'Tis the spookiest weekend of the year! This morning I listened to some pieces on fear. We seem to live a lot in fear these days. Haven't we always? One of the segments talked about why we are attracted to horror. Google the question if you want! You'll find plenty of articles. I'm someone not …
I've finished NaNoWriMo! I have not, of course, finished the novel. It's a massive rewrite of a previous NaNo novel. I scrapped half the plot and took the story in a new direction. Now there's a ghost! No, it's not a horror story. The ghost has a lively (lively?) personality, but the story is really …
Welcome to the beauty of the last months of the year, the change of the trees, the chill in the air, the land going fallow (at least in this northern half of the planet). The first frost can worry and terrify those without shelter or those who need the bright warm sun. The falls calls …
October arrives! Welcome witches and all! I'm here for it, in spite of everything. But this post isn't really about Halloween. One of my goals as we in this hemisphere slide into winter is to create more space or rather to clear out more stuff that I do not need. Last year, I tried the …
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.
Two days in and I'm sticking to my plan. I've taken two old stories and finished them up. Well, I say finished... Yesterday, I reworked my story on a typewriter. Last year, I came across this typewriter in a thrift shop on sale for $20. Twenty bucks! And the blooming thing works! (Maybe I've talked …
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 …
I'm late with my October celebrations. In part because Story-a-Day September tired me out. It takes a while to recover. It's also because I've been too distracted by the news, reading article after article about events that matter to me. But October it is! My favorite month. And I'd be sad if I didn't honor …
Marta Pelrine-Bacon 