Category: research
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Why I never became a travel agent
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The Cambridge Dictionary describes an adventure as “an exciting, unusual, and potentially risky undertaking. It often involves stepping outside your comfort zone, embracing unpredictability”, and mentions the “psychological thrill of a daring journey”. My hubby and I began our adventures before we even embarked on our honeymoon. We’d just gotten…
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How quickly things change
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This is not a political blog post. It’s about how countries evolve, develop problems and work them out. Authors pay attention to these things when we’re crafting the worlds our stories play out in. I wasn’t paying a lot of attention in May, when the protests in Bolivia began –…
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When life mirrors my books!
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My hubby, along with a number of people I know, isn’t a particular fan of vegetables. He’ll eat them under sufferance because he knows they’re good for him, and because I won’t let him eat just meat, potatoes and gravy all the time. So I can only imagine his reaction…
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Inspired by Ancient Mythology
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Along with the eerie literature and movies that were big influences for me as a child and early story-teller (Edgar Allan Poe, The Twilight Zone, etc.), I also grew up on what I loosely call ‘sword-and-sandal’ movies. Officially, the term ‘sword-and-sandal’ refers to a popular genre of Italian knock-off movies…
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Strange writer research
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“You’re researching what?” “Well,” I said to hubby, “I have this idea stuck in my head about the librarians on the archive planet of Jebeha being lizard-like.” He shrugged. He’s used to the weird things that come out of my brain. Why lizards? I don’t know — I just go…
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The Titanic sinking – new evidence
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“My mother had a premonition from the very word ‘GO.’ She knew there was something to be afraid of and the only thing that she felt strongly about was that to say a ship was unsinkable was flying in the face of God. Those were her words.” Eva Hart, Titanic Survivor…
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Found sequel of Merlin and King Arthur
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There likewise I beheld ExcaliburBefore him at his crowning borne, the swordThat rose from out the bosom of the lake,And Arthur rowed across and took it — richWith jewels, elfin Urim, on the hilt,Bewildering heart and eye — the blade so brightThat men are blinded by it — on one…
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Rosemary: cook, remember and ward off the Plague
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One of the things I love the most about December is its fragrances, of fresh evergreens in the house, bay or pine scented candles, good food on the stove and in the oven – and on the table. One of the things I love the least about winter as it…
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The ancient (and racy) origins of holiday feasting
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I begin to sing about Poseidon, the great god,mover of the earth and fruitless seagod of the deep who is also lord of Helicon and wide Aegae.A two-fold office the gods allotted you,O Shaker of the Earth, to be a tamer of horsesand a saviour of ships!Hail, Poseidon, Holder of…
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The Mysteries of the Magi
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When I was around five years old, my grandfather passed away, and I remember his funeral chiefly for the overwhelming amount of incense – so oppressive and acrid that it made me cry. (I was sensitive to smells at an early age.) One of the typical components of incense used…