It’s Halloween!!!

Photo by Mel Poole on Unsplash

The night for ghosts and goblins, superheroes and junior first responders to wander through your neighborhood!

Be safe as you trick or treat. And remember that cars can’t see you in the dark. If you are walking, stick to the sidewalk and watch out. If you are driving, go slowly and watch out for walkers.

I’ve been everything from a happy clown to a medieval princess. I love dressing up for Halloween! Tell me what your favorite costume is, or what you’re dressing up as this year!

Happy Halloween! Sonja

It’s Halloween Eve…

In some places, tonight is called Mischief Night. Also called Devil’s Night, Goosey Night, Moving Night, Cabbage Night, and Mat Night, this night is the time for pranks on neighbors by children and teenagers.

These pranks can get the pranksters in trouble, as many are illegal. In fact, in New Jersey, where observance of this night is a notable tradition, some towns have adopted a zero-tolerance policy due to the nature of the pranks.

In the 1970s, Devil’s Night separated itself from Mischief Night due to the arson that was done in the Detroit area. Devil’s Night became a night of destruction and arson.

Mischief Night dates back to the late 1700s when it was first mentioned on paper. In 1790, St. John’s College in England mentioned Mischief Night at the end of a school play. It is believed the night first began in May, but crept later into the year as smaller towns began to adopt the tradition. Eventually, it landed on Halloween Eve.

Stay safe and legal on Mischief Night! Sonja

Vacation!

I was on vacation for the past few days and was able to spend time on the water. That’s a real treat when you live in the desert!

South Carolina and Georgia were welcoming. I’ve never been there, well, I’ve been to the airport in Atlanta, but seeing the landscape was amazing. I love the tall trees and all the lovely streets. Of course, I spent a lot of time in the sand next to the ocean.

I grew up next to a large lake, but the ocean comes in second. I’m happiest when I’m near the water. What am I doing in the desert then? It’s a winding path that got me here.

Have a wonderful week, Sonja

Special Pricing

I hope you have been able to take advantage of the various price reductions that I have arranged for The Fairies of Carlow series. Some of the deals are for everyone and some are for readers specific to the U.K.

I also want to let you know about my upcoming books: The Wing Family: From England to the American Colonies will be published in time for Christmas purchases; the first two books of the Guinness the Therapy Dog series should be available by February of next year.

These new books will be picture books. The Wing Family: From England to the American Colonies features the illustrations of Emma Crick, who is a very talented artist from England. She is scheduled to illustrate the Guinness the Therapy Dog books as well.

Check back on this website for release dates and special pricing deals. Sonja

It’s Sunday Funday!

Time to go outside!

The weekends are made for fun. So get outside and have some! Go on a hike, play in the water (like Guinness the Therapy Dog), or lay on the forest floor and stare up at the trees.

It’s still warm here in the Desert Southwest and I am waiting for cooler temps so I can hike safely (without risking heat exhaustion!). The mountainous regions of the U.S. are getting snow already, so it could be fun to make tracks down a snowy path.

Whatever you do, I hope you have fun and spend your time with good friends or family. Sonja

The Wing Family: From England to the American Colonies

(c) Emma Crick
This drawing is copyrighted and you
must request permission to copy, share,
print, or use in print or digital form.

This book is so close to my heart. It’s based on my own family history and I’m excited to share it with you. The illustrations are beautiful and you can fall into them as you look at all the details.

This book will be available exclusively on Amazon.com and should be published before Christmas. I will have a link in the left margin of this website when the book is available. It will be a first reader and I plan to embed hyperlinks into the text of the ebook. If the reader is interested, they can click on the link to read more about a particular subject or person.

I can’t wait to share this book with you! Sonja

#Frankenstein

Photo by freestocks.org on Unsplash

It’s the last Friday in October and you know what that means: it’s Frankenstein Friday!!! Don your neck bolts and wear a natty green suit. You need to master the stiff-legged walk of his, too.

Commonly called Frankenstein, the name doesn’t actually mean the green monster. He is called ‘Frankenstein’s monster”. Frankenstein is the surname for the doctor who created the monster.

The characters were created in 1818 by author Mary Shelley. She described the monster as 8 feet tall and hideously ugly. She wrote that he is also sensitive and emotional.

He wasn’t given a name in the novel, which is probably what led the general population to call him Frankenstein.

By the end of the novel he was tri-lingual! He was fluent in English and could read and speak French and German. He was quite a smart monster.

Now you have all the knowledge for National Frankenstein Day, which is on October 29th.

Happy Day! Sonja

Only a Few More Days Until the Weekend!

What are your plans for the weekend? It’s time to start planning! It is outdoors or indoors? Close to home or far away? Alone or with family and friends?

The weekend is a time to recharge from the busy work/school week so you can tackle the upcoming days with energy and optimism. Those are the best ways to move through a day. Approach it with energy and it will give it back to you in fun and excitement. Approach it with optimism and you will find good opportunities and people everywhere.

Are you in a bad mood and can’t get away from it? Smile. That’s all. Just force yourself to smile. The very act of engaging the smile muscles lifts your spirits and your mood will elevate.

It’s medically proven!

Try it the next time you’re in a bad mood–or feel a little blue. I think you’ll be amazed.

Smile! Sonja

Put on Your Sunday Clothes!

I’ve been awaiting this day for a long time. I get to see one of my favorite movies on the stage! Yes, the Broadway musical ‘Hello, Dolly’. You know, the one Wall-E watched all the time.

I’m always in awe of the talent onstage. They sing, dance, and act so well (usually). I am very lucky that high-quality shows come to my town and I can see such talented people.

Oh, if only!!!

I wanted to post a photo from the play, but can’t because of the rights of the photographer/company. So, I can only recommend you download the movie or Netflix it. It’s campy and fun.

Do you have a favorite movie or play?

Take some time to revisit your favorites, Sonja