The Girdle of Melian

oday is Insecure Writer's Support Group Day! IWSG Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time - and return comments. This group is all about connecting! Let’s rock the neurotic writing world! The awesome co-hosts for the June 4 posting of the IWSG are  PJ Colando,   Pat Garcia,   Kim Lajevardi,   Melisa Maygrove,  and  Jean Davis ! Every month, we announce a question that me...

olkien! I got to visit the Aubusson Tisse Tolkien exhibit in Paris last month! The Aubusson weavers have created tapestries of some of Tolkien's art , and the exhibit came to Paris for a limited time, at the College des Bernardins.  I was pleasantly surprised to see other items included in the exhibit, such as Tolkien's Oxford gown! Do you have another example of art begetting art?

odge-podge time!   I haven't done one in a while!   The last one was Hodge Podge No. 15 , and a while ago I collated the first 10 Hodge Podge posts .   First up, we have a new book by Kait Nolan!   Beyond Highland Sunrise The last thing I need while trying to make a success of my outdoor adventure company is a beautiful distraction. It takes all my focus to fight off the demons that remain from the injury that ended my career as a Royal Marine and deal with the clients that make me want to climb the nearest mountain and never come down. But Parker Lawrence walks into our office, takes over a phone call, and changes everything. My desperate desire to keep her close has nothing to do with the fact that she's sunshine personified—sweet, capable, and completely unfazed by my grumpitude and total lack of charm. She’s also hiding something. I should mind my own business, but this bright Southern belle has gotten under my skin, and I want to save her every bit as much as ...

ooks! I can't keep up with the records anymore! We now have a house full of readers and it's getting harder to keep the annotations accurate. I still have my own full list on the Books Read page, but even there, a few of the regular books aren't listed. Here, then, is the fourth photo post (post 1, Books Read 3 July 2024 ; post 2, Books Read 30 October 2024 ; post 3, Books Read 12 February 2025 ) showing a pile of books read by me and the kiddos in the past couple of months. Here's the latest batch of photos! Hard to see into that bag... This is a batch we gave away! Alice Fraser! Some of the books we bought in Ireland! New Joel Dicker! Have you read any new MG or YA recently?