinctive. Give them different cadences, different speaking styles, different words, different sentence lengths. Listen to people speak and use those nuances in your characters’ dialogue.
3. Define tone. Dialogue sets the mood for your story just like narrative does. Characters in a humorous book sound unlike those in a horror book. Chick lit dialogue is very different than that of a hard-hitting cop drama, and a magically based book’s characters would certainly not sound like the teenage characters in YA novel, unless they are teens. When creating your characters’ dialogue make sure you take the tone of the book into consideration.
4. Drop in description. Normally, writers use blocks of narrative to describe setting and provide background information. By dropping bits of description, background, or historical information into dialogue you can let the reader learn what he needs to know at that moment in the story.
5. Don’t be didactic. Providing information in your story is important. Just make sure you don’t drop so much description and background into the dialogue that you turn what should be quick, informative conversations into dialogue description dumps.
6. Dial up the conflict. Use your conversations to create tension and suspense. Speed up the scenes by eliminating most of the description and explanations. Make sentences short and fast. Make the conflict and risks clear, but hold back some information so suspense remains high.
If you have trouble writing dialogue, try writing the first draft of your scene as a script. No narrative, just dialogue. Then read it out loud to see how it sounds. You’ll be surprised at the results.
Is dialogue hard for you to write?
June 16, 2025
Tell Again Tuesday Writing Career
A Beginner’s Guide to Writing: 8 Tips for Starting a Writing CareerBy MasterClass
Becoming a better writer requires constant practice and an exploration of other authors’ work. Learn key tips and methods that can elevate your writing to its full potential.
There are many different types of writing available to you as a new writer. Below is a small sampling of some genres of writing you might want to explore: . . .
For the rest of the blog go to:June 12, 2025
Friday Feature Being Nicer
I became a teacher at the tender age of 45. All puffed up from my real-world experiences, and despite Welcome Back, Kotter, Boston Public, and Stand and Deliver, to name just a few depictions of struggles in the classroom, I figured teaching inner-city high school kids would be cake. Sigh…
When my on-camera TV career fizzled—a direct correlation to my nearing 40—I spent a few years underemployed, until several acquaintances, at about the same time, enthusiastically suggested I become a teacher. Now I had never given teaching any thought. Zero! I laughed off the idea. After all, I was a dyslexic, academically underachieving high school student – who I must add here did pretty damn well in college after my brother bet me I’d flunk out the first semester.
But then my financial situation became more tenuous: you try paying the bills by officiating youth sports and working for seven bucks an hour as a part-time reporter at a small local newspaper. So, I went back to school.
It took me two years to get my teaching certification, and before I ever stepped foot in a real classroom – I hadn’t even had the chance to do my eight weeks of student teaching – I was hired to teach video production and journalism in a high school communication arts magnet program in Phoenix, Arizona.
I learned quickly that I had replaced a beloved teacher who was popular for throwing pizza parties and allowing the students to do pretty much anything they wanted. Then, I stepped in, spouting responsibility and deadlines and maturity and professionalism.
I realized just how bad things were when one day a diminutive teen – the prettiest and most outspoken child in the room – stood up and declared that the students didn’t need me. That they had learned all they needed to know from their previous teacher. Then, she walked out, in the middle of class. To my horror, every one of my students followed her.
And so I stood at the front of the classroom, staring at all those empty seats, and I started to cry. A few “poor me” moments passed before the door opened. A tiny teacher, the “elder statesman” of the department who always had a faint whiff of nicotine wafting about her, watched me above reading glasses attached to a rainbow-colored beaded chain.
“They just left!” I motioned to the empty seats.
She nodded, walked over, and placed her hand on my shoulder. “It’ll be fine,” she said.
I turned away, embarrassed that she had seen tears slipping down my cheeks.
I continued to bulldoze my way through school days, expounding on life in the “real world” and reminding my students that if they wanted to succeed and make something of themselves, they had better get with the program.
It was then that another long-time teacher sat me down after what had been a particularly tough day in the classroom.
“Have you considered being . . . nicer?” she asked.
“Nicer? What do you mean?”
She leaned back in her chair. “Just . . . nicer. It might help.”
“Nicer. I’d spent my previous life in newsrooms and on ballfields as an official, where “nice” was never part of the equation. You did your job, deflected unkind comments, and never let anyone see you cry.
About five years ago, I once again found myself replacing a popular teacher. Predictably, the students – mostly seniors – rebelled against the changes I made and my style of teaching. Even though I was a much more experienced teacher now, I struggled. Everyday. By the end of the school year, I was exhausted. Some of my students wouldn’t even speak to me.
During the last week of the school year, we held a department awards ceremony, where we fed the students lunch and handed out plaques, honoring those who stood out. Then the seniors got up and spoke about their time in the program, about leaving their classmates as they headed out into the world, and about the teachers who meant so much to them.
I listened to all the kind words, and watched as the other teachers, eyes glistening, accepted accolades from their students. One after another, the seniors spoke. Some cried. A few nodded in my direction as they retook their seats, but none of them said anything about me.
Then one young man stood up and faced the group. I had been especially demanding of him over the years. He wanted to be a film director. I spent a lot of time critiquing his video productions. Outside of class, we’d work on college and scholarship applications. Sometimes we’d talk about the difficulties he’d had growing up and his time in foster care. I can’t recall exactly what he spoke about initially that day, but then I heard him say my name.
“And, Ms. Montgomery,” he beamed me a smile. “I think of her as mom.” Then he walked over and put his arms around me.
Nice, indeed.
I have finished my 17th year in the classroom. As my students will tell you, I can sometimes be a tough teacher. I’m still demanding, at times. Though now, I find myself saying good morning to students I don’t even know, and I take the time to ask how things are going when a student seems down. It’s not that I no longer preach responsibility and deadlines and maturity and professionalism. It’s just that I’m…well…nicer.
Here is a brief peek at Anne’s latest release.
Bud Richardville is inducted into the Army as the United States prepares for the invasion of Europe in 1943. A chance comment has Bud assigned to the Graves Registration Service where his unit is tasked with locating, identifying, and burying the dead. Bud ships out, leaving behind his new wife, Lorraine, a mysterious woman who has stolen his heart but whose secretive nature and shadowy past leave many unanswered questions. When Bud and his men hit the beach at Normandy, they are immediately thrust into the horrors of what working in a graves unit entails. Bud is beaten down by the gruesome demands of his job and losses in his personal life, but then he meets Eva, an optimistic soul who despite the war can see a positive future. Will Eva’s love be enough to save him?
Praise for Your Forgotten Sons
“Although a defty crafted work of original fiction, “Your Forgotten Sons” by Anne Montgomery is inspired by a true story. An original and inherently interesting read from start to finish, “Your Forgotten Sons” will prove to be an immediate and enduringly appreciated pick.” Midwest Book Review
“This was a quick, riveting read that really challenged me to think differently about our servicemen and women, especially those who take on the jobs that don’t get heroically depicted in the media or news…I really highly recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a different take on American history. I left it with a newfound appreciation for the unsung heroes.” Bekah C NetGalley
“This is the truth. It’s gritty and painful and bittersweet – and true. When you think you’ve read every perspective of WWII, along comes Bud to break your heart.” Bridgett Siter Former Military Reporter
“Anne Montgomery writes a strong story and I was hooked from the first page. It had a great concept and I enjoyed that this was inspired by a true story…It was written perfectly and I was invested in the story. Anne Montgomery has a great writing style and left me wanting to read more.” – Kathryn McLeer NetGalley
Available at Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Google Books, and Kobo
Anne Montgomery has worked as a television sportscaster, newspaper and magazine writer, teacher, amateur baseball umpire, and high school football referee. She worked at WRBL‐TV in Columbus, Georgia, WROC‐TV in Rochester, New York, KTSP‐TV in Phoenix, Arizona, ESPN in Bristol, Connecticut, where she anchored the Emmy and ACE award‐winning SportsCenter, and ASPN-TV as the studio host for the NBA’s Phoenix Suns. Montgomery has been a freelance and staff writer for six publications, writing sports, features, movie reviews, and archeological pieces.
When she can, Anne indulges in her passions: rock collecting, scuba diving, football refereeing, and playing her guitar.
Learn more about Anne Montgomery on her website and Wikipedia. Stay connected on Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter.
June 10, 2025
Wednesday Special Spotlight Relax and Recharge
The scene out the big picture window was serene.
A while back we took a trip to Gatlinburg. We rented a cabin on the mountainside and planned a relaxing trip. We’d do some shopping and maybe take a trip to Pigeon Forge or Cherokee N.C. Catherine planned to work on the edits for her book and Donald took plenty of books to read. We planned to sleep late, have late breakfasts, late lunches out, and eat raw veggies and fruits for dinner.
Now all of these things (except the visits to Pigeon Forge and Cherokee) are things we could have done at home, and we had been doing them. At home, however, working on a deadline in a cluttered office, watching television in a living room jammed with suitcases in preparation for our departure, going down the to-do-list for travel preparation, and watching the dust bunnies procreate created an urgency to get things done that put us on edge. Catherine, at the time, was not up to doing much due to some medicine side effects. On top of that, she had an allergy attack 6 days before we left, and it kept getting worse.
The minute we stepped into the log cabin retreat, all of those tensions melted away, despite the fact that Catherine was still feeling rotten from her allergy attack.
The cabin was neat and tidy.
Our cell service was non-existent at the cabin. Every pressure, real or conceived melted away under the sound of the rushing water from the creek below our deck. For seven days we took our time doing everything. Catherine napped when she needed to—which was nearly every day, and she never naps at home. We ate when we wanted to—breakfast was at eleven o’clock. And the edits on Catherine’s book got finished in record time. She even got over her 2-week allergy attack while we were in Gatlinburg.
The brook we could hear from our deck.
It’s amazing what a difference taking yourself out of the norms of your life can have. We came home refreshed and ready to tackle the next set of things on our list: taxes, the edits on our next joint book, and spring cleaning (inside and outside in the garden).
We all need to remember this lesson when life’s stresses overtake us—take time to relax.
Even if you can’t get away for a week to a rustic, remote log cabin in the mountains, consider taking a mini vacation. If the clutter of home is getting to you, take your computer and head to the nearest coffee shop or the library where you can write without hearing the dust bunnies hopping. Shut off your phone. Put on headsets and listen to soothing music. Fill the tub and take a bubble bath until your skin wrinkles. Go to the park. Cogitate at the local art museum. Stroll through a garden. Shop till you drop. Discover something that takes you out of your normal life activities and go do it. You’ll be surprised at the difference it makes.
What do you like to do to get away from it all and recharge?
June 9, 2025
Tell Again Tuesday Dance of Writing
Spotlight the Effect of Your Characters’ EnergyBy Kathryn Craft
It’s as true in dance as it is in story: movement is a transfer of energy.
In dance, energy moves from one muscle to another, from dancer to partner, from performer to audience member. In story, it moves from author to protagonist, protagonist to other characters, and protagonist to reader. I love it when other art forms inspire new ways to think about story, so when I found this gem of an essay by Paul Taylor (1930–2018), a modern dance choreographer whose work I’d followed closely in my career as a dance critic, I settled in to see what I could learn.
In the essay, included in Selma Jeanne Cohen’s The Modern Dance: Seven Statements of Belief, Taylor spoke of the way dance writers, while focusing . . .
For the rest of the blog go to:June 5, 2025
Friday Feature International Fairy Day
June 24 is International Fairy Day. This unusual holiday, started by fairy artist Jessica Galbreth, is a day to celebrate all things faerie.
Topiary Faerie from Disney World Epcot Park
Photo by C.D. Hersh ©
Faeries appear in almost every culture. They are pagan mythological creatures who possess magical powers. They are known as faery, faerie, (I rather like this spelling of the word. It’s archaic and a bit mysterious) fay, fae, wee folk, good folk, people of peace, and fair folk. They can be benign, mischievous or downright mean. They can cast spells, fly, they are immortal, and are usually not visible to humans because of the veil that exists between the mortal and the Fae worlds. The best time to spot them is at twilight. Folklore says they are an intelligent species, not angels or demons.
The faerie most known to the modern world today—the sweet flower-faerie with delicate wings—is a creation dating from the Victorian era. Walt Disney capitalized on that image and made a fortune reinventing good faeries, ranging from Cinderella’s chubby faerie godmother to Peter Pan’s blonde-haired (originally pink-haired), green suited Tinkerbelle. But, according to folklore, faeries come in all shapes and forms and have good and bad relationships with humankind.
Some category of faeries are:
The Sidhe, ancient Celtic faeries believed to be the original race of Celtic gods and goddesses. At one time the Scots believed the Sidhe walked the earth with mortals, but eventually vanished into the hills and became the Fae. The Sidhe are divided into two camps, the more benevolent Seelie, who might only play pranks on humans, and the malevolent Unseelie, who delighted in bringing harm to mortals.House Faeries, which encompasses hobgoblins (originally believed to be good faeries) and hearth faeries, such as brownies who clean house at night. Elemental Faeries who control the elements of nature: Air (Sylphs), Water (Undines), Earth (Gnomes) and Fire (Salamanders). These faeries are ruled by Faerie Kings. Nature Spirits, who are the faeries who tend everything from flowers to trees. Dead spirits. The banshee of Irish and Scottish lore is sometimes described as a ghost. A class of “demoted” angels. One popular story held that when the angels revolted, God ordered the gates shut; those still in heaven remained angels, those in hell became devils, and those caught in between became fairies. Demons. This belief became much more popular with the growth of Puritanism. Dealing with faeries was believed to be akin to dealing with the devil and was often punished as such. A less common belief states that the Fae are humans gone missing.Karen Marie Moning has taken the first category, the Sidhe, to some unbelievable heights in her Fever series (every book of which Catherine owns) She creates a Fae world that is so complex and exciting. As for the other types of faeries … we may have some ideas bubbling in the back of our minds. There are some great immortal characters waiting to take center stage on our pages … sometime in the future.
So let’s tell some new stories and watch the faerie population grow!
Are you inspired by the immortal Fae or other mythical creatures to write stories?
