It’s me, grabbing a free moment to post. I work in a greenhouse and it is definitely our busy season. Six or seven days a week leaves me very little time for anything else.
So, just a quickie to let you know that I’ll be back, beginning of July, with a summer-full of magick! Hope everyone is enjoying the warmer weather, and sweet repast of the vacation season!
Blessings!
Selena
I cannot believe it’s been almost 10 days since I’ve posted. But that’s summer at the greenhouse. I’ve been working, working, working all the time and I am so grateful for my job there. I am also grateful for my partner’s health, my rotti’s beauty, and the fact that most of the time I’m old enough to know better.
What are you grateful for?
I haven’t joined in a flash challenge, contest or anything lately so when I was Tagged – Lucky 7 style by Yikici, I hesitated at first. But I couldn’t resist. So here is the deal. I get to tag 7 more people. Here are the directions for those lucky people!
First:
Go to page 7 or 77 in your current manuscript
-Go to line 7
-Post on your blog the next 7 lines, or sentences, as they are – no cheating
Tag 7 other authors to do the same. Seven sentences…
Now…here are my lines from The Diary:
Wide as she was tall Rhoda waddled around the spotless kitchen, frying bacon and pouring milk, preparing breakfast. Raign ran her fingers through her dark tousled hair as she watched the housekeeper slowly stirring the heavy iron pot, a large wooden spoon in her hand. The smell of Rhoda’s wizardry at the stove comforted her.
“Shouldn’t we be out looking, Rhoda?”
Rhoda paused as she stirred the vat of bacon gravy and turned to look at the distraught girl, her eyes still moist.
“We will, Miss Raign. But we can’t do anything in the dark.”
Ted stepped into the kitchen, followed by Daniel, and went directly to Rhoda. Not much taller than her, he put his arm across his wife’s shoulders and whispered something in her ear. Rhoda nodded her head as Ted turned to Raign. When he saw her eyes, dark violet and haunted against her pale skin, he leaned over and kissed her forehead.
Wow! that was easier than I thought!
Sonia Medieros, Haley Whitehall, Joss Burnell, Billie Jo Woods, M.J. Shorts, Ranae Rude, Terri Sonoda
Tag! You are it!
A lot has been happening…lots of changes, all good! I went to visit my daughter for a few days in North Carolina, then on to visit my spiritual sister in western NC. Loved it so much I took my partner to see it; it looks like we may have found our new home! Exciting and scary.
Since we are in the Growing Tide (Spring Crossroads to Summer Solstice) I am focusing my thoughts and actions towards manifesting the perfect home in Black Mountain. When trying to produce such a complex thing, it takes a lot of visualization and clear thinking to let the gods know exactly what we are looking for. Size, cost, location; all are important to me. My partner picked the name from the map, saying it sounded good. She repeated it several times during our travels, unwittingly answering a subtle call from this little town outside of Asheville. So we drove there on a beautiful spring morning and were both instantly in love.
We toured the town and now have a good grip on the energy and vitality of the land. Stopping at a little bistro for lunch, our waitress just ‘happened’ to have recently moved there and during our conversation we discovered several options for finding a house. These little synchronicities are so important in following your bliss. Flowing with the river, dipping into the magickal realm and listening closely for clues is the secret to manifestation. It felt right, and so I did my part and set the ball in motion, so to speak. With realtors phone numbers, pictures, receipt from the bistro, and a sprig of dogwood laying on my altar, I let go and let the powers that be do their thing.
Moving is a very big deal, as most people know, especially when I am beyond the hump in my years. But the advantage of being older is that my faith is stronger. Years of experience have taught me that allowing things to happen in due course is the best way to find a peaceful path. So! I am slowing packing, still letting go of unnecessary possessions, and waiting with joy for the next clue!
Many Blessings on the Path!
Just a little something to keep you up at night…..
The Peabodys
The stair creaks beneath my feet as I wave my hand frenetically to clear the cobweb from my face. Catching my breath, 
I listen, my body rigid with fear. The empty house above remains silent and after counting to 30, I continue up through the dark, step by step toward the first floor.
The railing beneath my left hand feels grimy with the dirt and blood of those who have come before. I don’t want to touch it, but cannot let it go; my ankles throb from the heavy chains that kept me tethered to the floor. I had finally been able to slip out of the bonds, leaving my ankles bloody and bruised. Even though my captors slept in the attic their hearing was keen. I would not take the chance of falling in the dark and waking them up.
~
I had crossed the fence that marked the boundary between Old Man Carter’s wheat field and Deadwood Forest out of sheer obstinacy. Clarissa, my little sister, begged me not too, then told me I was stupid to try. She reminded me of the stories about the Peabody family, the poor group of souls that had been murdered in their home by some rampaging lunatic that had escaped the asylum. She reminded me that the ghosts of the murdered family were the reason that people that went in, never came out. But I didn’t believe in ghosts and that story was fifty years old, just a fairy tale used to keep children away from the deep woods. Or so I thought. After becoming lost, I had stumbled around in the dark until I heard voices. Frantic, I called out for help, following the sound. I heard laughter from right behind me, a sudden pain from a blow to the head, then nothing.
My fear has turned cold over the last three weeks. At least I think it has been three weeks. Days of huddling in the corner of the basement chamber was followed by nights of screams I hear coming from someplace close by. The same screams that drew me to the mist shrouded house squatting deep inside the forest, and its inhabitants.~
Finally reaching the top of the stairs, I lean toward the solid wooden door, listening, and wondered fleetingly about the unlocked basement door. Not one to question luck until recently, I took it as a mistake, hoping that it was not a trap. Hearing nothing from the other side, I reach for the handle and slowly push. The door creaks quietly. From another room nearby I hear the chiming of an old clock. 1, 2, I step up the final step; 3, 4, 5, still no sounds or movement except for the chimes. Gingerly peering around edge of the door and I glance into the kitchen; 6, 7, 8, 9; stepping silently away from the door I carefully close it and the latch clicks as the last chimes echo through the house, 10, 11, 12.
The stench assaults me, the cloying odor of old blood and rotting meat, and beneath that something far more frightening. Backing up against the door, I turn away from the kitchen with my hand across my mouth and begin to limp toward the room from which the clock had chimed. I felt the gorge rising in my throat and fight to keep from vomiting. The front door is just a few steps away, the darkness is nearly complete save for a lighter square that marks a small window to the outside. My heart is pounding so loud in my ears that I barely heard the click that preceded the blinding light that blazes suddenly from overhead.
“SURPRISE!” the voices growled, the voices from the people that sat around the crusted dining table, spoons, knives and forks held aloft.
It was my turn to scream
I am so grateful for sugar free pudding, wet kisses from little Chloe, grandsons who offer to mow the yard (yes!), a simple meal with dear friends, and the final payment on the credit card. Woo-hoo!
Blessed weekend to you all!
I recently returned from a life changing vacation. The first half was spent with my daughter. I haven’t seen her for months, as she moved to North Carolina last year, and the distance afforded me a new perspective. A full grown woman with children, she is going through a crisis of identity and self-power. She needs her mommy more than any other time in her life. Living so far away I cannot see her everyday, but I realized that there are still ways for me to support her, encourage her, and thank Goddess, be her friend.
The second half of my vacation was spent with my soul sister. I’ve known her for 30 years and even though we have lived a continent apart for most of it, we have kept in touch and shared a strong spiritual connection. We joined our first coven together, and after she moved away, our paths seemed to diverge. In reality, we have always traveled together, different perspectives creating double growth on both our parts. This last visit was a phenomenal revelation for both of us.
We have that sort of relationship of mutual respect, each allowing the other to speak fully and share ideas, thoughts and answers on equal ground. I have been in a spiritual crisis for a long time now, and when I need understanding with this issue, she is my go-to friend. So we talked about it. Who is my personal goddess? The one from Greece? The one from Thrace? The one from Ireland? The gnostic one? You can see how confusing it can be–and has been. But I can always trust that when my friend and I get together, a lot of stuff gets hashed out. One of the first things I was shocked to encounter was that maybe I wasn’t asking the right questions.
My sister and I love to have ‘conversations.’ This one carried an immense power and healing and the result is the reason for the change of this blog. Over the next few months I plan on going into some depth about my personal revelations.
I welcome comments, constructive dialogue and debate.
Many, Many Blessings!
Granny is hopping the broomstick and flying out to see her grandbabies! Be back soon…..
Today I am so proud to introduce Haley Whitehall. She was one of the first blogging friends I made when I started blogging, and it’s been a joy to follow her journey to publication.
1. Congratulations on publishing Living Half Free as an ebook! I know you had considered traditional publishing; what changed your mind?
After pitching my novel at a writing conference, the agent said that she liked the idea (wanted to read it too), but I would have to rewrite large chunks of my novel to fit into the mainstream market. Her comment made me wonder: do I really want to bend my creativity to be in the mainstream market?
No, I decided. The publishing industry is constantly changing and self-publishing is becoming a more viable option for many authors. After some formatting, it was simple to upload my manuscript to be sold as an ebook through Smashwords, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.
Living Half Free is an out of the box story set in the antebellum south. When Zachariah, a naïve mulatto slave, is sold to a Kentucky slave trader, and separated from his ma and sister, he realizes the true meaning of not having rights. Seeking escape, he falls in love with a Cherokee woman, under whose direction he learns to pass as white. But, he must find his voice, and the courage to stand up for his beliefs or else lose everyone he loves forever.
2. Has this experience changed the way you feel about your goal of being a published writer? If yes, in what way?
My goal has always been to make writing my career. That has not changed. It is just as exhilarating to see my name on the cover of my book as it would be if I had gone through a traditional publisher. Living Half Free will be available in paperback through CreateSpace by the end of March and hopefully in some bookstores. When I was younger, I thought all published authors had to do was write and the books magically sold themselves. Now I know that a lot more work is involved. Being a published writer is not easy. It will take me years of long hours at the keyboard to make writing my career. I have also learned that setting little goals along the way is key. My second novel, the first in a Civil War series will be out this summer.
3. Can you tell us a little about your decision? (to e-publish)
I decided to self-publish because I didn’t want to give up control of my novel and career to others. I wanted to be in the driver’s seat. I am now in charge of my own marketing. Ebook sales continue to increase as more and more people are reading novels digitally. I wanted to e-publish to reach every reader I could.
4. What sparked your dream to be a published writer?
I have always been one of those kids who were good at telling stories. Before I knew how to write, I would wake my parents up in the middle of the night to write down my ideas. In the first grade, my teacher told me I was going to be an author some day. I knew in my heart that was what I was meant to do. I want to share my stories with others. I have chosen to write historical fiction because I hope to each people a little history along the way.
5. What inspires you to write?
I’m internally driven to write. It is hard to explain the rush I get. As far as how do I get the inspiration for my stories, I am continually reading history books, diaries, and old letters. Any strange bit of history could get me thinking about a potential protagonist or plot. After I plan the story in my mind, I sit down and write. I also seek inspiration from nature. Taking a walk and looking at all the wildlife usually causes my mind to wander down the historical road.
6. What would you share with our readers about following your dreams?
If your dream is unconventional or if it is a long shot that doesn’t mean it can’t happen. Do not give up. Someone has to win American Idol. I’ve taken a lot of criticism about not following a conventional career path. But if you are doing what you love, then it shines through. I believe if you learn everything you can about what you need to do to accomplish your dream, and have perseverance, patience, and dedication that dream is possible.
HALEY WHITEHALL has a B.A in history and has been studying the Civil War era since the 5th grade. Her writing style is Mark Twain with a little more faith. She likes to write out of the box stories that feature an underdog. LIVING HALF FREE is her debut novel. Released February 29, the ebook can be found at Amazon, B&N, and Smashwords. Find out more about Haley through her website or connect with her on Twitter @HaleyWhitehall or Facebook.
