historical fiction writer, amateur photographer, retired computer guru and math geek
At Stane Hame, a first-century tribal village near Cullykhan Bay in Scotland, Mooragh, spiritual leader of the Caledonia tribe known as the Taezali, worships at the standing stone--the place where she hears the Goddess.* They communicate with visions: Mooragh is mute. She is also young--perhaps in her teens. Far too young to be a spiritual … Continue reading Book Review: Sisters at the Edge of the World, by Ailish Sinclair
In September, 1942, Tadashi is on a troop carrier in the East China Sea en route to the Philippines when their ship is hit by a monsoon. As the ship rocks violently, as men are blown overboard and booms toppled, Tadashi fears that his decision to leave his family and defend his country will have … Continue reading The Poetry of “War Sonnets”: En Route to War
In the spirit of our recently celebrated Independence Day, I'd like make a proposal: National Service. It's true that military conscription is not the issue it was when I was a youth. Back then we protested being forced to participate in a war that we considered immoral. Back then we campaigned for the right to … Continue reading Soapbox: National Service
A few months ago, I reported on our three old dogs, Kody 17, Emmit 15, and Riley 15, and our cat JellyBean. Things change. We lost Emmit shortly after that post. In late August we decided it was time to let Kody cross the "Rainbow Bridge." Only Riley remains of the three old dogs. He … Continue reading Update: Three old dogs…
When my partner, Charlie, and I merged households a few years back, I arrived with a dog to add to the two he already had. Mine was a beagle named Riley, about four years old. He had two pugs—Grace and Emmit—about the same age. Fast forward eleven years: Grace is no longer with us but … Continue reading Three Old Dogs and a Kitty
Contrary to what you may think, this is not the real “Harry and Sally.” At least, that’s what my best friend in high school and I have always believed. Seriously - “best friends” not “This guy I’ve got a big crush on but he’s not interested.” He was the tall and handsome basketball jock that … Continue reading The Real “Harry and Sally”
Love. Friendship. Weird Birds. Thirty-one-year-old Xiomara (Xo) wants a reset on life. She ditches her job and heads to the small town of Lingen where she accepts a part-time position doing what she loves: drawing and painting local birds for an upcoming field guide. As much as she would like a boyfriend, she feels awkward, … Continue reading Book Review: “The Third Thing”, by Sirkka Smith
Is anyone out there who doesn't love to read? Hands up? Didn't think so. Several of my favorite authors have recently or will soon release new titles. The Evening and the Morning--Ken FollettHis books are l-o-o-o-ng but usually really good and interesting historical fiction.Troubled Blood--Robert GalbraithGalbraith, aka JK Rowling writes a good mystery. This is … Continue reading My Christmas Book Wishlist
We’ve been exploring Ireland these past couple of weeks, a somewhat leisurely tour of the Emerald Isle starting in Dublin on the first of October. Three days in Dublin where we took a walking tour and a bus tour along with wandering the streets on our own. Then a train ride across to the west … Continue reading Ireland: Beauty and Bitterness
Even though we celebrated three days ago, today is the traditional celebration of what was once known as "Decoration Day." My grandfather used that term, and it aptly fit our task of decorating the graves of soldiers and family. The holiday originated in Waterloo, New York, a village near where I live and adjacent to the … Continue reading Memorial Day
Susannah Willey Writes 