June 2020 feels like a five-minute disaster movie sandwiched in between a bunch of other disaster movies in a century long disaster movie marathon. And yet nothing’s really happened. Though it’s been a little bit funny how wrong so many of those disaster movies and novels got it. Virtue May Jun Notes Pleasure: AdventurePlan and […]
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Lady of the Looking Glass: A Short Story
Sometimes, seeing is believing. Jessica woke hot and sweaty. With a thumping headache. And dry, gritty eyes. Alone. In a strange room. With no idea how she got there. She feels ill. Confused. Uncertain. What does the beautiful boy with mesmerising blue eyes have to do with this? An uplifting story about falling in love […]
Times Are Tough and Getting Tougher
June has been another tough month under Covid restrictions has passed, even though they’re easing a bit. Even homebodies like me are starting to chafe at not being able to get out and about much anymore. On the one hand, people want to get back to normal. On the other, most recognise that under present […]
Is the Old or New Normal Better For You?
It’s been a while since we went into lockdown, and restrictions are finally easing. We can eat out, go shopping and send our kids to school. Politicians have “won” the war on Covid, and are now talking about economic recovery and “getting back to normal,” even though many of us don’t have a normal to […]
Ship in a Bottle: A Slightly Scary Short Story
Alone in space… Almost. Edith wasn’t looking for adventure. Didn’t want the glory. Just needed the money. She’s a kitchen hand. Doesn’t know what to do with an empty ship in deep space. No idea if she can get home. Or how to. “Ship in a Bottle” by Alexandria Blaelock, was free on this website […]
How to Choose Appropriate Makeup
So. I mentioned last time I’d intended to talk about appropriate makeup. And this is the post I’m going to do it in. It’s a clown free zone, so don’t be afraid to scroll down. While clothes and makeup seem very different, appropriate has a similar place when it comes to choosing what you wear. […]
Carlton the Human Hairpin
I have to start by saying this is not the post I set out to write, and if you’re not fond of clowns, you should immediately shut the page down and move on to something less frightening. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Now. I’ve written before about appropriateness in clothing and a little about […]
Shining Star: A Short Story
An author. An actor. An absolute mess! It’s a beautiful day at the movie studio. But author Jessica Mason thinks she might send her hero to Egypt. Then she meets him in the flesh of actor Jason Winter. He’s larger than life. And twice as attractive. She’s out of her depth. Can’t keep her story […]
A Feng Shui Garden
With the change in the seasons and the whole social isolation thing, we’ve been working in the garden. Weeding, mulching, pruning. And having done a bunch of Feng Shui research for a fiction project, I’ve discovered the possibility of a Feng Shui garden. It’s one of those forehead slapping “of course” moments. If you can […]
Long Weekend in the Snow: A Slightly Scary Short Story
Lies, Revenge and Black Magic. A beautiful cosy cottage in the mountains. Toasty warm inside beside the wood fire watching the snow fall outside. The perfect romantic getaway if ever there was one. City girl Jennifer waits for Justin to return with supplies. Alone. Cold. Hungry. A terrifying tale of love gone bad. Long Weekend […]
Henchmen
Who knew there was a reason henchmen (aka henchers) are called henchmen?
New! Short Story Sunday
I’ve started a new thing I’m calling Short Story Sunday. I’m releasing some of my older stories to celebrate my upcoming Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine debut. I’m a little bit nervous, and a little bit excited, and a little bit stressed, and a little bit proud. Because it marks a new phase in my writing […]
Kiss of Death: A Modern Myth Short Story
Life and death. But not as you know it. She saw Him in a dimly lit restaurant booth. Repellent, yet fascinating. Elbows on the table. Holding a glass of red wine. Watching her over the rim. When she looked again. He was gone. No sign He was ever there. She misses Him already. “Kiss of […]
May 2020 Progress Report
Sitting here, preparing to review May 2020, it just feels like a sucky month. And this is, of course, the point of a monthly review – there was always more that happened than you can remember. And it’s usually not as bad as you thought. Virtue Apr May Notes Pleasure: AdventurePlan and take an international […]
The Joy of Being
It seems to me there’s a lot of sh*t going on right now. We’re busy worrying about disease, job security, and how to make sure we don’t run out of what we see as necessary paper products. But what we’re forgetting, is that the only reason we can worry about those things, is that we […]
I’m Fine Just Behind
It’s been a long and hard couple of weeks, so I’ve fallen behind. But bearing in mind my friend Katie’s concern about her favourite blogger, I thought I’d post a picture and let you know I’m fine just behind. I chose this picture, because life feels a bit like it’s run aground. And I know […]
The Life-Changing Magic of Getting a Haircut
Somewhat related to my version of string theory is my hair theory, That getting a haircut can, and does change your life. And this year so far has been difficult for so many reasons. Most of us need the need for something life-changing. Vain as it sounds, not getting to the hairdresser, is one of […]
The Pleasure of Getting Things Done
Despite the hope of getting things done, we’re often better at starting than finishing them. Yet by definition, getting things done is all about the finish. Finish: A1. to complete something or come to the end of an activityB1. to eat, drink, or use something completely so that none remains Cambridge Dictionary And there’s the […]
Stress Free Virtual Dinner Party
It’s hard to stay connected in lock-down. You can’t meet in person, but you can get online and host a Virtual Dinner Party. No, it’s not the same, but it’s better than nothing. And as the important thing is to be together, and because most communications suppliers (e.g. Zoom or Skype) limit free plans to […]
The Little Things I’m Grateful For
When times are tough (like now), it can help to acknowledge the good things we’re grateful for. Some days are harder than others, and on those days, I try to focus on the little things I’m grateful for. The everyday ones that I would suffer without. Like the Hug Me bear (thanks again Mrs Sparkle) […]
April 2020 Progress Report
April 2020 just happened in between all the spaces. And there were a lot of spaces as (unsurprisingly) my appointments and meetings were cancelled or rescheduled one by one. I’m not fretting too much about being locked down. Though I would like a haircut and to sit down to eat in a restaurant. And maybe […]
It’s Weather for Ducks
I’m not sure why people compain about rain they call it nasty – weather for ducks! (Though I’m not exactly sure why it’s only weather for ducks, and not swans or ibis.) And when it rains, people run for cover, so they don’t get wet – like cats! But it’s just water, and something about […]
How to Set up a Giving Programme
About a hundred years ago (February 2020), I suggested we think about setting up a giving programme. What with the Covid-19 pandemic, a great deal has changed since then, and I have been astounded by how much ordinary people are contributing to the greater good. Some of the giving I’ve seen reported includes: Making protective […]
I Still Survive
Sometimes, the fact of being alive comes with a price. Sometimes you’re not thriving, sometimes it’s as much as you can do to come to a place where you can say “I still survive!” Especially when you live in a society that values youthful good looks over venerating the wisdom that comes with age. That […]
It’s Not War, it’s Sickness
All these fat old white men talking about a war on Covid-19 is making me irritable. It’s not war, it’s sickness. Viruses don’t hide out in trenches, send out scouts or submarines. You can’t carpet bomb a virus, or snipe it, or stick it in an internment camp. You can’t negotiate a cease fire, treaty […]