Dear blog friends,

I've been traveling for the last week or so, and because of that, I've missed many of your posts. I hope to catch up over these next few days, but if I miss yours, please know I'll be on track soon. 😊

My recent trip took me to Southern California, where I spent time with two of my sisters. I had not seen them for several years because of Covid, so our time together was particularly precious. We enjoyed the beautiful Self Realization meditation garden and the Botanical Garden, both in Encinitas. We also spent time at Balboa Park in San Diego. The days were perfect, and we celebrated the sunshine by walking the beach. 

Coming home brought rest and also a sense of loss. I miss my family, as I suspect all of you do. May you get to visit with them soon! ❤️
                                                                 
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I opened my email this morning to find a new poetry challenge from writer Colleen Chesebro. She invites us to respond to the theme: The Nature of Lightning. My Tanka tries to capture the energy of that phenomenon. I hope you enjoy it.​

Have a wonderful week! 

This week poet Colleen Chesebro invites writers to use the Shadorma form. It has a syllabic pattern of 3-5-3-3-7-5 syllables and otherwise, it is freestyle. 

My poem is a playful attempt to capture a mom's longings, and I've entitled it:
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My three sons, two grandsons, and a son-in-law (blue cap).

Have a wonderful rest of the week, and I hope a photo or phone call come your way soon. 😊

​Gwen, thank you so much for hosting me today. I’m delighted to be here with you and your readers to share The Haunting of Chatham Hollow. I co-authored this novel with Staci Troilo, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It was amazing to work with a co-author, especially someone as talented as Staci. She and I found we work great together, so who knows—maybe another down the road.
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For now, we hope others will enjoy our supernatural mystery which includes dual timelines, ghostly happenings, a town curse, murder, and rumors of buried gold.  During our short promo tour, you’ll meet several characters who populate the book. Today, I’d like to introduce sisters Elayne and Shelley Orrman from the 1888 timeline. Spiritualism is a key thread in the book, so Staci and I thought we’d have each character sit down with a medium as a way of introduction.
Let’s listen in.

SPIRTUALIST: Welcome ladies. It’s a pleasure to meet you both. I’ve already met your mother, Dorinda, and your aunt, Irene Chatham.

ELAYNE:  Mother suggested we come.

SPIRTUALIST: Why is that?

ELAYNE: Who can say? It’s often her way—to meddle.

SHELLEY: (lightly touching her sister’s arm) You know she means well, Elayne. You’re just upset about the way she handled the problem in New York.

SPIRTUALIST: Mrs. Orrman did mention an embarrassing situation prompting her visit to Chatham Hollow, though she didn’t elaborate.

ELAYNE: Thank heavens. But then she wouldn’t for fear the matter should reflect unfavorably on her. Never mind I was the aggrieved party.

SPIRTUALIST: You have me curious, but I would never pry.

ELAYNE: Thank you for that. It’s best left in the past. Initially, I dreaded coming here, but Chatham Hollow has been an unexpected pleasure.

SHELLEY: (giggling) I think a certain spiritualist has something to do with that. Namely, Victor Rowe.

SPIRTUALIST: Naturally, I’ve heard of him. (allows his gaze to linger on Elayne) Perhaps I speak out of turn, but I’m led to believe Mr. Rowe is a man in his early forties. You appear much younger.

ELAYNE: Perhaps you should stick to your earlier conviction and not pry in matters that don’t concern you.

SPIRTUALIST: Pardon. My observation was inappropriate.

SHELLEY: Well, I certainly have no qualms admitting I find Mr. Rowe’s rival, Benedict Fletcher a charismatic and intriguing man.

ELAYNE: (frowning slightly) He certainly fawns over you at every opportunity. You need to be on your guard, Shelley. I’m not certain Mr. fletcher is all he presents himself to be.

SPIRTUALIST: I sense protective concern in that statement.

ELAYNE: Shelley is the younger sister, and somewhat still impressionable.

SHELLEY: (shifting to face her sister) And you are not, simply because…

ELAYNE:  What happened in New York has left me with a jaded outlook on life.

SHELLEY: But not Victor Rowe?

ELAYNE: (standing) I think perhaps we should go.

SPIRTUALIST: I’m sorry if you’ve soured on the discussion, Miss Orrman. You are welcome to remain for a reading.

ELAYNE: No thank you. I prefer to discover the future for myself—but if I was to consult a medium, I know just the man for the task.
​
SHELLEY: (grins broadly) Mr. Fletcher?
Elayne rolls her eyes and heads for the door.
​

BLURB:

One founding father.
One deathbed curse.
A town haunted for generations.
 
Ward Chatham, founder of Chatham Hollow, is infamous for two things—hidden treasure and a curse upon anyone bold enough to seek it. Since his passing in 1793, no one has discovered his riches, though his legend has only grown stronger.

In 1888, charlatan Benedict Fletcher holds a séance to determine the location of Chatham’s fortune. It’s all a hoax so he can search for the gold, but he doesn’t count on two things—Victor Rowe, a true spiritualist who sees through his ruse, and Chatham’s ghost wreaking havoc on the town.

More than a century later, the citizens of the Hollow gather for the annual Founder’s Day celebration. A paranormal research team intends to film a special at Chatham Manor, where the original séance will be re-enacted Reporter and skeptic Aiden Hale resents being assigned the story, but even he can’t deny the sudden outbreak of strange happenings. When he sets out to discover who or what is threatening the Hollow—supernatural or not— his investigation uncovers decades-old conflicts, bitter rivalries, and ruthless murders.

This time, solving the mystery isn’t about meeting his deadline. It’s about not ending up dead.

Thanks again for hosting me today, Gwen. It was a pleasure to drop by—along with my unnamed spiritualist and Elayne and Dorinda. (The sisters usually agree on topics, but not when it comes to Chatham Hollow’s two mediums). I invite your readers to pick up a copy of The Haunting of Chatham Hollow at the link below. Staci and I both appreciate the support and wish everyone happy reading!
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PURCHASE LINK

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Dear blog friends, 

Yesterday I learned that a writer friend is not doing well. I've never met Billy Ray Chitwood in person, but I think of him as a close friend because of his books and blog. Isn't that how most of us know each other?

Through our writing, we give of ourselves. We share tidbits of our life, our dreams, and our sorrows through our characters. One way or another, these fictional people come to life because of our personal journey. Sometimes we even sell a book. 

Today I honor my friend and all writers, who in silence pound away at a keyboard and create different worlds. I'm grateful for each of you. At times you have brought me to tears, other times to a dreamy world, and always to a place in time that I've not visited before.  

I invite you to enjoy some glimpses into one writer's life -- Billy Ray Chitwood.
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Have a wonderful week, dear blog friends... 
​❤️

Hello blog friends!

It's time for another poem. Colleen Chesebro posted the rainbow picture at the right and asked each participant to choose a color and feature it in a syllabic poem.

In my area of the United States, the season is beginning to shift. I've chosen to write a Tanka poem focused on that movement -- at the river's edge.

How about your area? Are you beginning to see the approach of Autumn?

Have a wonderful week, hopefully with abundant sightings of rainbows. ❤️