books
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Review: His Excellency by Joseph J. Ellis
In many aspects, George Washington is a mystery to us, despite the many books that have been written about him. He hadn’t even died yet before myths began to emerge surrounding him. His Excellency by Joseph J. Ellis is a concise biography of a man who has had volumes dedicated to him since the founding… Continue reading
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Mary Shelley: An Introduction & Her Dream
Mary Godwin was born August 30, 1797 in Somers Town, London, to an unconventional family. While only one of her parents survived to bring her up, the unorthodox nature of her environment must have soaked into her as she entered womanhood, for she went on to live a life just as scandalous. Continue reading
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Beatrix Potter: Author and Naturalist, Part II
Beatrix’s ventures into the forests surrounding her family’s estates cultivated her fascination for nature. At a young age, she used her artistic skills to draw and color plants and flowers, using her brother Bertram’s microscope to include the minute details. Continue reading
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Review: A Tempest of Tea
When I saw the beautiful book cover for A Tempest of Tea, I would never have guessed that there were vampires in the story. I confess that the word tea is what convinced me ultimately to give this novel a try. Since it had been popping up on my Instagram feed so much, I was… Continue reading
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Two Ways of Writing
As a writer, have you figured out whether you’re a “secretive storyteller,” or a writer who adventures with others? Continue reading
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The Aftermath of Decluttering a Bookcase
I’m a storyteller who sees value in every tale, but that doesn’t mean that I need to hoard every book. Doing so creates physical clutter that reduces the value of the titles. Continue reading
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Review: EMILY WILDE’S ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF FAERIES by Heather Fawcett
When Emily is taken by this faerie in form of thanks—thanks or a kidnapping?—she finds herself in a cold place where she has no notion of time. She knows nothing except that the faerie plans to marry her in order to thank her for having released him. Continue reading
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Review: THE MAGICIAN’S DAUGHTER by H.G. Parry
A beautiful book about magic, family, and the happy endings that are worth fighting for. Continue reading
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Book Review: The Two Bells of Christmas by Joanna Barker
I found the story to be a bit predictable, but it was enjoyable enough that I did not mind at all. The sweet scenes made me happy. It was exactly the sort of read that I needed on a cold December day. Continue reading
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Review: The Village Healer’s Book of Cures by Jennifer Sherman Roberts
I like that witches in literature can be good or bad. Some do follow the black magic tradition of curses and steaming cauldrons. Other witches, like the protagonist in the book I’m about to review, are healers whose reputations suffer from superstition. Continue reading
Mariella Hunt & the Tearoom 