It snowed again yesterday.

The day had begun like any other that summer.

Cloudless blue skies.

Soaring temperatures.

Plans to spend a few hours near or in the…

I’ve used many, many recipes in my life.

I have just had 5 weeks off work.  I have hung out with my son, gone to the beach, read books and cleaned my house from top to bottom (it's on the market). The truth is I have simply bludged (good Aussie slang for doing nothing) for 5 weeks.  Now, as I at my computer in a quiet house, the summer holiday now a mere memory, I have so much to write.  I get annoyed at myself because everyone seems to have grasped this whole e-book thing and run with it and I am so left behind.  But when I…

Still on holiday . . .

Remembering the first time we holidayed here on the Island.

A repost . . .…

My life hasn't been the best and it sure hasn't been the worst.  I have had my share of I don't know what I would call it, but I have had my share of it.  I can remember being five, yes I remember that well, I had this bicycle.  It was my first two-wheeled bicycle that was blue and white striped with training wheels of course.  The hard plastic seat, that made you want to stand to ride it even though at five we couldn't do that as we didn't have any coordination to do such things.  It had…

Are you looking for a great read before summer comes to a screeching halt?  If you are like me and you like reading great fiction based on true events, I suggest you read Sunstruck by  award winning author, Mayra Calvani.    I read and reviewed Sunstruck .  You can read my review…

While We’re Blinded by the Haze of Summer . . .…

What would you do?

If you could . . .

Conclusion

Marie took a bite of her sandwich. “So what have you decided? Are you going to come with us this weekend?” she asked.

“I can think of nothing I'd like more,” Lucy said.

“Really?” Marie stared at her. “Cause you usually don't like going into the outdoors. You always complain about how dangerous it is.”

“Well, maybe I've got a little secret,” Lucy said.

“A secret?” Marie looked at her.…

Wednesday, July 11 author Jana Richards will be visiting my blog Once Upon a Time... (http://ryshia.blogspot.com)as part of her book tour with her novella, Home Fires.  



A novella, what could be a better relaxing summer read?  Stop by Wednesday, chat with the author and be entered for a prize.  As part of her tour, Jana will be offering a $25 Amazon gift certificate to one lucky commenter.  And that isn't all for…

Dedicate v. 1. To set apart for a special use. 2. To commit (oneself) to a course of action. 3. To address or inscribe (e.g., a literary work) to someone.  (Webster’s II New Riverside Dictionary, 2^nd ed)

Spring possibilities are about to cede to summer pleasures. I’ve been ruminating on the importance of spring cleaning for your writing life and have covered the first two…

This time of year, with the possibility of sunshine stretching out before me to warm my life and offer new clarity, I tend to think I can accomplish this, that, and the other thing before Labor Day. I have a stack of books—now that I look, it’s actually three stacks—that have accumulated, and I’m giddy with the thought of reading novels friends have recommended and poetry collections I’ve put off until I have a clear mind. Clearly, I’ve lost my ability to judge the relationship between the…

Everyone loves a summer garden. The sweet aroma of lavender drifts through the air. Sunny faces of Gerber daisy turn heads of all who walk by. Black-eyed Susans and coneflowers feed the birds and bees. Butterflies and hummingbirds flock to lantana, salvia, and beebalm. The garden is a place of…

When the temperature crawls above 80 degrees and the trees turn deep vibrant green, the seasonal songs of my youth start rolling through my head. One of my favorites is “Hot Fun in the Summertime,” by Sly and the Family Stone. The title says it all. Summer is…

Writing in winter, I'm rushing to catch the light. It's too cold by the window, and the temptation of tea and afghans make me lazy; convinced that reading is just as important as writing. So an escape to a cafe soon becomes a dark afternoon and a day with no writing.

But summer - that's when writing becomes magic. Summer writing starts with a wake-up call from the birds outside my window. Yes, 4:30 is early to be up, but when you're a bird, the coming of dawn is a happy, promising…