When my mom died 30 years ago today, she left behind many pieces of unfinished art. Though not enough. I wish there were more. Much of her art was in the hands of others, and I have only my memory of them. She made things before the days of Instagram and camera phones. When she …
When October arrives, it brings in magic. At least it does for me. I'm always a little sad when October departs (in no small part because my excuse to walk around in an outlandish dress must be packed away into the dark) though all is not lost. Christmas with its lights and ornaments is coming. …
The veil is lifting and your ghost waits there. Reach across with a gift and listen with care. Perhaps the breeze carries a voice or a song. The spirits crossing over shine bright and strong. Please welcome these guests. Wait. Do not leave. The celebration's just beginning on All Hallows' Eve.
October. The most magical month of the year. Here in the northern hemisphere summer is leaving and winter is coming. The cold wind takes the dead leaves and the candy industry rules the world. Horror movies splatter screens everywhere. Creepy, tacky, and macabre decorations spread over yards. People bemoan even thinking about costumes or they …
Last night I worked on a story for Story-a-Day. When the story began, I was sure a particular character was dead. As I came to the ending though, I brought her back to life. It wasn't because I loved her so much I couldn't let her go. Instead, I couldn't put her best friend through …
Sometimes terrible news distracts me from my writing. I don't mean terrible news affecting me directly, but nightmares visited upon friends, acquaintances, or strangers. You might think that working so much with words meant you had just the right words for any situation. I don't find this to be the case. We have many stories …
The witches gather together to prepare. Try to stop them if you dare. They cast their spells far and wide. They call for the spirits of those who've died. "Who among you stood up for the weak? We offer this moment for you to speak. Tell us you comforted, you encouraged, the small, you opened …
This week I'm remembering the first novel I ever fell in love with. I read voraciously as a child, going through all the books in the children's section of the local library and reading during classes instead of paying attention to the teacher. But Watership Down was a book on my mother's bookshelf. I was …
Violence-ophilia? Is that a word? Seems as if it should be. It's a virus, right? Sorry, Earth Humans. You've tested positive for the often fatal Violence-ophilia. Without treatment, prognosis is grim. Nonetheless, treatment is long and painful and not for the faint of heart. Step One: Accept diagnosis. Many patients prefer not to know. Step …
It's that holiday again. Every holiday seems to come with issues, right? New Year's Day has its resolutions and people who mock resolutions. It makes Facebook hit us with the-year-in-review, which for some folks is more of a reminder-of-heartache-loss-and failure. Thanks, FB! Valentine's Day makes some lovers happy, makes some lovers guilty (gifts? argh!), and …
Marta Bacon 