Don’t get me started because you’ll never get me to stop-oops, too late! — The very existence of libraries affords the best evidence that we may yet have hope for the future of man. T.S.Eliot I am crazy for libraries. I love a library with marble steps, giant portraits of founders, stone pillars, a fountain, carved mahogany circulation desk, and a bathroom with toilet…

Photoshoots and editorial meetings are fun when we are in charge — Jane and I met on the Bridge of Flowers last weekend for a photoshoot in preparation for the launch of our new publication Karen and Jane’s 100 Words for 100 Days Challenge. It was early evening and most of the tourists were gone. The river danced and sparkled, flowing slowly…

New year, new beginnings — Happy New Year to us! Here we are entering another year in crisis- global pandemic, war, famine, environmental catastrophe. How are we gonna find a way to keep going forward? How are we going to set things right? I wish I had the answers. All I have to offer is…

I Dance in Libraries with a Snake — I am happy, a dancer, and a mom. I perform in schools, libraries and at cultural events as Hadama Seshat. American Cabaret style belly dancers choose a stage name that reflects their aesthetic or higher calling. When I joined The Crescent Dancers in 2002, I needed a name. My screen…

More adventures and more writing fun with a dose of accountability — Whoohoo! We did it! Three days ago I was all confident and full of advice for other writers, then yesterday I was humbled when I forgot how to write. Today we cross the finish line of our 💯 Story Challenge. The summer has flown by and now it’s time to…

Crawling toward the goal, not gonna give up now — Every single one of the past 98 days I’ve written and published a story of at least 100 words on Medium. Today my brain is empty. No. Worse than empty. This morning I forgot how to write. Every writing tip I’ve learned has left me. Every trick for overcoming writer’s…

The 2022 Library of Congress National Book Festival is coming! — Here’s an idea What if we just put down our signs and flags, take a break from posting memes, and hit the pause button on thinking that the pro or anti vaxxers are nuts? Just for a minute. Next time you are talking to a friend or family member who is ranting about…

Staring at the blank page gets a little less scary every day- here’s how — Ever have one of those days when you look at the blank page thinking “what the heck am I gonna write about today?” Undertaking the 💯 STORY CHALLENGE has meant writing every day with no excuses. Here are some of the ways I get myself going. Some days there’s a…

Ode to my garden in August — I’ve surrendered to the rocky soil, drought, aphids, voles, deer and raccoons. My dreams of tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant and beans are a distant memory now. The scrawny pale pepper plant with the bug-munched leaves is the lone cultivar among the thriving weeds. Lambs quarters, quack grass, bindweed, nutsedge; the garden…