A key source of inspiration for my work-in-progress came from one of my granddaughter’s most favorite books. Titled MAPS, by Aleksandra Mizielinska and Daniel Mizielinski, this visually enticing “atlas” for children (and adults) enlightened me to the immense numbers and kinds of rabbits all around the world—as well as their sensitivity to habitat and other… Read More
“Climate change threatens more than two-thirds of rabbit species,” according to a study reported by Katie Leach, Queen’s University Belfast; an alarming trend that will affect the world’s 87 species of lagomorphs, a group that includes rabbits, hares, and pikas. Habitat loss, adaptation, relocation, and extinction of these populations will only increase in the years… Read More
With the impact of climate change on rabbits weighing heavily on my mind, I struggled to write at least 1500 words on Day #26 of National Novel Writing Month. Luckily I came upon this handy-dandy pocket-sized book of Monthly Writing Prompts, published by The Loft, as a gift to its members. I found one particular… Read More
So why did it take more than four years after The Secrets of Eastcliff-by-the-Sea was published before I made a serious commitment to writing a story that I’d had in mind for almost all of that time? Many reasons, but it’s only recently that I’ve come to understand one of the main reasons is: during… Read More
In addition to the 40,000-plus handwritten words and nearly 7,000 typed words that I’ll have in hand by the time I finish National Novel Writing Month on Friday, I also have a secret weapon: my writing journals. The poet Deborah Keenan encouraged all of her students to keep writing journals and over the past few… Read More
A row of red-and-white candy canes light the path to my neighbor’s front door. Walking my dog at dusk last evening in the newly fallen snow, the decorations reminded me of Candy Land, my favorite board game when I was a child. This “sweet little game for sweet little folks” has an interesting backstory: a… Read More
On this final day of National Novel Writing Month, I have written a total of 45,111 new words in 30 days. My tally for the draft of the novel itself was 38,767 words, and for the 33 Reflection posts, a total of 6,344, for a grand total of 45,111. While the total for the draft itself… Read More