Scotland 2026 by Naguib Kerba

 Scotland 2026 — Naguib Sami Kerba Photography

Fall Colour by J. S. Marlo

Wide of the Mark

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I grew up in Eastern Canada, and my favourite season has always been fall.

When I was young I loved school, so I was always excited to go back to school, and I was born in the fall. I also loved the change of colours, but at the time, I didn't realize how lucky I was to see such a beautiful scenery in my own backyard.

In my current northern corner of Canada, we have lots of evergreen and some deciduous trees, but no maple trees. In the fall, most leaves turn yellow than brown. Right now, the forest behind my house is a tapestry of dark green, light green, and yellow. It's pretty but it doesn't compare to the forests in Eastern Canada.

It's hard to explain to someone who's never seen maple trees how their leaves paint the forest in the fall. They turn sunny yellow, radiant orange, bright red, and every shade in between. Every tree is different. Some turn only one colour while others have leaves of different colours. 

I'm currently on vacation near where I grew up, in the middle of the change of colours. It had been over a decade since I was here in the fall, and it's even more beautiful than I remember. So, this month, I will leave you with these pictures.

Enjoy the fall!

JS

 

 

J. S. Marlo's Website

A Paranormal Investigation by Eileen O'Finlan

 

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In September I posted about meeting with Jo MacGugan, a paranormal investigator, as part of the research for my upcoming novel, The Haunting of Blackberry Hill. I want to have my characters bring in a team of paranormal investigators to help them figure out what is going on in their house. But I didn't know what exactly paranormal investigators do. During our conversation, Jo told me about an investigation that she would soon be doing in Worcester and suggested I attend.

The investigation was held at Salisbury House, the headquarters for Preservation Worcester, an organization that preserves the historic sites and structures of the city of Worcester, Massachusetts. It was built in the mid-1830s and is supposedly haunted. Jo and her colleague, Shannon, led the investigation. My friend, Carol, came with me and we, along with 14 other attendees accompanied them in their investigation of the ballroom, basement, an upstairs bedroom, and the attic. 

We got to see several pieces of paranormal investigation equipment in action. There were electronic voice phenomena recorders, electromagnetic field detectors, a few different response devices including my favorite, the Epoch Box which actually allowed spirits to answer us with a yes or no, infrared cameras, and, Jo's favorite, a spirit box.

We didn't actually see any ghosts (for which I am grateful) but we did hear a few voices when the recorders were played back that we definitely did not hear while the device was recording. The Epoch Box got a bit of a workout in the basement. And while up in the attic, a music box started playing by itself.

The spirit box came into use in the attic. My friend, Carol, was the first to try it. I gave it a go next. The spirit box is a small handheld device, not much bigger than a cell phone. The person listening to it wears a blindfold and noise-canceling headphones that are plugged into the spirit box. The rest of us asked questions of the spirit. The person with the spirit box can't hear any of the questions because of the noise-canceling headphones. All they can hear is what's coming from the spirit box which sounds just like someone flipping radio stations at high speed with a lot of static in between. If the spirit answers, it will come through in the static at which point, the person with the box is to say out loud whatever they hear.

When it was my turn, I thought I heard a voice in the static three different times, but I couldn't make out what was being said. It was definitely the same voice each time, though. 

I never thought I would take part in something like this. Though I love ghost stories and I'm fascinated by tales of hauntings, I'm a big chicken when it comes to putting myself in the way of it. Still, I'm very glad I did it. Having had that experience will allow me to write the scenes with the paranormal investigators with better accuracy and much more realistically. Thanks, Jo and Shannon!

Carol using the spirit box in the attic of the Salisbury House

How To Give A Compliment by Julie Christen

Voices                                    Echoes                                    Slingers

Help yourself to your very own copy by clicking on the links above!

Complimenting 101

There are so many tiny, significant things in life that we can do to make a positive impact on people around us. I'm not just talking about positively impacting our loved ones, those whom we care most deeply, though this lesson applies quite heartily to them as well. I'm also speaking about making an impact on people we may not even know, or possibly never see more than once in our brief, little blips here on this planet. These simple things are easy, cost nothing, and take no time at all. But they do require thought and a smidgeon of practice. 

I'm talking about compliments. Specific, detailed, and heartfelt compliments. It's surprising how well these rules apply to writing reviews for authors!

I don't pretend to be an expert at this, mind you, but I do pay attention to the masters. I notice how they make me feel. I dream of being like them. I want to leave that kind of impression on someone, the kind that lingers in some good way. I don't expect acknowledgement, really. I just want to try hard enough to fuel a soft hope within me that tells me I did. 

And that's enough. 

#1: Be specific. "You're awesome," and "Thank you for all you do," are nice starts. They certainly get the ball rolling. Unfortunately, that's where many people stop. The reality is, those blanket statements, standing alone, are really just white noise. People appreciate them in the moment but forget them quickly. They might even come across as canned. 

What single thing did that special person do that was worthy of "awesome"? Who was involved? Where did the complimentary moment(s) happen? When did you realize these specific things were praise-worthy?

Help the person you are complimenting remember the specifics. They quite probably don't.

#2: Be detailed. Use sensory words to help them understand. Lay out an example. Give the person a frame of reference that brings them to the conclusion that they do, indeed, deserve the compliment. Many are too quick to dismiss a compliment. They may be overly humble. They may be skeptical. They may be lacking in self-esteem. 

Prove they are worthy with the details. 

Tell them why they have earned it. 

Hope that it encourages
them to do it again or keep on keeping on.

#3: Be genuine. Speak from a vulnerable place in your heart. Use your "feelings words."  Tell them how they made you feel. This is not about you. It's about them. It's about giving something away, expecting nothing in return.

Treat each compliment like a gift to be treasured.

So that it will be.

#4: Repeat.

A life well lived – highlights and hiccups by donalee Moulton

 

 

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I was recently asked about life’s pleasures as a writer, and otherwise. I thought I’d share some of my likes and dislikes with you. Would love to hear your answers.

 

Things you never want to run out of: Chocolate, sweat pants, downward dogs

Things you wish you’d never bought: White chocolate, stilettos, a gym membership

 

Hardest thing about being a writer: Writing
Easiest thing about being a writer: Talking about writing with other writers

Favorite foods: Miso chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, baked gnocchi

Things that make you want to gag: Snails (even if you call it “escargot”), lima beans, coconut

 

Favorite music or song: I like music I can move to or with lyrics that move me

Music that drives you crazy: Opera (sadly)

 

Last best thing you ate: Cider doughnuts
Last thing you regret eating: Some waxy wrap thing with shredded carrots

 

The last thing you ordered online: A protective cover for my phone

The last thing you regret buying: A wool winter coat that’s itchy to look at and itchy to wear

 

Things you always put in your books: Humor
Things you never put in your books: Blood, guts, gore (at least so far)

 

Favorite places you’ve been: Sable Island, Thailand, Sweden
Places you never want to go to again: Yoga retreats with yurts

 

Favorite books (or genre): Charlotte’s Web, Where the Crawdad’s Sing, The Marriages Between Zones Three, Four, and Five

Books you wouldn’t buy: Horror

 

Best thing you’ve ever done: Written books and stories and poems and articles
Biggest mistake: Going to the opera ties with joining a gym

 

The nicest thing a reader said to you: One reader posted a picture of themselves lounging in the sun reading Hung Out to Die. They captioned it “Perfect afternoon.”

The craziest thing a reader said to you: Some readers see sexual tension between two characters in Hung Out to Die. I just don’t see it.

 

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: I can get up off the floor without using my hands. So can one of my characters.

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: Love of coffee. I don’t drink caffeine.