What’s a Waiata? — Calling for Songs for Weekend Short Stories

Teagan Geneviene​ is looking for some inspiration for her weekend shorts. If you have a song with a narrative that speaks to you, share it with her.

Teagan's Books

Wednesday, November 30, 2022

Hullaba Lulu promo image by Teagan R. Geneviene

Did I hook you with that question?  A waiata is a Maori song.  Waiata serve many functions. They can be used to support a whaikōrero (formal speech) or sung to express grief after a death. Waiata were used to help teach children, to urge people to take up a cause, or to mourn in times of loss. Waiata can record a tribe’s past by referring to ancestors, events and places.

Why did I ask?  Well, I had to have some kind of lead-in.  Besides, it’s relevant, and I’m getting there.  My blogging shtick was always my “Three Things” style serial stories, where I collect three random things from readers, and let those things drive a spontaneously written serial story.  It might look easy, but it can take a lot out of a writer.  Unfortunately, I still don’t have…

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Birds of a Feather — Book Fair!

Teagan Geneviene​ recommends some birds and wing-related books for the holiday, including some of mine! Thanks, Teagan, and readers don’t miss on her recommendations. Her books are awesome and she knows what she is talking about!

Teagan's Books

Wednesday, November 24, 2022

Image by Teagan

Hello everyone. In a few hours it will be Thanksgiving Day here in the USA.  In addition to the giving of thanks, it’s associated with good food, football games, and shopping.  I’m grateful for a lot, but I haven’t been able to write because of my “stuff.”  One thing that always makes me feel better is doing something to lift up others.  Thinking about that, I suddenly decided to do a mini-book fair.

There are endless wonderful indie books.  Immediately I saw that I had to set a limit for my post. A theme was in order, but what? Abruptly, Robbie Cheadle’s story “The Christmas Bird” reminded me that I’ve included birds in a few of my own books.  That became my fair theme, Birds of a Feather.  This mini-book fair features stories that include birds… and a few that…

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Weekend Shorts ― 3 Things Exercise

Where will the three things take us this weekend? Visit Teagan Geneviene​’s blog to find out!

Weekend Shorts ― Turkey Time for Pip

Teagan Geneviene​ revisits one of her beloved characters, Pip, and shares some links to free books from the 1920s. Thanks, Teagan, Pip and Granny Phanny!

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Saturday, November 12, 2022

Happy weekend, all.  I’m afraid my week went sideways, and I didn’t get any writing done.  I was feeling bad about not doing a post today… then it hit me that I could rerun something.  I’ve posted this short story from the “Pip-verse” a few times over the years, but it’s the right time of year.  Pip and Granny Phanny would have made great Pumpkin Hat Girls, except they are in the 1920s.

As an extra treat, I’ve included links to where you can get a lot of free books that were popular in the 1920s.  Anyhow, maybe you’ve either forgotten about that series, or it was before you started following me.  So here it is.

Turkey Time for Pip

The New Yorker magazine, November 1928

“Paisley Idelle Peabody, I’ll have no complaining,” Granny Phanny stated firmly.

“But Granny, that’s practically all day!  Why can’t I…

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#ThursdayDoors to #IndieBooks — Art Deco Doors

Teagan Geneviene​ shares some amazing doors for Dan Antion​’s #ThursdayDoors and reminds us of her latest story, A Peril in Ectoplasm!

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Thursday, November 10, 2022

Thursday Doors to Indie Books

Image by Teagan

Welcome to my sanctuary.  In this magical place, we can be any-when. Multiple whens might even colide.  My mind is still in the 1920s with “A Peril in Ectoplasm.” When I think of that decade, I also think of all things Art Deco.  That style often makes me think of sleek, highly polished metal.  So, today I’m sharing a few relevant doors. 

The stunning 1935 Bugatti Type 57s Aerolithe featured in my promo image above is actually from later than the setting of my story.  How could I resist though?  Note the intriguing shape of the car’s door.  I found this informative short video. It shows the Bugatti’s door opening, the interior, and even the polished finishing under the hood. It also describes the kind of metal used.

There are a few “regular” metal doors that I’ll…

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Weekend Shorts — Do Not Enter, featuring Resa McConaghy

Teagan Geneviene​ treats us to another weekend adventure of the Pumpkin Hat Girls! Great fun!

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Saturday, November 5, 2022

Hello, everyone.  I’m back with more Weekend Shorts.  Also, I brought along the Pumpkin Hat Girls again.  They were up for some more Twilight Zone-ish fun.

Back when I asked photographers and artists to send me three images that were “generally related” one another (unlike the randomness of the readerthings I need for serials), multi-talented Resa McConaghy responded with several from her neck of the woods — specifically, Sunnyside Beach in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Resa is a multi-talented designer, artist, and finder of fabulous murals.  She shares some of her lovely things at Graffiti Lux Art & More. 

Do Not Enter

The Pumpkin Hat Girls #3

Photo by Resa McConaghy

Tires hummed along the road.  Colorful trees slid past the car windows.  Red taillights of a vehicle in the distance ahead of us came and went as Penny negotiated bends in the road.

The…

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