Hannah Rae's Blog, page 3

Blog Woes

I've lately been having some blog woes... meaning that when I publish a blog, my subscribers haven't been receiving emails letting them...

Long Time, No Write

I haven't written a blog for a while. Truthfully, the state of the world has had me in a bit of a funk... what with democracy being on...

Baking Pies with Kendrick Lamar

On a day when so many Americans will be rooting for either the Eagles or the Chiefs, I am rooting for Kendrick Lamar. Let me tell you why:

A couple of weeks ago, I had a very convoluted dream in which my father asked me to use a house-sized tractor to mow half of the orchard that had once belonged to my grandparents. The riding mower that he asked me use — which was legitimately  the size of a house — was a complicated monstrosity that neither started easily nor maneuvered with ease. But, being resourceful, I got the thing going and set about completing what I believed to be an idiotic and unnecessary task. Hello? The grass wasn’t even long!

I hadn’t been at my task for more than ten minutes when my friend Annie and her friend Chrissy showed up. “Hey!” they said, waving their arms around to get my attention. “You need to get cleaned up right away. Kendrick Lamar is in town and he wants you to bake pies with him at his grandma’s house!”

What an invitation!

In my dream, I immediately abandoned the house-sized mower and booked it over to Kendrick Lamar’s grandmother’s house, where we made a blackberry pie approximately two feet in diameter and a much smaller blueberry pie. Both had the most buttery, delicious crust you can possibly imagine. 

Anyway… since spending time with Kendrick Lamar in my dreams, I’ve felt a real connection to him, and when my fifth-period students asked who I was rooting for in the Super Bowl, I explained that the only person I care about seeing is Kendrick Lamar. I feel like we’re friends now, you know? We baked pies  together. (I am forty-three years old, folks. Do you know how many pies I’ve baked with my friends over the years? None that I can remember. Obviously, what Kendrick Lamar and I shared was special.)

Fifth period asked if I liked Kendrick Lamar’s music and I had no idea how to answer this question because I’d never before experienced Kendrick Lamar’s music. This, not surprisingly, resulted in us listening to a clean version of “Not Like Us” at the end of class, and even though several of my students predicted that I wouldn’t like Kendrick Lamar’s art at all… I actually like his music very much! 

In doing further research about my buddy Kendrick, I’ve found that I support what he stands for. He’s for women, he’s for LGBTQ rights, and he’s for democracy. 

So I’m for him.

What Happened to Backing the Blue?

I used to see a lot of signs in my neighborhood encouraging folks to “Back the Blue.” These signs, for reasons I never quite understood, were synonymous with words like “republican” and “conservative.” But why? I am a democrat and I absolutely back the blue. I respect law and order and value what our police departments do.

I haven’t seen a whole lot of “Back the Blue” signs lately… and I think that’s probably because our current GOP doesn’t have much respect for the law.

Now that the implementation of Project 2025 is officially underway, I’d like to reflect on a Facebook exchange I had back in November. Someone I follow had posted about Laken Riley, who was a 22-year-old nursing student who was murdered in broad daylight while on a run in Athens, Georgia. The man who killed Laken (whose name I won’t bother mentioning here because he’s not the one who should be remembered; Laken  is the one who deserves to be remembered) was an illegal immigrant. 

What happened to Laken Riley is appalling. I think most people would agree with that statement. However, I don’t believe that electing a felon to office is going to make it safer for women anywhere, and even though I don’t often involve myself in Facebook debates, I will admit that I commented on this person’s post. I wrote:

With all due respect, [name of poster]... the man you voted for who wants to close borders has treated women very poorly. He doesn’t care about us. There is ample evidence to support this. What happened to Laken Riley is incredibly unjust, but it doesn’t prove that immigrants are more violent than anyone else. What it proves is that women continue to be disregarded and undervalued.

I received a few “likes” for this comment (keep in mind, the audience was primarily conservative) and one comment. The comment I received — and continue to think about multiple times per day ever since receiving it — is as follows:

With all do respect, this case proves that we have enough criminals (who are US citizens) & we don’t need more criminals being let in. The bottom line, is this wouldn’t have even happened if Trump won in 2020, because this criminal wouldn’t have been let into the country to begin with. Did Trump say some offensive things towards women in the past? Sure. Am I going to believe all these allegations made against him throughout the years because there are tons of wackos out there who want him out of the picture? No I’m not! Countless news outlets and “reporters” have proven to us time and time again that they do not care about truth and only care about pushing their own agenda. I care much more about his actions as president (keeping our country safer with less criminals and more world peace) than the “offensive” things he has said.

The opening sentence, complete with spelling error, jumps right into a sarcastic assault in which the person issuing the response appears to be really trying to put me in my place. But even more than that, I am blown away by her imagined logic that such a crime would have never occurred had trump been in office when Laken Riley was murdered. It’s an argument that lacks evidence, but does employ some classic propaganda techniques: name-calling, unstated assumption, and the big lie, just to name a few.

Here’s the thing though: our current president just released 1500 violent people from prison. These are people who killed police officers. These are people who stormed the Capitol . These are people who are very much capable of committing a crime every bit as heinous as Laken Riley’s perpetrator . So why is it acceptable to argue that Laken would still be alive right now if trump had won the 2020 election, but it’s not  okay to assume that several people like Laken are not now in danger because of the 1500 rioters who are once again back on the streets?

I thought trump was supposed to be “ keeping our country safer with less criminals and more world peace .”

It’s the lack of logic that’s maddening to me. 

Now, more than ever, we need to be backing the blue.

I am writing a new book and this blog will provide you with you some details, but not very many.

I haven’t written anything for a while because I recently lost access to my website and regaining that access was a whole big thing. A whole big maddening  thing…

Anyway, I’m back now, and while I wasn’t writing blogs, I was  writing a new Christmas novella. Although I haven’t really been talking about this one a whole lot, I can’t exactly claim to have been keeping it under wraps either. I’ve actually been brainstorming about it on TikTok with my students and they’ve been offering a bunch of suggestions. Good suggestions!

The TikTok thing is complicated right now because it went dark on Sunday, right? And then it came back on a few hours later with this big “thanks to trump blah blah blah,” and I don’t really know if I want to involve myself as a pawn in one of trump’s games, so I’m thinking about switching over to another platform. It’s a complex issue with which I’m currently wrestling, but the thing we really need to be focused on at the moment is my work in progress… so let’s talk about that instead.

This particular novella (which may end up being more of a novel, actually… oops!) takes place in Radio Park, Oregon. There are some references to characters and locations in other Hannah Rae books, but there is also a slew  of new people. 

The gist of this book is as follows: It’s the week leading up to Christmas break. Waverly Fiddler, an English teacher of sophomores, decides to make an early New Year’s resolution that involves wearing heels. (Waverly is very tall already; six feet.) There’s some other stuff going on with Waverly, but the reader learns about it via different perspectives because they only get to follow Waverly through her day on Monday. On Tuesday, everything changes. On Tuesday, readers get to know Waverly’s good friend Jakob Schuster. (He teaches German.) And then there are other characters who provide the viewpoints for other days! And students! There are so many students! And I do realize that I am doing a terrible job of summarizing this, but that’s okay because 1) I’ve had some wine, and 2) the novel isn’t even completely written yet; I’m only on Wednesday!

This is not my best blog and I won’t pretend that it is, but now you at least have an idea of where I’ve been and what I’ve been doing. And if you’re reading this, I’m also going to give you the option to read an excerpt from the new novel. (It’s a very short excerpt.)

But I’m not  going to tell you its title just yet…

What I will  tell you is this: There is much dialogue. Like… this book has a lot of dialogue. And it’s funny, but it’s not what I’m used to. I absolutely loooooooooooove to write dialogue, but there are so many characters in this novel, and therefore so much dialogue. It’s just… different. That’s all. It’s different. 

When Holidays Collide

As you are probably aware, the current season is Christmas... and so it only makes sense that I'm writing the final chapters of a Halloween novella entitled Flicker Shimmer Shine . Wanna hear about it? Alright. This will be good practice for when it comes time to write a synopsis.

One year after her eighteen-year-old brother Brooks takes his own life, ten-year-old Olivia Mooney finds herself in the woods on Halloween. She has no idea why she's entered the forest or what she might find there. She certainly isn't expecting to be reunited with her brother. As it so happens, however, Brooks has made a deal with one of the higher-ups and, as a result, is now able to spend every Halloween with his sister. The catch? Oli must cross over into the ghost world each Halloween.

Flash forward eight years. Both Mooney siblings are now eighteen years old. Both Mooney siblings have twenty-four hours to spend with one another. What will they do? What new memories will they make? What past experiences will they lay to rest and learn to move past?

Flicker Shimmer Shine is absolutely the darkest thing I've ever written... but it's also kind of comforting. I will admit, though, that the only reason I'm finishing it now is because I have four things started and an idea for a fifth Christmas-themed idea and I refuse to start a new thing without first finishing an old thing.

"So," you're probably wondering, "why are you sharing all of this with me now ?"

Well, let me tell you. The reason I'm sharing this with you now is because today I received a text message from my friend Victoria. For those of you who were avid readers of the trivia blog when we used to write it, Victoria is the one who began carving a cabbage for me each Halloween after learning that the cabbage was not a stand-in for pumpkins. (Turnips were, though! Turnips were once used by the Irish in place of pumpkins!)

Anyway... because this October was very, very busy for Victoria, she did not get around to carving a cabbage. But then today I received a text from her that said, "Hey I noticed there was an Amazon package on your doorstep when I was driving past and there's an absolutely gorgeous beautiful creation that must've been made by a very talented artist also." (This was sent with Siri, which is why there is no punctuation. Victoria is actually quite good with punctuation!)

Obviously, I went directly outside to view the "absolutely gorgeous beautiful creation" and was astounded to discover my very own Christmas cabbage!

Who needs a Christmas cactus when you can have a Christmas cabbage instead?! And how cool is it that, unknowingly, Victoria confirmed that a collision of Halloween and Christmas is exactly what is meant to be happening in my world right now?!

Three Pretty Cool Things:

I haven’t written a blog for a while and that’s largely because I haven’t had anything to say. However, some pretty cool things have happened over the past several days and I’d like to share them. Ready? Here we go…

The first pretty cool thing occurred on Saturday night. I grabbed a really  good bottle of wine, picked up some sushi from Mai’s Noodle House, and headed over to my other mother Amy’s house. While there, Amy’s husband Steve (who is sort of like an other father to me, seeing as he continues to ensure that I will not die of radon) talked to me about how he’s currently reading Come and Go So Quickly . For those of you who are unfamiliar with the novel, it’s thick. Steve likes to say that it’s about a thousand pages, but I think it’s actually closer to 700. 

Anyway…

As the night went on and the hour grew later, Steve announced that he ought to head upstairs to bed because he wanted “to find out who Oaklee’s father is.” As the author, this comment gave me an understanding of just how far into the novel Steve actually is — and he’s really making some progress! Then he said, rather offhandedly, “I guess you’re my favorite author since I’ve read more books written by you than I have any other author.” And that sort of made my week, you know? I loved that!

A few days later, a second pretty cool thing occurred when one of my very favorite young people approached me and said that she’s started reading An Illusion of Control  and that the first chapter has already changed her opinion about some things. I thought that was incredible, you know? Someone read something I  wrote, experienced a perspective outside of her own, and viewed an issue from a different angle… That’s basically why I write!

Well, that and the fact that the characters in my head won’t let me not  write. They’ve got stories to tell and I’m their source for telling them. 

I’ll be honest: Sometimes I change my own mind when I write. Just because I’m sharing a perspective doesn’t mean I agree with it, but sometimes when I experience that perspective by writing about it, I realize there actually is  some logic to that side of the argument. Like book banning. I’m adamantly opposed to censorship, but when I wrote An Illusion of Control  and conveyed the viewpoints of those in favor of banning books, it made me realize why  some folks are so scared to make literature available to students. (I like to understand the why  of things; if I can understand the why , then I can empathize more easily.)

Alright. Are you ready for the third pretty cool thing? 

After school on Tuesday, I met with a reader of Dog-Eared Life and she had the kindest things to say about both my writing and the character development of Henri. I’m going to insert a SPOILER ALERT  at this point because if you haven’t read Dog-Eared Life  or An Illusion of Control  and you continue to read this blog post, a big reveal is going to be ruined for you. Fair warning.

Still reading? Okay.

One of the storylines of Dog-Eared Life  involves the story of Henri, who is a trans woman. The fact that Henri is trans is important to the plot, but it’s not the plot . Henri is Henri, you know? She’s funny and kind and full of insecurities… but she’s also incredibly brave. She’s the type of brave that I aspire to be. I mean, Henri traveled to the woods of West Virginia all by herself in order to catch her favorite band, Flannel Lobster, at Off the Grid. That’s awesome . I want to be the type of person who will travel great distances to catch one of my favorite bands. Alone. I want to be like Henri. 

Over coffee, my reader shared that she felt Dog-Eared Life  was so powerful because Henri’s story was so real. And she appreciated the fact that the novel includes a trans person while not focusing exclusively on the fact that Henri is trans. The story is much  bigger than that. And then she said to me, “I want to know how someone who has never lived that life so accurately captured the struggles of someone who has  lived that life.” And hearing that? Well, it was one of the nicest compliments I’ve ever received. Ever . 

A Hannah Rae Gift Giving Guide

Since Christmas is right around the corner, I figured I might offer some suggestions for the readers on your list. How about one of the following combos?

Consider a copy of The One You’re With , a Christmas novella that features a cameo from Chadwick and Alexandria Lemon-Close, owners of a coffee shop in Lake Caywood. (Alexandria and Chadwick are based on Alex and Chad, the real owners of Bantam. As many of you probably already know, I’ve done quite a bit of editing at Bantam Coffee Roasters over the years, so if you were to gift this novella with a gift card to Bantam , that would make for a special treat!

Additionally, The One You're With features quite a few scenes in The Tavern... which is modeled after Gettysburg's real-life Pub! Not long ago, Lisa Grim invited me to sign books in front of the Pub and it was kind of like signing books at The Tavern! The only thing missing was Doc Delaney, but if you pair a Pub gift card with a copy of my Christmas novella, that reader on your list will be able to have both!

What about a copy of Kick It One More Time  OR Like A Flip Turn , which are both novels that also take place in the fictional town of Lake Caywood? Unlike my Christmas novella, however, Kick It  and Flip Turn  each contain several scenes that take place at Bottomless Joe’s… which is a coffee shop inspired by the real-life Ragged Edge. In fact, when Cassandra Alling (narrator of the audio version of Flip Turn ) visited Gettysburg and stepped into the back garden of the Ragged Edge, she expressed that it felt as though she’d stepped into a work of fiction. So why not gift a friend either of the aforementioned titles and pair it with a Ragged Edge gift card?

Do you have a reader on your list who also enjoys beer? Just Whistle is the way to go (although Running Through the Words also fits that same bill). The Brewhaha (an old farmhouse-turned-brewery) is known for its magical floor plan: the rooms come and go with no rhyme or reason. The Brewhaha is also  known for its unique beers… some of which are (coincidentally) quite similar to those found at Michaux Brewing Company . One can’t really go wrong with beer and books…

At this point in time, all four members of Flannel Lobster (my favorite fictional band!) have novels of their own: Kick It One More Time  (Sebastian), Running Through the Words  (Bert), Uptempo, Down  (Finn), and Dog-Eared Life  (Russo). And do you know what else the boys of Flannel Lobster are selling these days? Merch! You can find stickers, t-shirts, hoodies, and more on . Now that  would make a solid present under the tree.

Last but not least, both Time Jumps  and Torn Asunder  take place in Callensburg, Maryland, and though Callensburg isn’t really much like Gettysburg, it does have something in common with my hometown: Garryowen! (Although, in my books, the Irish tavern is known as Rory O’Sullivan’s.) Consider pairing the gift of literature with the nourishment that comes from a wee bit of fish ‘n’ chips. Garryowen gift cards can double as bookmarks too!

Get to gifting some quality presents while supporting a local artist and some of her favorite (mostly local) establishments at the same time!

Augusta, My Friend & Teacher

When I adopted Augusta in May of 2020, I imagined she'd be similar to my previous terriers: stubborn, lovable, clownish, energetic, and intelligent.

Don't get me wrong: Augusta is all of these things!

But she is also fearful... and she generally exhibits the most fear when someone approaches her in her home, which is a place where she's meant to feel safe. This level of fear has resulted in a couple of bites, some professional dog training, and a lot of caution on my part. Is life with Augie always easy? Far from it, in fact... but my shaggy terrier, whose birthday is on Tuesday, has taught me so very much about standing up for my rights.

If Augusta feels threatened, she acts. She isn't one who sits back and allows things to happen to her. She's proactive with a bark, and if the person issuing the threat doesn't heed her warning, Augie isn't afraid to use her teeth.

I have decided that, like my brave girl, I will no longer be afraid to use my teeth.

A little over half of Americans who voted in this year's election decided it was a good idea to put someone in office who continues to get what he wants because he's a bully with deep pockets. Our president-elect used fear to gain votes. He spread blatant lies about Kamala Harris reinstating the draft, he spread blatant lies about transgender students receiving reassignment surgeries in schools, and he spread blatant lies about the consumption of pets by Haitians. He fabricated entire stories that uneducated Americans bought into... and it hurts both my stomach and my heart when I think about some of the people in my world who voted for such an unkind and manipulative monster.

There is not a doubt in my mind that Augusta would bite our president-elect if given the chance. (And then our president-elect would likely ask Kristi Noem to shoot my dog for misbehaving.)

Like Augusta, I want to use my teeth. And my words. And my voice. I want to be brave.

America is my home, and as a woman, I currently feel threatened.

America is my home, and as an educator, I currently feel threatened.

America is my home, and as a democrat, I currently feel threatened.

But America is my home.

I have the right to feel safe in my home. I have the right to protect my home. I have the right to use my teeth.

An Unexpected Veteran's Day Post

I toyed with writing a Veteran's Day post... and then I second-guessed myself because I've legitimately been feeling really low lately. But then a thing happened, and that thing involves my student Balance-on-Chair-Backs-Despite-a-Concussion, who came up to me earlier today and used the phrase "Otay" instead of "Okay."

"My grandpa used to say 'Otay,'" I told him... and so now I'm writing this post.

I, like the majority of the world, have two grandfathers. Both of mine have since passed... and are likely rolling in their graves since our President Elect has labeled World War II veterans, again and again, as "losers" and "suckers." But my Grandpa and Pappy were not losers or suckers. They were good men. They weren't perfect men... but they were really good men.

My Grandpa, who was my mom's father, was bald when I knew him. At least, he was bald in the memories I have of him... which makes it extra humorous that my favorite memory of him has to do with hair. He used to buy turnips (or maybe he grew them? I don't even know...) and slice them and we'd eat them raw, with salt, and when we ate them raw, with salt, together, he'd always say, "Eat that. It'll make your hair curly."

Not sure if it's the result of genetics or the turnips my grandfather fed me, but I do , in fact, have curly hair.

And then there's my Pappy -- my dad's father -- who was perhaps the jolliest person I've ever known. Pappy appreciated a strong vodka martini with ample olives... and even when I was no more than a child (five years old!) he'd let me eat those vodka-saturated olives.

To this day, olives are among my top ten favorite things of all time, and while I know I've said this a million times before, I'm gonna say it again (because it's clever and true): If you take the letters of the word OLIVE and rearrange them, you get "I love." And that's how I feel about olives.

It's how Pappy felt about olives too.

My grandfathers were not perfect... but they weren't "losers" or "suckers" either. They were good men.

Happy Veterans' Day to all the people out there who have fought for our country... and who continue to fight in the hopes that it might someday be the all-mighty nation it has the potential to be.

This guy might be the reason I've got curls...

My very favorite penpal of all-time, Pappy and I used to exchange letters several times every week. I still have every correspondence he shared with me.