On the borderlands

According to the Gregorian calendar, we stand on the edge of a new year. Since most people in this part of the world share that calendar, the belief is ubiquitous. It’s fascinating how much our conception of time guides our lives. The arbitrary markings in opposition to natural markers (sunrise, sunset, warming and cooling seasons)…

Whirling

The positive aspect of snow is that it can force you into slowing down. I must admit it’s hard to find the good in the freezing rain that’s supposed to come this afternoon, but an excuse to be stationary is probably enough. Friday I had my last two finals back to back, ending with the…

Lucia Day & Snow

Lucia day dawns with a heavy snowfall in upstate New York; when I saw “dawns” well, I wouldn’t know about that because I didn’t get up until 11. Longest I’ve slept in I don’t know how long. You’d think the candles alone would have woken me up, but we went out last night to see…

Brittle

I find it a tad ironic that last night I made nut brittle and this morning everything was coated with a thick shiny layer of ice — at least I felt a strange sense of déjà vu as I chipped off the shards of ice glazing the car. I had woken up at the usual…

Prose at the Rose: Tramontano

The latest episode is now on the air. Check out my interview with Jan Tramontano. Her work has appeared in Poet’s Canvas, Chronogram, Mom’s Literary Magazine, American Intercultural Magazine, Knock, The Culture Star Reader and Women’s Synergy to name a few. She is currently working on her first novel and is a member of the…

Magister Class

At the invitation of Crispinus, I came to his class to speak to the students about my novel Pelzmantel. It was my first experience of the kind; I’ve spoken about my writing on panels at conferences, but never in front of students (except incidentally in my creative writing classes). So it was a nice ego-boost,…

Good News!

My abstract has been accepted for the “Forging Folklore: Witches, Pagans and Neo-Tribal Cultures” conference at Harvard May 3-5, 2007. I’ll be speaking on Finnish magic and music which ought to be entertaining. Of course, I’ll find an excuse to bring my kantele along as well. I had planned to attend the conference anyway as…