I'm not a jealous writer. I firmly believe that there are some themes and ideas that just bubble up out of some sort of Jungian subconscious pool of humanity, and they happen at the same time to brainpans all over the world. I suppose the metaphysical or psychological exploration of WHY it happens would be… Continue reading A Writing Prompt
Author: Jess
I'm a history and mythology fanatic with a head full of "but what if it happened THIS way instead" moments. The paths my characters travel are dark and weird to get onto the page. This is the official blog for my novels in progress.
The Well of What Ifs
Did you ever see The Seventh Sign? I love that movie: underrated horror starring Demi Moore, Michael Biehn, and Jurgen Prochnow about the seven Biblical seals that herald the end of the world. The end of humanity doesn't come in a fiery whoosh a-la Sodom and Gomorrah, but in a silent emptiness of infertility as… Continue reading The Well of What Ifs
Review: Winter Tales by Tiffany Reisz
Yet again, I spent a sleepless night in bed and it's all Tiffany Reisz's fault. You'd think, having read all of the Original Sinners series, that I would learn my lesson and at least start an anthology of short stories set in that universe on a Friday night. Nope: foolishly assuming I could put Winter… Continue reading Review: Winter Tales by Tiffany Reisz
Review: The Tattooist of Auschwitz
Heather Morris's novel based on a real couple who survived three years in Auschwitz should be an emotionally powerful story. It should wring you out as a reader. It should hollow you out with horror and sorrow, and keep a trickle of love and hope steadily dripping into that wounded space until you can't help… Continue reading Review: The Tattooist of Auschwitz
Confessions of a Hoarder
This was mostly originally posted in 2017 on No Pithy Phrase, but it's writing related and immediately applicable, so I'm cannibalizing my own earlier work (with a few slight edits). It's been difficult getting the stories straight in my brainpan lately. I don't know anyone else who has a couple of witches, a banshee, a… Continue reading Confessions of a Hoarder
Famine to Feast: Fall Deadlines
I spent most of the last five months purging, cleaning, painting, packing, selling, buying, cleaning, unpacking, and purging. See what's not on that list? Yeah...even my journal hasn't gotten any writing lately. Moving is more time consuming now than it was in college: the books alone take a while to get settled. My new office… Continue reading Famine to Feast: Fall Deadlines
Myths and Monsters: Selkies
Cross-posted from NPP "A bird may love a fish, Signore, but where would they live?" -Ever After, A Cinderella Story In the seas surrounding the Scotland and Ireland, pretty faced seals with large, almost human eyes peek out from the water, curiously watching fishermen work. They'd follow the boats, sometimes even leading fishermen to the best… Continue reading Myths and Monsters: Selkies
