Hello blog friends, 

It's Tanka Tuesday and poet Colleen Chesebro has a new prompt. This week's challenge is synonyms only. And participants must choose synonyms for these two words CLOSE and OPEN. 

On summery days, I enjoy hearing the laughter of children, and often these little ones run with arms outstretched. I bet you can remember doing the same. 

My poem is a simple Tanka, which tries to capture some of the child-energy that captivates us all. I hope you enjoy it. 

This was fun to craft. Did you notice my synonyms? 😊

Have a great week, dear friends. Maybe you can sneak in a couple airplane trips around the yard. 

Hello, dear blog friends!

It's #TankaTuesday, but I'm on my way to NYC and do not have today's prompt. Because of that, I've created a tanka related to my trip and to a treasure we all share. You'll see it below.

I spent about thirty years in the greater NYC area, teaching and working in college administration. My kids grew up there and established life-long friendships. As years passed, they moved back into the area and embarked on something new. 

My three sons established a restaurant chain, Calexico, and they've courageously weathered the trials of entrepreneurship. The pandemic hit them hard, but they're still standing. For sure, I'll be eating some great Mexican food on this trip.

My daughter is busy with her boys in Connecticut. She has a great love of the arts and grew up on her toes. She and her sons will be joining in the family gatherings. How exciting is that! 

I hope you have a great week. When I return next Wednesday, I'll try to find you on your blogs. Catching up is always hard to do, but I'll give it my best. 

I hope you stay well and laugh much. ❤️  

Hello blog friends,

It's #TankaTuesday and poet Colleen Chesebro has a new prompt. Today she asks that participants use the photo on the right (by Terri Webster Schrandt) as inspiration. 

Years back I traveled with my children to Alaska. Totems such as this were everywhere visible, and we soon discovered why.

In Seward, we took a small-boat cruise into the Kenai Fjords where we saw glaciers and mountainsides covered in eagles. It was breathtaking and forever memorial.

We watched as eagles soared, dove into the chilly waters, and returned to their nests with fish. I was struck by both their beauty and their freedom. 

In my tanka, I try to capture that freedom. Unhampered by worries, these majestic birds glide through the air as though it were their personal playground. Oh, to be so free! 

I hope you have a wonderful week. Soar freely, dear friends. 😊

Hello blog friends,

This week, poet Colleen Chesebro has a unique #TankaTuesday prompt. She invites all those who are interested to choose a color and compose a syllabic poem. Participants must include one color trait from her list in their poem. 

I've chosen the color orange and the associated traits are: success, uplifting, thoughtfulness, adaptability, joy, and intellect. My selected trait is uplifting.   

My poem is titled Granddad Memories. I hope you enjoy it. 

Have a wonderful week! ❤️

Hello blog friends,

I have a treat for you today. ​Author and blogger Dan Antion joins us to share a bit about himself and his post-retirement avocation -- writing.

Dan grew up in the Pittsburg, PA area. He and his family now live in Connecticut, but his stories often include scenes from his early formative Pennsylvania years.  

Prior to writing for the masses, Dan had a long career in technology as a systems developer. In his own words, "I made my living creating what wasn’t included by the architects and builders."

In addition to writing, Dan enjoys other creative endeavors: photography, making furniture, building cabinetry, and working in and around his house. He often shares these great loves on his blog.

Let's see what Dan has to say about writing. I sent him six questions, and his responses are below. His explanations and shares found a place in my heart, and I suspect the same will be true for you. Enjoy!  

You’ve published three books in five months. That’s an amazing feat. How did you manage that?

I wrote the books over a period of almost two and a half years. When it became clear that I was writing a series, instead of the one book I had planned, several authors advised me to hold off publishing any of them until I had three complete drafts. That proved to be good advice, since changes occurred across the timeline. The book I was planning to write, The Evil You Choose, is the second book in the series. On the advice of friends, I decided to write the backstory, and a stubborn character prompted me to write the third book.

​What surprised you about publishing books?
​
There were so many things. First, I was surprised by how much research was involved in writing fiction. Then I was shocked by how much work was involved after the books were finished. I always thought writing a book would be the hard part. A more positive surprise is the degree to which people were willing to help me, and the acceptance in the community, which has been humbling and heartwarming. I follow many authors, and the Story Empire blog you write for, and I have been amazed at how much these authors are willing to share about the process and help with answering questions and again with promotion.