Mom’s Favorite Reads eMagazine October 2022

s Favorite Reads eMagazine is published monthly by Goylake Publishing and designed by Melanie P. Smith of www.melaniepsmith.com

Helen Sedgwick

Interviewed by Wendy H. Jones

I started my career as a research physicist, gaining a PhD from Edinburgh University then working for several years as a bio engineer before I realised that what I actually wanted to do was write books!

I’ve since published five novels and I run an editorial company called Wildland Literary Editors. I live in the Scottish Highlands with my partner, our four year old daughter, and an ever increasing number of chickens. My books are inspired by science, music, gardening, politics, feminism, archaeology, family, and many other things too!

When did you start writing and why?

I started in 2006, while working as a bio engineer at Glasgow University. I did an evening class in Creative Writing the first time I’d written creatively since school and the tutor told me about a Masters in Creative Writing at Glasgow University. I managed to get a place and did the MLitt while still working as a research scientist, but by the end of that year, I knew writing had won!

It had honestly never occurred to me before that writing novels could actually be a career. I’d always loved reading, always loved books, but it wasn’t until that evening class that I started to see it as something I could do.

My debut novel, The Comet Seekers, was inspired by my early interest in astronomy and my second book, The Growing Season, was partly inspired by my work as a bio engineer. I then changed direction and wrote a crime trilogy. I do like variety!

You are an eclectic writer - writing not only in multiple genres but across genres. Can you tell us what the reasons are for this.

I think I just like the challenge! I would get bored if I wrote the same kind of book, or the same genre, over and over again. I need change it seems to be how my brain works.

As well as each of my books being different from the others, I also mix up genres within the books themselves. The Comet Seekers has elements of literary fiction, historical fiction, real science and ghost story. My crime books are a mix of folk horror, the supernatural, and contemporary police procedural. I find there’s something really interesting at the intersection of different ideas, different genres, different ways of seeing the world. I like those grey areas, those overlapping spaces where you can ask lots of questions, and I’m always drawn to them in my writing.

Let’s ease you in gently. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Out of all the genres which is your favourite and why?

I think my real love is science fiction, though I also love literary fiction and poetry. But honestly, I don’t want to choose – I want to have them all! I want to mix them up and subvert them and see what happens!

allow for the different genres and styles in some cases. But then I also use the technique of the writing itself, the sentence structure and tone, to blend from one genre into another, particularly when one of the characters starts seeing the world in a different way.

I’m curious as to how your write cross genre. How do you keep track of all the different aspects and how to you segue them into each other?

I think the answer is probably different for each of my books. It’s based a lot on instinct for me I’m not a huge planner, I write in an organic way, and I often find that it’s only by writing that I start to understand what the story will be.

In The Comet Seekers, for example, I combined realism and ghost story, but I did that by writing the ghosts as if they were real people, and writing the realism in a poetic and sometimes almost supernatural way. So there was a kind of layering and questioning throughout the narrative is memory as real as experience? Can we trust personal perception? Is our history as much a part of us as our lives? Do we really lose people when they die, or do they stay with us?

In my crime books, The Burrowhead Trilogy, there was perhaps more of a separation, because the plot did require planning – I had timelines spanning generations (and eventually millennia), complicated family trees and all! When I was writing the supernatural elements of those books, I tried to keep the writing very free, to give the sense of things spiralling out of control and to contrast with what had to be a controlled and logical police investigation. I use multiple points of view, in different voices, to

What would be your advice to anyone wanting to write cross genre books?

Read everything, every genre you can get your hands on! And then try to forget about genre altogether. Allow your mind to be creative without the (essentially artificial) boundaries of the publishing industry.

As well as being an author you are also an editor. I am curious, why both?

When I first started attending writing workshops, I found that I loved giving feedback to other writers. Perhaps with my scientific background, I was naturally drawn to the logic that often helps with editing too, particularly regarding things like structure and character development the cause and effect that makes stories believable.

Then, once I had left science, I needed to earn a living. My debut wasn’t published until 2016, so while I was working on my writing, trying to get an agent, and so on, I worked as an editor. I started out running literary magazines (I co founded Fractured West and was the managing editor of Gutter), then progressed to working as a literary editor for several local publishers and authors, eventually becoming MD of Cargo Publishing and setting up my own editorial company to offer literary editing services to authors, publishers, and agents.

Tell us a bit about your editing business and what types of books you edit.

I edit all kinds of fiction predominantly novels but also sometimes short stories. I will occasionally also edit creative non fiction.

I think editing should be a collaborative process between writer and editor, so I always try to tailor the service I offer to an individual’s needs and am always open to discussing other options depending on their

circumstances and what kind of feedback they’re looking for. I work with writers of all levels of experience, from first time writers to widely published novelists (I have edited Rob Newman, Kate Tough, Ever Dundas, Nick Brooks, and Toni Davidson), and I also work for agents, publishers, book festivals, and universities.

I know you are Scottish, does Scotland play into your books in any way or do you set them purely in fictional worlds? Why or why not?

Scotland featured in The Comet Seekers (it was set all around the world, in Edinburgh, Antarctica, France, New York…) and The Growing Season was partly set in the Tarbat Ness Lighthouse my favourite lighthouse just a few miles from where I live in the highlands. My crime books were set in a fictional village though, partly because some awful things happen there, so I didn’t want my neighbours to think I was writing about them! The landscape in them is inspired by the coastline of Scotland though, in all its windswept beauty.

Let’s get personal for a moment. If you were to have one perfect day, what would that look like?

Oh, that’s a tricky one. I think I might just be gardening, but without the inevitable backpain that follows! The weather would be sunny, but with a cool breeze. I’d be here in Scotland, in the highlands, in my own garden, I think. And there would be a few hours for writing.

loads of winter light and open out into the garden in front of me in the summer.

What would be your idea of the perfect holiday?

Peace and quiet to read; plenty of good local food.

Are you notebook and pen or computer –why?

Very much computer. I type everything. Perhaps because my handwriting is so messy, I can’t read it back afterwards!

If you could choose a song to be the background to your books, what would it be?

I think I could have a song for every chapter! I’ll do the crime books. A crescendo of Shostakovich overlayed with distant, ancient chanting and the swooping squark of seagulls.

What is your favourite food?

Whatever vegetable I’ve just successfully grown in the garden. Currently courgette!

What does your writing space look like?

I have a small room, with bookshelves on two walls (stuffed full of books, of course), art on the third wall with a low velvet sofa in front of it (for reading), and French doors that let in

Tell us a bit about your books.

The Comet Seekers opens with two strangers meeting on a research base in Antarctica, as a comet fractures overhead. The story then loops back over a thousand years to ask what happened in their own lives and in the lives of their ancestors to bring them both to that point. It combines real science and astronomy with ghost story, history, themes of memory and perception, and literary fiction.

The Growing Season is a science fiction novel set in an alternate realty similar to our own except that artificial wombs have become the norm. Pregnancy takes places outside the human body in “baby

pouches” that can be carried by women or men, and a private company owns and markets the technology. The novel explores what happens when biotechnology meets the human body, the future of reproduction, the commodification of medicine, different feminisms, the dangers of capitalism, and our potential for equality.

The Burrowhead Mysteries crime trilogy is set in an isolated village on a wild and desolate coast, where buried crimes are resurfacing to challenge a community where no one is what they seem. Part folk horror and part supernatural police procedural, there are present day and historic crimes to be solved. The villagers are haunted by their past, the missing can speak, and the ancestors of the villagers are returning…

In When the Dead Come Calling, a murder investigation exposes a maelstrom of racism and prejudice simmering beneath the surface of the village. But someone (or something) equally threatening is hiding in the haunted cave beneath the cliffs.

In Where the Missing Gather, an archaeological dig exposes a brutal history, a black horse is slaughtered on an altar in the woods and human remains begin to surface. Sinister rituals connect past and present, but no one wants to see, or tell, the truth.

And in What Doesn’t Break Us, the final book of the trilogy, an unknown drug is spreading through the village, and only the rituals of the distant past can make sense of it. But in the present, the police are

in turmoil as their own complicity in current and historic crimes is revealed. Community action offers hope and risk, and nature itself begins to fight back.

Which of your books should Mom’s Favorite Reads readers start with if they want to read your books?

If you like literary fiction, start with The Comet Seekers. If you like science fiction, then The Growing Season. And if you like crime fiction, then start with When the Dead Come Calling!

Finally, where can we find you on social media if we would like to follow you?

I’m on: Twitter @helensedgwick

Instagram: @helensedgwickauthor

Facebook: @HelenSedgwickAuthor and @helen.sedgwick

https://www.wendyhjones.com/

Wendy H. Jones is the award winning, international best selling author of the DI Shona McKenzie Mysteries, Cass Claymore Investigates Mysteries, Fergus and Flora Mysteries, Bertie the Buffalo children’s books and the Writing Matters books for writers. She is also a writing and marketing coach and the President of the Scottish Association of Writers. As copy editor for Mom’s, she works hard to ensure content is appropriate and free of grammatical and spelling errors. You can learn more about Wendy on her website:

The Comet Seekers

by Helen Sedgwick

Reviewed by Wendy H. Jones

Description

Two lives. One night sky.

Róisín and François first meet in the snowy white expanse of Antarctica, searching for a comet overhead.

While Róisín grew up in a tiny village in Ireland, ablaze with a passion for science and the skies, François was raised by his restless young mother, who dreamt of new worlds but was unable to turn her back on her past.

As we loop back through their lives we see their paths cross as they come closer and closer to this moment, brought together by the infinite possibilities of the night sky.

Review

This is a beautifully evocative book, both a work of literary fiction and an exploration of the human spirit. It also blends science and fiction, which in less skilled hands could have got bogged down in the science. Yet, due to the skilled and evocative writing it remains imminently readable. The three main characters Róisín, François and Severine are realistic and human with all their foibles and this anchors the story in reality. Comets are central to the narrative

as are ancestral ghosts but these add to the over flavour giving the reader a real sense of the passage of time. This is not the type of book I usually read but I enjoyed it immensely. Everyone should step out of their comfort zone reading wise at times, and this is the perfect book with which to do it.

When the Dead Come Calling

by Helen Sedgwick

Reviewed by Wendy H. Jones

Description

In the first of the Burrowhead Mysteries, an atmospheric murder investigation unearths the brutal history of a village where no one is innocent.

When psychotherapist Alexis Cosse is found murdered in the playground of the sleepy northern village of Burrowhead, DI Strachan and her team of local police investigate, exposing a maelstrom of racism, misogyny and homophobia simmering beneath the surface of the village.

Shaken by the revelations and beginning to doubt her relationship with her husband, DI Strachan discovers something lurking in the history of Burrowhead, while someone (or something) equally threatening is hiding in the strange and haunted cave beneath the cliffs.

Review

This was a Scottish Book Trust Great Scottish Novel 2020, and I can fully understand why. Helen Sedgwick is an accomplished writer, and this is evident in every highly crafted word. The characterisation is spot on and good or bad I could picture them all; they remind me of Scottish characters that I have met. The village setting gives it a closed room effect and a chilling one at that. I would say, at times, it borders on gothic horror. Whilst it is firmly rooted

in modern day Scotland the secrets from the past are an integral part of the storyline. The narrative rattles along and the book has that all important just one more page effect. If you like Scottish fiction, and/or crime fiction, this book is well worth reading. All kudos to the author.

Life s Rich Tapestry

Submitted by Hannah Howe

Written by Rhys Age 14

Can you smell it?

The salty English sea crashing on the shore.

The aggressive waves pounding the cliffs, Tell the tale of French vessels that went to war.

The waves recall the day Edward had died, A poor, honest man with a great complex, The crown of tremendous power cried, “Come Harald, William land at Sussex.”

The wind echoed the voices of Norwegian men, Their battle cries sailed across the sea, Two kings skirmished over the quiet river, A victor neither destined to be.

The wind yearned for William, Warships took to the open ocean, Frenchmen landed on the English beaches, For history was now in motion.

The grass soaked the bitter blood, The trees consumed sharp arrows, The eye of Harold was empaled, And one more king rests with the ancient pharaohs.

This tale will never repeat, The quiet river will never forget, The grass will be forever stained, And the crown will divide people forever, yet.

Being Mindful

by Eileen Rolland

How to Be a Fro

“Look Granny, I’m a frog.”

I looked to see my three year old granddaughter crouched on the floor, her palms on the carpet in front of her. She was jumping around the room, saying ‘ribbet, ribbet’. I suggested she could draw a picture of a frog and colour it in but apparently frogs can’t hold crayons. I left her to enjoy the moment.

I was very impressed, actually. Not only because she was able to jump like that from a squatting position but also because she was totally absorbed in what she was doing. She was ‘in the moment’. She hadn’t said, ‘I’m like a frog’, or ‘I’m pretending to be a frog’. At that particular time, in her mind at least, she was a frog. Half an hour later she was

hungry, but she didn’t want flies for lunch. She was a girl again and thought banana toast would be better. Oh, to be a child again.

If all the clocks were to stop, what time would it be? (Zen Wisdom)

A friend and I were having a conversation. We talked about life in general but agreed that we both seemed to be running around, doing this and that, bouncing from one thing to the other like a little ball in a pin ball machine. We discussed having so much to do and not having enough time. We had families to look after, jobs to go to, homes to run. We were tired all the time and feeling frazzled, even taken for granted. We thought how nice it would be to just stop, even for a little while, to do something simply because we wanted to. Would that be selfish, irresponsible? We stopped talking for a few minutes and sipped our coffee in silence.

The mindfulness seed had been planted.

Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes. Including you. (Anne Lamont)

What is Mindfulness?

It is essentially a hybrid of awareness and focus. It’s about paying attention to whatever is happening at that moment and being part of it without making any judgement.

According to James Baraz: Mindfulness is simply being aware of what is happening right now without wishing it were different; enjoying the pleasant without holding on when it changes (which it will); being with the unpleasant without fearing it will always be this way (which it won’t).

Many of us work on autopilot, sleep walking our way through life without really noticing the beauty around us. We all have challenges, things in the past that we wish we could change, situations we might have handled differently. But those things are beyond our reach. None of us can go back in time and change anything that’s gone wrong.

Likewise, we have concerns about our future which, again, we can’t control. It’s not helpful to spend a disproportionate amount of time lamenting the past or worrying about the future. You can’t ‘make’ time, you have to ‘take’ it. We can learn from the past and plan for the future but NOW is the only space we have to be who we really are.

We are always getting ready to live, but never living.

Ralph Waldo Emerson 1803-1882

So what can we do about it?

When I worked as a Complementary Therapist, I would often ask my clients what they did to relax. The question seemed to perplex many of them and they grappled for an answer. It was as if they knew something was missing but they didn’t know what it was and this was causing tension.

I suggested they focus on how they were feeling at that exact moment, then take slow, regular breaths, knowing they were in a safe environment. When they did this, I could immediately see their shoulders slowly drop to a normal position and their facial expressions softened. Stress can do strange things to the body and most people are unaware of the tension they are holding. They carry it with them, day by day, without knowing what’s causing their discomfort. It helps if you can find the missing piece, find the connection between body and mind.

Everyone is different but here are a few ideas to help you feel like a whole person. Find what works for you.

Spend some time in nature. We are all part of the natural world. It’s good to reconnect.

Listen to gentle music. Different frequencies can calm the mind and help us relax.

Meet with friends. Being in the company of like minded people can have an up lifting effect.

Do something creative. Express yourself in whatever way feels right for you, whether it’s a painting a picture, baking a cake or knitting a cardigan.

Try meditation, Qigong or Yoga. Being still or doing gentle exercise can increase circulation and energy flow. Softening your breathing can help reduce blood pressure and ease tension.

Watch a sunrise, or sunset. Contemplate the beginning of a new day, or the ending of one. Each has its story to tell.

Stop and smell the flowers. Take a little time for yourself each day and engage the senses. Solitude in an assertion of self worth.

Change ‘I have to…’ to ‘I choose to…’. A small change in attitude can make a big difference.

My life has no purpose, no direction, no aim, no meaning and yet I’m happy

What am I doing right? (Charles M Schulz 1922 2000)

According to Philip S Chard, an hour of sensory tuning in won’t fix all the broken stuff in our lives but it will pull us out of our writhing minds and into our grounded, flowing senses.

Life is a musical instrument and we’re all playing by ear. Listen to the music. Sing. Dance. And, if you want to be a frog, you know exactly what you have to do.

Over the years Eileen Rolland has written for many voluntary organisations and community groups in addition to work related writing and, of course, her own work. She’s led writing groups and participated in training courses such as Communication Skills (HND) and Professional Writing (HNC). For years she ran a complementary therapy business and taught classes in Tai Chi and Qigong (Chi Gong). She joined the University of the Third Age (U3A) and ran a Writers’ Group and Qigong (Chi Gong) class for five years. Learn more on her website: https://eileenrolland.com/

A Brief History of London

by Hannah Howe

Plague visited London in 1665. By the end of the year over 100,000 people were dead, a fifth of the population. The plague began just before Christmas 1664 when two men in Drury Lane died of ‘spotted fever’.

By May 1665 the plague had spread to most of London’s 130 parishes and those who could afford to fled. Trade declined. The highways were clogged with refugees. Thomas Vincent remained in London throughout the plague. He noted that death rode ‘triumphantly on his pale horse through our streets and breaks into every house almost where any inhabitants are to be found’.

The authorities established ‘pest houses’ in fields and open spaces in an attempt to segregate the infected from the able bodied. At the peak of the epidemic, mid August to mid September 1665, 7,165 people died in one week. Under such strain, traditional burial practices were abandoned in favour of common graves.

A Bill of Mortality published at the plague’s peak included the following as cause of death: Aged, 43. Burnt in his bed by a candle, 1. Constipation, 134. Flox and Smallpox, 5. Frighted, 3. Falling from a belfry, 1. Kingevil, 2. Lethargy, 1. Rickets, 17. Rising of the Lights, 11. Scurvy, 2. Spotted Fever, 101. Stillborn, 17. Teeth, 121. Winde, 3. Wormes, 15. Plague, 7,165.

Males christened that week, 95; females, 81. Males buried, 4,095; females, 4,202. Parishes clear of the plague, 4. Parishes infected, 126. Many people returned to London in December 1665. However, members of parliament did not return until the following spring.

Hannah Howe is the author of the Sam Smith Mystery Series, the Ann's War Mystery Series and the #1 international bestseller Saving Grace. Hannah's books are published by Goylake Publishing and distributed through Gardners Books to over 300 outlets worldwide. Her books are available in print, as eBooks and audiobooks, and are being translated into ten languages. Discover more on Mom's Favorite Reads website: https://moms favorite reads.com/moms authors/hannah howe

Bloodtinis

Submitted by Chantal Bellehumeur

Halloween has always been my favorite holiday, so during the month of October I like to expose my fangs and make what I call Bloodtinis. (You don’t have to be a blood thirsty vampire to enjoy them.)

Method:

Pour the 2 shots of alcohol in a martini glass. (If you don’t like your drinks too strong, use 1.5 ounces of Vodka only no triple sec.)

Pour cranberry juice to fill the glass.

Mix with a stir stick (or a bone); whatever you have handy. lol

Ingredients:

1.5 ounces/1 shot glass worth of Vodka

1.5 ounces/1 shot glass worth of triple sec

Cranberry juice

Decorative eye ball (optional)

Add an eyeball for decoration. (I personally like to use a round chocolate with an eye ball wrapping, or a gum ball. You can also use a plastic prop eye as long as you remember to clean it first.)

Enjoy, and have fun pretending you’re sipping on a bloody drink.

For those who celebrate Halloween, have a spooky one!

My Potion

By Chantal Bellehumeur

If you want to make a potion

But don't have a witch’s notion

First boil water in a cauldron

And follow these steps with caution

Before you begin, I must ask That you focus on each new task

Without reading too far ahead Or I'll have to collect your head

Now find yourself an evil cat

Dress in black and a pointy hat

Pluck the dry straw from an old broom Toss them in your water of doom

Add a wart and slimy green goo

Rat tails, bat wings, spider legs too Throw in snakeskin and a dead frog

Mix together with bottled fog

Eyeballs, toenails, and a finger

Should be added to the mixture

Then comes the left paw of a bear Along with mice fur and grey hair

Drop in goat horns and furry ears

Along with dried up human tears

A single drop of your own blood Stones, sand, and a handful of mud

Chuck in the snout of a wild boar Then you will need to slowly pour Ashes from one who never sinned

And dust gathered in a strong wind

Grind bones and marrow together Sprinkle on a floating feather

Add raven beaks and chicken feet Plus, slices of maggot filled meat

Steal a flower from a new grave

Burn the petals in a dark cave

Collect the rest inside a skull That once belonged to someone dull

Spill the content from the sockets Directly into your pockets

They should be filled with different bugs

Which you’ll then transfer into jugs

Wait for all the critters to die

Then cook them in a fleshy pie

Add a perfect slice to your pot Make sure the water is still hot

Pour more liquid if you need to But mix it in with morning dew

Throw in broken shells and seaweed Moldy bread and very strong mead

Dig up an old corpse from the ground

Leave nothing behind to be found

Pull out all the teeth from the jaw

Cut up what is left with a saw

Take a whiff of the foul odour

It should smell like fresh manure

Make it worse by adding bad food

That’s decomposing and pre chewed

Add herbs, spices, salt, and pepper

To disguise the nasty flavor

Might as well throw in veggies too And a few berries that are blue

Don’t let it turn into a soup

Make sure it always looks like goop Slide in leeches and slimy slugs

Squid arms soaked in the fat of thugs

Extract venom from a live snake

Inject it in a rotten steak

Cut it all into tiny bits

Hurl it in with bubbles of spit

Add a liver, kidney, and spleen

And fresh meat that’s juicy and lean

Quickly toss in a beating heart

That’s been punctured with a sharp dart

Remove a scorpion’s stinger

With the tip drain a blister

After pouring in the fluid

Add the stinger with some acid

Throw in burs and raw radishes

Porcupine quills and cactuses

Include a poisonous mushroom

Keep mixing with a wooden spoon

Carve a pumpkin mainly for fun

And eat the seeds except for one

Blend it fast with the orange guts

All the while screaming like you’re nuts

Count backwards from ten in the sun

Do it again you're almost done

There’re only four things left to do

Believe me I swear it is true

Rainwater from a storm comes next

In order to complete your hex

Under the moonlight let it stew

At midnight drink the awful brew

Concentrate on your desire

As you dance around the fire

Actually, I lied, ain’t that swell?

You were put under my spell

I needed a desperate soul

To stay young, beautiful, and whole

So forget about asking me

For a sincere apology

Had you read the full instruction

Before starting this concoction

You’d have known of my deception

Which would have spared you affliction

Chantal Bellehumeur is a Canadian author born in 1981. She has several published novels of various genres as well as numerous short stories, poems and articles featured in compilation books, magazine, plus a local newspaper.

For a complete list of publications, including free reads, visit the following website: https://author chantal bellehumeur.webnode.com/products /

Wings of Freedom

by Stan Phillips

The great white bird perched on the stump of a fallen tree and warily watched the boy approach. Its eyes were fixed unblinking upon the figure that walked through the woodland.

Then, just as the boy was close enough to reach a hand out to touch it, the creature spread its majestic white wings and soared beyond the treetops and into the endless skies.

Banking and swooping as it flew, almost mockingly into memory.

The child watched it vanish, growing smaller and smaller as it celebrated a freedom that he could never know.

But would, over a lifetime that stretched far ahead, wish he could have experienced.

Just once.

Stan Phillips is a poet, musical podcast maker, part time wannabe male model, and occasional stand up comedian. “I used to be a psychotherapist/ counsellor when I had an honest job. I was born into prewar London, and attended 17 schools (my father believed they couldn’t hit a moving target) and I eventually finished up here in Ireland. Still wondering what I will be when I grow up but enjoying writing my quirky poetry as I do so.” Discover more about Stan on Mom’s Favorite Reads website: https://moms favorite reads.com/moms authors/stan phillips

77 1/2 Magical Healing Herbs — Blackthorn

by Ronesa Aveela

chanting time of year. Among the Bulgarians, the day is called Eniovden. You may think herbs are only for spicing up food and healing the body and mind, but they have other uses, as well. This unique herbal book is an essential guide for tapping into the power of herbs. It highlights centuries of lore and historical facts about healing and magical uses of herbs from Slavic and other traditions.

Please see the medical and magical disclaimers before you try any of the recipes from the book.

***

Prunus spinosa

Blackthorn

Description: This shrub can grow to a tree height of 16 feet (5 meters). It has dark gray to black rough scaly bark. The dense branches are covered with thorns and often form impenetrable thickets. The plant has brown heartwood, while the sapwood is light yellow. Elliptical to ovate leaves have a serrated edge and are covered with hairs on both sides. The leaves turn from dark green in the summer to yellow in autumn. White star shaped flowers with five petals form in clusters. They produce a dark blue or blue black fruit called a sloe, which contains one seed. The plant’s roots are shallow, putting out runners.

History and Traditions: The genus name is Latin for “plum tree,” while the specific name is Latin for “thorny.” The common name comes from the plant’s dark color and thorny nature. In the fifteenth century, the fruits were used as fishing bait. The plant as food dates back as early as 5,300 years, as discovered when the blackthorn’s contents were found in a mummy’s stomach. Fossils with the fruits have also been found. Blackthorn is a tree of ill omens, linked with conflict, death, goddesses, and witches. Fairies guard the tree, and its thorns can be collected only when the fairies are away at Beltane or Samhain. Cailleach, the Celtic goddess of winter, summoned winter by striking the ground with her blackthorn staff, and a hard winter was referred to as a “blackthorn winter.” The Irish created a walking stick called a bata (fighting stick) or shillelagh from the wood. These sticks also became known as “black rods,” a thorny wand used in spells.

Habitat and Distribution: Native to Europe, western Asia, and northwest Africa. The plant has been naturalized in New Zealand and North America. It

grows in lowlands, forests, and dry, stony places.

Growth: Bush or tree. The plant blooms between March and April, and the seeds ripen in October. Blackthorn prefers moist, well drained soil, but it can grow in sandy, loamy, or clay soils. Full sunlight is best, but the plant can thrive in partial shade.

Harvesting: Flowers, fruits, and leaves are used. Bark and roots may also be used for medicinal purposes. Harvest the flowers between April and May. Dry them in the shade. The fruit is best harvested after the first or second frost when they lose their bitterness and become sweet. They will be soft, with slightly wilted skin when they are ready. Dry them in a dehydrator or in the sun. Don’t refrigerate the fruits, but you can keep them sealed in the freezer until you need them.

Medical Use: Despite safety concerns, the plant is a folk remedy. As a decoction or infusion, it has a mild laxative effect and is commonly used for diarrhea. It’s also a treatment for stomach pains, fluid retention, exhaustion, hemorrhoids, rheumatism, kidney stones, gallstones, colds, allergies, eczema and other skin conditions, menopause, laryngitis, and more.

Rituals and Magical Use: The negative concepts of the past have followed the blackthorn into the present. It’s believed to be unwise to bring the flower into a home, because the plant is an omen of death. The plant is also used in curses and warfare. On the other hand, blackthorn has purifying properties and can create safe boundaries that stop negativity, in the same way the plant’s thorns protect creatures living within the branches from predators. The thorns are a source for healing depression and

personal issues at a deep level. A user has no control over blackthorn as the plant deals with fate that can’t be avoided.

Other Use: The plant is popular for hedges, and it is a honey plant, so it attracts bees. The wood has been used to make canes. As fuel, the wood burns slowly, retains heat, and has a pleasant aroma. The berries can be eaten raw or dried, made into jams and syrups, or added as a flavoring to wine, liqueurs, and sloe gin. Pulped fruit is used for face masks. Fruits produce dark gray to green or red dye, fresh leaves a green dye, and bark a yellow dye. The dried leaves are used for tea, and the flowers can be crystalized. Tannin from the bark has been used to make ink.

Other Names: Sloe.

Aromatic: The flowers have a musky smell. The fruit is sour or bitter before the frost and sweet after the frost.

CAUTION: Blackthorn belongs to a genus that is poisonous. The fruits are non toxic and therefore edible, but the seeds are poisonous (contain hydrocyanic acid). The leaves and flowers contain prussic acid, which breaks down into hydrogen cyanide, which is toxic. Pregnant and lactating women should not use medically and should eat the fruit in moderation.

Blackthorn and Witches

Blackthorn has an ancient history with witches. In medieval times, people believed Satan pricked the finger of his followers with a thorn from the plant, leaving a “witch mark.” Witches themselves were thought to stab dolls with the thorns to harm others. The fact that a woman lived near a blackthorn thicket could make people speculate that she was a witch. Some texts say when witches were burned, the pyres were made from blackthorn.

Blackthorn Vitamin Drink

This slightly carbonated, reddish drink has a pleasant taste. Combine 150 g each of dried rose hips, dried thistle fruit, and dried blackthorn fruit. Dissolve a cup of sugar into 4 liters of water and pour it over the fruit. Let it stand for one week. Strain. You can repeat the process to have a stronger, tastier drink.

***

Herbs are powerful, but they can also be dangerous.

MEDICAL LIABILITY DISCLAIMER: The information in this article, in the book and on our website is not intended to be medical advice, nor does it claim that the herbs listed are safe or effective to use in the manners described. It is not meant to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease. It is merely a brief summary of various herbal folk remedies and how they have been used in the past and may still be used today. With the exception of a few personal recipes, we have not tried any of these remedies and cannot verify their effectiveness or safety.

MAGICAL DISCLAIMER: Magical ingredients and spells are for entertainment only. We have not tried any of these remedies, nor do we make any claims as to their effectiveness or safety.

77 1/2 Herbs?

The wheels in your mind have probably been turning as you think, “77½ herbs is an odd number.”

And you’re right. But it’s a special, magical number, referring to herbs gathered on Eniovden, June 24, when Bulgarians celebrate Midsummer’s Day. If you want to find out the secret of the half herb, you’ll have to read the book.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ronesa aveela/77-1-2-magical-healing-herbs-the-secretpower of herbs

Ronesa Aveela is “the creative power of two.” Two authors that is. The main force behind the work, the creative genius, was born in Bulgaria and moved to the US in the 1990s. She grew up with stories of wild Samodivi, Kikimora, the dragons Zmey and Lamia, Baba Yaga, and much more. Her writing partner was born and raised in the New England area. She has a background in writing and editing, as well as having a love of all things from different cultures. She’s learned so much about Bulgarian culture, folklore, and rituals, and writes to share that knowledge with others. https://moms favorite reads.com/moms authors/ronesa aveela/

Matchstick Creature

What You Need:

Nuts conkers and acorns work best

Matchsticks or cocktail sticks

Googly eyes / or acrylic paint & brush

Glue

Scissors

1. Decide what your creature is going to be. Is it a 4 legged mammal, a 6 legged bug, an 8 legged spider or a random legged mystery creature?

2. Poke holes in the nut where the legs will go, then stick in the matchsticks (you could also use cocktail sticks for legs.)

3. Stick on the googly eyes, or paint them on.

4. Trim the legs.

You could also add a matchstick to make a long neck for a giraffe, or lots of cocktail sticks to make a spiky hedgehog. What will you create?

Leafy Picture

What You Need:

♦ Leaves different shapes and autumn shades.

Felt tip pens

1. Arrange your leaves to form birds, butterflies or animals. You could also make abstract patterns.

2. Glue the leaves in place.

3. Add in details using your felt tip pens.

Activities to do when you go for a walk

As Autumn/Fall approaches, go on a walk in the countryside, or even just around your garden.

Make sure you take a bag to collect the interesting things you find.

Look: Can you spot which trees stay green and which trees have leaves which change colour? How many different colours of leaves can you see?

Listen: Can you hear the breeze rustling through the tree branches? What noise do the fallen leaves make when you walk through them? Try shuffling, stomping and creeping through them to make different noises.

Smell: What can you smell? Do the old fallen leaves smell different to fresh green leaves?

Touch: Collect leaves and nuts feel the different textures. You could create a nature display or use these in a crafty activity.

Taste: Have a look for what berries are ripe, you might be lucky to find some blackberries, raspberries or bilberries to try. Make sure you never eat anything unless you can positively identify it as being edible.

My own little monsters loved bedtime stories. They’d pick out their books, often the same ones over and over, and take it in turns to sit on my knee the optimum position for interacting with the illustrations. Then, they’d snuggle in bed, I’d turn the lights low, and finish on a ‘Mummy story’. Mummy stories were usually guided by my rascals, for example: “Mummy, can we have a story about monsters,. but cute ones, and it has to include a rainbow, jam

and jumping in puddles?” I would then have to improvise a story incorporating their random requests.

Later, they asked for pictures to go with the stories and helped by drawing pictures of the characters. Rainbow Monsters started as a Mummy Story, but is now an award winning picture book, published by Hatchling Press. My Rainbow Monsters present to you, some of our favourite stories, with maybe a few Mummy stories thrown in.

Aimed at ages 3 6

Night Monkey and Day Monkey don’t think they have much in common. But when they each spend time in the other's opposite world, they learn to be the best of friends. From master storyteller, Julia Donaldson, and illustrated by Lucy Richards, this warm hearted story about friendship and difference is pitch perfect storytime reading.

I love reading this out loud, it just flows beautifully and is certainly one of my favourites too. The illustrations are simple but vibrant, with plenty of features to engage children and keep their interest throughout. The main reason we love this book, is the theme of understanding differences and making friends.

Halloween Parade

Written and illustrated by Sylva Fae and Sylva Rose Aimed at ages 3 6 It’s Halloween night, it’s dark and it’s spooky. The children of Shadewood School are dressed to scare. Dare you follow the class on their Halloween parade?

Halloween Parade was co written with my youngest daughter. She had great fun coming up with rhymes, and picking out the names for the characters Giggling Libby, Naughty Neville and Clueless Bob to name a few. Most children love dressing up, and the humorous illustrations show off the Halloween costumes as each child joins the parade. This is a simple story but gives lots of opportunities of interaction and giggles.

Sylva Fae is a married mum of three from Lancashire, England. She has spent twenty years teaching literacy to adults with learning difficulties and disabilities, and now works from home as a children’s writer and illustrator.

Sylva has published several children’s books and also writes a blog, Sylvanian Ramblings. Her debut book, Rainbow Monsters won the Chanticleer Best in Category award. Discover more about Sylva on Mom’s Favorite Reads website: https://moms-favorite-reads.com/moms-authors/sylva-fae/

Red’s Choices: Night Monkey, Day Monkey Written by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Lucy Richards

Joyce in Autumn

By Jenny Sanders

I’ve just spent thirty minutes clearing wet leaves from my hallway.

Yes, it’s that time of year when they get everywhere. It gets so wet that they stick to everything: my shopping trolley wheels, my shoes, the windows on the bus. They’re terribly slippery too. You remember my friend Viv, the one who once found a five pound note in a book in a charity shop and has been searching for more ever since? She came a cropper last week. There she was, in town, buying some bits and pieces milk, bread and a tin of pilchards, I think it was out she comes, slips on wet leaves and crashes to the ground..

Poor Viv; she said it was humiliating, falling over in front of strangers. That’s not the worst of it though. She broke her hip and now she’s laid up in hospital. So, it wasn’t only her pride that was bruised.

’

Thank goodness milk comes in a plastic bottle these days, not a glass one.’ That’s what she said afterwards. Can you imagine? There she is all over the pavement with her skirt every which way, and that’s what pops into her head. Bless her. I’ll go and visit her shortly.

The trees are lovely this time of year though. You know when you get those bright, crisp days when the sun still tries to break through? Not much warmth in it now of course, but if it catches them at the right angle, it’s a riot of colour that never fails to make me smile. Just as well, because it also makes me feel rather down. I’m not naturally miserable, but once the leaves turn I can’t help that feeling of dread that winter’s just around the corner with its cold and frost, and those long dark evenings. We’ll be changing the clocks again before you know it and then it will be Christmas all over again! There were cards on sale in the Post Office at the end of August. Can you believe it? I expect next Easter’s hot cross buns will be there soon.

Funny time of year really; but we fairly scorched this summer, didn’t we? Droughts, fires, hose pipe bans and all the rest of it. We’re just not used to that here. I suppose in Africa they just live normally in their hot temperatures. I don’t know how they do it. I was grateful for the coolness of my back room. Not much that a cup of tea and a sit down there won’t fix. Except Viv’s hip of course.

I shall have to take extra care when I visit. The paths are treacherous right now and, I have to admit, it’s made me nervous. Perhaps I’ll take Tom’s stick with me. My own hip isn’t great, as you know; but I could do without breaking the other one.

I hope she’ll be sorted and out again soon. Bless her. I went with her to her church’s harvest supper last month. It was lovely. We had pumpkin soup and homemade bread; simple but delicious. They

were collecting tins and packets for the local food bank. I took along a box of biscuits and some tinned rice pudding. It didn’t feel quite right, but it’s what they wanted and I hope it will help someone who’s struggling. Most people are these days.

When I was a girl, we celebrated harvest in a big way. Of course, some of us had been out in the fields helping bring it in anyway. The church was always decorated with fruit and veg on the window sills, along the steps and all over the altar table.

We’d sing our little hearts out, grateful for three meals a day; grateful for a simple life. Right in the centre would be a loaf of bread in the shape of a sheaf of corn. Mrs Cruickshank made that every year. Beautiful, it was. Quite a work of art. I’m not sure what happened to it afterwards.

I don’t think you’re allowed to celebrate like that any more. Everything has to be packaged just right. You can’t even bring in things you’ve made at home half the time unless you’ve had some food inspector come around and certify you. How ridiculous that you can’t just share what you’ve grown in your own garden any more. I’m sure lots of people would be grateful for some fresh veg.

Those memories become more precious as the years go by. We must all make some more while we have the time.

I suppose it will be Halloween again soon too. That’s not an evening I enjoy, I can tell you. When I was a girl we did apple bobbing, made toffee and told stories around a fire. These days it’s all horror films, fake blood and people knocking on your door dressed like who knows what, frightening the life out of you and wanting treats. I don’t begrudge the kids their sweets, but there’s always bigger lads pushing their weight around, getting mouthy, and I find it all rather intimidating. I’ll be closing the curtains, turning off the lights and finding refuge in my back room again with a mug of hot chocolate and a library book. That way they’ll think I’m out, and I won’t be bothered by their malarky. It comes to something when you feel as though you’re a prisoner in your own home

Still, let’s not get cynical, Joyce; no one enjoys that.

I think it’s stopped raining now. If I get my shoes and coat on quickly, I can make the next bus. It stops right by the hospital, so it’s super convenient. I wonder if I can take anything for Viv. They don’t allow flowers there anymore for some reason. Health and safety? Maybe. What do they think you’re going to do with them, I wonder. Eat them? Honestly, you couldn’t make it up.

I’ve got a couple of slices of my famous apple pie left in the fridge. I’ll pop those in a Tupperware and quickly make up a flask of tea – the kettle’s just boiled then we can enjoy those together and pretend we’re back at home, cosy and snug. There we go. Don’t forget the forks! And your key, Joyce. I’d forget my head if it wasn’t screwed on; at least, that’s what my mother used to tell me. Right; that’s me ready to go. Perhaps I will take Tom’s stick; give it an outing as it were. I like to feel he’s still with me. I used to lean on his arm but now I’ll lean on this old friend. It helps.

Jenny Sanders is a writer, speaker, encourager and mentor. She loves writing, reading and walking in nature whenever she can. For the past several years she’s lived between the beautiful cities of Bath, UK and Cape Town, S Africa. Her exciting and humorous new children’s book The Magnificent Moustache and Other Stories is now available published by The Conrad Press.

Rainy Afternoon— Mirror Lake, Utah

by Melanie P. Smith

© MPSmith Publishing

https://moms favorite reads.com/moms authors/melanie p smith/

https://moms favorite reads.com/moms authors/melanie p smith/

The Last Butterfly

by Stan Phillips

There are not many butterflies left now

As summer flees away.

But a hardy one fluttered, with quivering white wings

Past my window.

And into history.

So brave and fragile it was, facing the uncertainty of the unknown.

The leaves will soon fall And birds will abandon their nests for new homes

In warmer climes.

Then the snows will come to cover the garden

And the wild winds shall knife without mercy through the naked trees of unforgiving winter.

And who then will recall that last butterfly of the season that flickered courageously across the rain filled garden.?

The lead player in a world of which I can know nothing

For a purpose beyond my comprehension.

Stan Phillips is a poet, musical podcast maker, part time wannabe male model, and occasional stand up comedian. “I used to be a psychotherapist/ counsellor when I had an honest job. I was born into prewar London, and attended 17 schools (my father believed they couldn’t hit a moving target) and I eventually finished up here in Ireland. Still wondering what I will be when I grow up — but enjoying writing my quirky poetry as I do so.” Discover more about Stan on Mom’s Favorite Reads website: https://moms favorite reads.com/moms authors/stan phillips

Character Profiles in Flash Fiction

by Allison Symes

I often use random generators to trigger ideas for characters and themes. I also use the random question generator to build character profiles and, from those, further ideas emerge.

Questions I generated recently were:-

♦ What languages do you speak?

♦ Which talent would you show off in a talent show?

♦ What makes you cry?

♦ What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?

♦ What is on your bucket list for this year?

♦ What story does your family always tell about you?

I used these in a writing exercise I set having first generated a character name. I answered these questions for that character and ideas emerged. I was getting to know my character, which is the best way for me to get into writing a story. I must know where my character is coming from, whether I write 100 or 1000 words about them.

For my exercise story, I didn’t use all of the answers

I invented but picked those nuggets which most appealed. In this case, my character loved classical music, his family teased him about being unable to say Beethoven when he was a kid (he said beetroot), and onions always make my character cry.

You can generate as few or as many questions as you like but I find generating about six works for me. I don’t want too much information. I do need enough to get going.

Think about what you need to know about your character. What does motivate them? There can be stories about why they have that motivation. If their motivation is to make as much money as possible, are they greedy or desperate, knowing what it is to be homeless?

Perspective matters!

Flash Fiction Challenge Character answering a Randomly Generated Question

For this month’s challenge, I’ve set a randomly generated question. Please answer it from a character’s viewpoint. Do use the random name generator to trigger name ideas if you wish. I have here.

You may find building up a character profile first is the way to do this one because that will open up ideas as to what motivates them.

The question your character must answer is If you could grant any wish what would it be?

‘

I adapted the question from having a super power to granting a wish as this suits my story better (which is another way to extend what you can do with random generators!) but it gave me my starting point.

The random name I generated was Emma Donna Kyle. My story answers the question from Emma’s viewpoint.

I hope you have fun here and I highly recommend the question generator for profiles.

Gran smiles and hands me a photo of Gramps as a young man. He was a looker. I take out a photo of Steve. She nods approvingly. Steve is our neighbour’s son and a nice boy.

‘Do your homework for yourself, Emma, but if it helps do it for me and yes Steve.’

‘It’s boring, Gran.’

Wishing

Emma Donna Kyle, stop daydreaming. Get over here and do your homework now.’

I’ve heard this a thousand times from Gran this morning. She’s forgotten what being young is like. If only I could give her that back.

I slip a photo into my skirt pocket.

I enter the kitchen where Gran has my books laid out by a mug of hot chocolate and cookies. I smile. Gran believes in motivation.

‘Life often is, Emma. You know I fell pregnant with your mother when I was school age. Oh yes, your late Gramps and I knew what it was to be young. Fancied ourselves as the new Romeo and Juliet with a happier outcome. Sixty glorious years later...’ Gran wipes away a tear but acts as if grit got in her eye. ‘Gramps was…’

‘A young man, like your Steve, full of love, desire, and hormones. Humans don’t change much, Emma. We age. The one thing Gramps did regret was my having to leave school. You do well at school, Emma. Other things can wait. They will wait. Make your Gran proud.’

I passed those exams, got a degree, and married Steve after I graduated. Gran wept tears of joy on all of those occasions.

Our first born was named Lily after Gran. My Lily turned up a year after my marriage and a month after we lost Gran.

I swear she has Gran’s features but I’m just daydreaming again.

Website: https://allisonsymescollectedworks.com/

Allison Symes, who loves reading and writing quirky fiction, is published by Chapeltown Books, CafeLit, and Bridge House Publishing. Her flash fiction collections, Tripping The Flash Fantastic and From Light to Dark and Back Again are out in Kindle and paperback. She has been a winner of the Waterloo Arts Festival writing competition three years in a row where the brief was to write to a set theme to a 1000 words maximum.

A Wish GrAnted

Wishing My Life Away By Jenny Sanders

I suppose it’s rather a strange life. In fact, now that I come to think about it, the working conditions are abysmal.

I must be available 24/7, which means there are no days off as such. Not even Christmas Day. On the other hand, I can go for years without having to do anything at all.

I’m just not allowed to leave the office on those days, and if I tell you it’s cramped, that’s an understatement. When I do get out of there, it’s all I can not to yell blue murder as my circulation begins again. Man, that’s painful! Pins and needles like nobody’s business. I’ve had cramps like you can’t believe, but it’s all part of the arrangement.

I don’t think I ever signed a contract as such, and when your boss changes as often as mine does, there’s not a great deal of room for maneuver. There’s certainly not a union I can join, which leaves me in a bit of a pickle.

Sometimes the bosses can be unreasonable. Honestly, they can ask for the moon and somehow, literally, I have to get it for them. It’s all in the small print or so they tell me.

People say that bad things come in threes, and my experience is that everything comes in threes. Get me this; find me that; sort out the third thing. That’s how it goes: a period of frenetic activity and then it’s back in the lamp I go until the next greedy blighter or ambitious so and so takes charge. One rub as they try and polish up my office with their sleeve and there I am; back, blinking in the daylight and poised for action. Retirement? Forget about it. Who’d be a genie, eh?

More Than I Wished For

By Sylva Fae

A roast dinner with the family will be lovely, I thought. It’ll be easy, I thought just chuck it all in my new combi oven thingy, then relax while it cooks.

I checked what food we had already.

‘Turkey, potatoes, veggies, gravy, stuffing? No stuffing, I can’t have a roast without stuffing.’

I quickly put in the order to Scoop & Scales, our super local shop that sells by weight, using only recycled containers as packaging. They confirmed the delivery and I sat back feeling smug.

The following day, I was prepping veggies while I waited for my order, when the phone rang.

Is that a lot? It would last a while, but my children do like their stuffing. “Er yes, is that too much?”

Stuffing crisis resolved, I returned to my chopping. The phone rang again.

“Mrs Kyle, I’m really sorry but the stuffing is just past its sell by date. It’s fine though, you can have it at half price if you want.”

“Stuffing is stuffing, I’m sure it will be okay, I still want it.”

I’d barely made it back to the kitchen…

“Hi, it’s Jo again. Er we actually have a few more kilos of stuffing if you want it.”

“Hi, it’s Jo again. Er… we actually have a few more kilos of stuffing if you want it.”

I laughed; it would all get eaten eventually. “Yes, send it along.”

That poor delivery guy! After three trips to offload a plethora of tubs, boxes, and jars, he sheepishly held out a delivery note addressed to ‘The Stuffing Lady’. And now, instead of relaxing while my roast cooks, I’m frantically rearranging the whole kitchen to accommodate six kilos of stuffing in random containers I got rather more than I wished for.

The End

(The story above is actually a true story. Have you ever seen how much six kilos of stuffing is? I gave a large bag of stuffing to my mum, and another couple to my neighbours. A year on, many roast dinners later, and I’m still using it. Every time I scoop some out, the rest expands to fill the bag. I haven’t had to reorder stuffing since, but whenever I do put in an order to Scoop & Scales, I’m known as The Stuffing Lady.)

”

“Is that Mrs Kyle? It’s Jo from Scoop & Scales. Just checking did you really mean to order a kilo of stuffing?

Unattainable Wishes By Melanie P. Smith

Characters are taken from my Paige Carter Series a police procedural with six completed seasons.

https://melaniepsmith.com/paige-carter-series

***

Dax watched Paige slowly make her way down the aisle with Retired General Nathan Porter. He was a man Dax respected more than anyone. A man who stepped in for his fallen friend after he was killed on a dangerous, top secret military mission. A man who took his duties as surrogate father seriously. He might be a stand in for his best friend, but Nathan Porter was family. And anyone watching could see that. Father and daughter were glowing with love and determination as they made their way down the aisle.

Dax laughed inwardly, understanding the woman he was about to marry. She was the most beautiful, most complicated person he’d ever met and she would rather be arresting a serial killer than gliding down the walkway on those stilts her friend

called shoes. She’d rather be lounging on the porch with a cup of coffee than traipsing across the grass in an elegant wedding dress. Their eyes locked and his heart felt like it would burst. He Dax Hamilton was getting married. Joy flowed through him tinged with a hint of sorrow. He knew, as much as Paige loved General Nathan Porter, she missed her father nearly as much as she missed her mother. Their absence left a hole that could never be filled.

He continued to watch her take one careful step after another and wished with all his heart for the one thing he could never give her. He wished Paige could share her wedding day with her parents. He longed to give her an hour to tell a father who died when she was eight all about her life. He’d give anything if Paige could share this special moment with the mother that was murdered when Paige was only a teenager.

When she stepped in next to him, he took her hand and winked. She smiled; and, in that moment, he promised himself he’d give her the next best thing a lifetime of happiness and unconditional love.

Europe by Book

by Hannah Howe

Never Stop Walking: A Memoir of Finding Home Across the World by Christina Rickardsson

An extraordinary memoir of one woman’s fight to find her true self between the life into which she was born and the one she was given.

Christiana Mara Coelho was born into extreme poverty in Brazil. After spending the first seven years of her life with her loving mother in the forest caves outside São Paulo and then on the city streets, where they begged for food, she and her younger brother were suddenly put up for adoption. When one door closed on the only life Christiana had ever known and on the woman who protected her with all her heart, a new one opened.

As Christina Rickardsson, she’s raised by caring adoptive parents in Sweden, far from the despairing favelas of her childhood. Accomplished and outwardly “normal,” Christina is also filled with rage over what she’s lost and having to adapt to a new reality while struggling with the traumas of her youth. When her world falls apart again as an adult, Christina returns to Brazil to finally confront her past and unlock the truth of what really happened to Christiana Mara Coelho.

A memoir of two selves, Never Stop Walking is the moving story of the profound love between families and one woman’s journey from grief and loss to survival and self discovery.

Hannah Howe is

Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman

Andre Aciman’s Call Me by Your Name is the story of a sudden and powerful romance that blossoms between an adolescent boy and a summer guest at his parents’ cliffside mansion on the Italian Riviera. Each is unprepared for the consequences of their attraction, when, during the restless summer weeks, unrelenting currents of obsession, fascination, and desire intensify their passion and test the charged ground between them. Recklessly, the two verge toward the one thing both fear they may never truly find again: total intimacy. It is an instant classic and one of the great love stories of our time.

Now a Major Motion Picture from Director Luca Guadagnino, Starring Armie Hammer and Timothée Chalamet, and Written by James Ivory

WINNER BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY ACADEMY AWARD

Nominated

Smith

eBooks and

A Place at the Table

by Father Ian Maher

Matthew 22.1-14

The Parable of the Wedding Banquet drives home a point about which Jesus was acutely aware. The religious leaders in Israel had departed from the call placed upon them by God to be a light to the nations and a beacon of hope to all people, thereby ushering in the messianic banquet.

Instead, they had become insular and elitist seeing their own place at the banquet as theirs by right rather than through God ’ s grace, and themselves as the gatekeepers to the banquet.

By the time Matthew wrote his gospel, members of the early church would also have been recognising how some in their own ranks were not living as true disciples of Jesus. Like the religious leaders of Israel, they were missing the point that their call from God was an act of generosity and pure grace on God’s part, calling forth a response of service, not one of elitism.

Those invited to the messianic banquet must clothe themselves with the garments of the kingdom, woven from the threads of love, compassion, selflessness and service wedding gifts for Christ the groom and the Church, his bride. The one who comes to

the banquet with no intention of wearing the wedding garment has no intention of changing their life and is an imposter.

So how might this parable speak to us today? Well, the kingdom of God has come among us in Christ and therefore the banquet is underway already. We have a place at the table and God has provided all that we need to be there. God ’s grace is sufficient and that’s good news.

We are the sinners and outcasts to whom God has opened his arms and extended a welcome, evoking a response from us. The challenge is about what sort of responses we make, both as the Church and as individual members of it. Do we rest on our laurels or seek to actively bring others to the banquet by living lives that reflect the values of the kingdom of God in the world?

What do people see when they look upon the Church from the outside? Is it a fellowship of people who live a life that is attractive to others, and which makes Christ known in acts of love and service, or is it seen as a religious clique that talks the talk without walking the walk?

Do they see passionate, committed people who reflect God’s love for them and the

world in the service of others, or do they see holier than thou do gooders who look down their noses at those outside the church?

Are we together a beacon of light in the world drawing others into the love and grace and mercy of God, or are we barrier to that same love because we are seen as being pontificating and judgemental about those whose beliefs and lifestyles do not measure up to some perceived notion of holiness?

If the Church is to be the sign par excellence of the kingdom of God on earth we must pray together, believe together, share in the Eucharist together itself a foretaste of the heavenly banquet and strive to live together as the people of God the best we can, not for ourselves alone but for the king and for all who are invited to the banquet; for the whole of humankind.

God ’s grace means that we have a place at the table. We already wear the wedding garment of God ’s friendship and are, as it were, dressed for dinner. What God requires from us is that as citizens of the kingdom we live by the values of that kingdom and in so doing we can sit comfortably at the banquet in which God has invited us to participate.

I am a priest and minor canon at Sheffield Cathedral. My last post prior to retirement from stipendiary ministry was as the Multifaith Chaplaincy Co ordinator and Anglican Chaplain at Sheffield Hallam University, where I worked for 12 years.

https://imaherblog.wordpress.com/ Twitter @IanMaher7

Mom s Favorite Reads Author

Ronesa Aveela

Ronesa Aveela is “the creative power of two.” Two authors that is. The main force behind the work, the creative genius, was born in Bulgaria and moved to the US in the 1990s. She grew up with stories of wild Samodivi, Kikimora, the dragons Zmey and Lamia, Baba Yaga, and much more. She’s a freelance artist and writer. She likes writing mystery romance inspired by legends and tales. In her free time, she paints. Her artistic interests include the female figure, Greek and Thracian mythology, folklore tales, and the natural world interpreted through her eyes. She is married and has two children.

Her writing partner was born and raised in the New England area. She has a background in writing and editing, as well as having a love of all things from different cultures.

Together, the two make up the writing of Ronesa Aveela.

CONNECT WITH RONESA AVEELA

WEBSITE — www.ronesaaveela.com

FACEBOOK — https://www.facebook.com/RonesaAveela/

TWITTER https://twitter.com/Ronesa_Aveela

INSTAGRAM — https://www.instagram.com/ ronesaaveela/

GOODREADS

https://www.goodreads.com/author/ show/8459737.Ronesa_Aveela

BOOKBUB — https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ ronesa aveela

Dragon Village Series

BUY DIRECT...

YOUTUBE — https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCdf9kHx_fERZzyi58ZdlnFg https://77 1 2 herbs.backerkit.com/ hosted_preorders

and Creatures Series

77½ Magical Healing Herbs: Secret Powers of Herbal Medicine

Venture into the magical, healing world of herbs and embrace the power of nature. The book is an introduction to herbs found in a special Midsummer’s wreath. This is an especially enchanting time of year. Among the Bulgarians, the day is called Eniovden.

Coming Soon...

Baba Yaga, Demon or Goddess?

Ronesa Aveela will be launching a Kickstarter Campaign for Baba Yaga on October 4th. It’s an in depth look at the infamous Slavic witch like you've never seen before, including folklore, fairy tales and personal encounters.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ronesa aveela/a study of baba yaga

Be sure to check out their website for additional information. And don’t miss their September 23rd post where they talk about roses and rose hips (Шипка). In honor of the cannibalistic witch who was also a healer. Keep reading for a sneak peek.

The Power of the Rose

DID YOU KNOW...

If you have a cold, cough, or laryngitis, you can add honey to a tea made from rose hips to provide fast relief. This tea is also good treatment for people with cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, or diarrhea. It’s one of my favorite teas. It reminds me of the tea made from hibiscus.

Just follow the link below to continue reading. Learn about lore, the magical healing properties and recipes that you can try at home.

https://ronesaaveela.wordpress.com/2022/09/23/ the power of the rose/

Coloring Page

By Adrian Czarnecki

Though I love dreaming up and putting together my Siberian Husky themed children’s illustrated picture story books, Adventures of Hot Rod Todd, I don’t think of myself as an ‘author’ or as a ‘writer’. ‘Story teller’ sounds better.

My books are so dependent upon the illustrations. That’s where illustrator Cameo Anderson http:// www.cameoanderson.com/ comes in. Cameo really can see into my mind’s eye interpreting my often rambling page descriptions into works of art; there’s a saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words” and with a children’s book that is so important and Cameo nails it every time and then some.

So, for your enjoyment, here is a page from the Coloring Book featuring some of the characters and scenes from the books.

Coloring Book

Adrian S. Czarnecki is a semi retired writer of Siberian Husky oriented children’s books based on an actual litter of 6 puppies born to his Dam Empress Maya and Sire Damien Czar on March 14th 2019.

Born in Huddersfield, England, Adrian has travelled the world extensively pursuing careers in journalism, photography, PR / Marketing as well as print and sales. Adrian now lives in Idaho, USA with his wife Meta and their Siberian Huskies who keep them on their toes.

Around America in 50 Books

by Wendy H. Jones

Georgi

The next book in our literary tour of the United States takes us to Georgia via the pages of what has become a literary classic Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt.

Description

Shots rang out in Savannah's grandest mansion in the misty,early morning hours of May 2, 1981. Was it murder or self defense? For nearly a decade, the shooting and its aftermath reverberated throughout this hauntingly beautiful city of moss hung oaks and shaded squares. John Berendt's sharply observed, suspenseful, and witty narrative reads like a thoroughly engrossing novel, and yet it is a work of nonfiction. Berendt skillfully interweaves a hugely entertaining first person account of life in this isolated remnant of the Old South with the unpredictable twists and turns of a landmark murder case.

It is a spellbinding story peopled by a gallery of remarkable characters: the well bred society ladies of the Married Woman's Card Club; the turbulent young redneck gigolo; the hapless recluse who owns a bottle of poison so powerful it could kill every man, woman, and child in Savannah; the aging and profane Southern belle who is the "soul of pampered self absorption"; the uproariously funny black drag queen; the acerbic and arrogant antiques dealer; the sweet talking, piano playing con artist; young blacks dancing the minuet at the black debutante ball; and Minerva, the voodoo priestess who works her magic in the graveyard at midnight. These and other Savannahians act as a Greek chorus, with Berendt revealing the alliances, hostilities, and intrigues that thrive in a town where everyone knows everyone else.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a sublime and seductive reading experience. Brilliantly conceived and masterfully written, this enormously engaging portrait of a most beguiling Southern city has become a modern classic.

Review

When it came to Georgia, I already knew what my book choice was going to be. There are few books I can read twice, but this is one of them. In fact, this is my third reading. I first read it on a plane when returning from a trip to Charleston, South Carolina, and I wanted to read something from the American South. When I read it, I really wished I had considered a few days in Savannah, Georgia. Every single character is so brilliantly written I felt I knew them intimately. They weren’t always pleasant, but they were very definitely real. With regards to setting, Berendt has brough it to life, so much so I still want to visit Savannah. I felt I was walking the streets and feeling the steamy heat. The story itself is also gripping and I felt bereft when it ended. It was like I had left friends behind. This is one classic everyone should read.

Wendy H. Jones is the award winning, international best selling author of the DI Shona McKenzie Mysteries, Cass Claymore Investigates Mysteries, Fergus and Flora Mysteries, Bertie the Buffalo children’s books and the Writing Matters books for writers. She is also a writing and marketing coach and the President of the Scottish Association of Writers. As copy editor for Mom’s, she works hard to ensure content is appropriate and free of grammatical and spelling errors. You can learn more about Wendy on her website: https://www.wendyhjones.com/

Autumn

by Stan Phillips

Autumn comes slowly once more.

Turning the trees from summer green to September red, and October gold.

Soon they will tumble like falling feathers to lie in the welcoming embrace of the earth.

And the trees will stand empty against the harsh winter winds, stoic, preparing for their Spring rebirth.

It is life's carousel that goes round and round with the changing seasons of birth and life and death and rebirth again.

Endlessly.

But we are not trees, we are not born anew with the never ending journey of our planet's eternal voyage around its star.

No, we have but one season in our sun. And must make the most of youth's Springtime. The best of our glorious summer.

Enjoy the peace of our autumnal maturity.

For winter will come inevitable along life's path, and we must greet it all to soon.

For unllike the trees, we are not remade with the new year.

And need to cherish and thrive with what we possess.

To give value to our mortality.

Stan Phillips is a poet, musical podcast maker, part time wannabe male model, and occasional stand up comedian. “I used to be a psychotherapist/ counsellor when I had an honest job. I was born into prewar London, and attended 17 schools (my father believed they couldn’t hit a moving target) and I eventually finished up here in Ireland. Still wondering what I will be when I grow up but enjoying writing my quirky poetry as I do so.” Discover more about Stan on Mom’s Favorite Reads website: https://moms favorite reads.com/moms authors/stan phillips

Stan Phillips is a poet, musical podcast maker, part time wannabe male model, and occasional

Goblins and Ghosts

By Sue DeCrescenzo

It’s that time of year where we see goblins, ghosts, and gore.

Things that creep around, drip blood, moan in pain and more.

Have you ever seen a real ghost? Some say they have or so they boast.

I lost a friend a year ago. She was ill, but I didn’t know.

We’d been friends for over 20 years. Her loss I feel deeply with so many tears.

Her name was Phyllis and she loved to travel. Now her spirit can fly, and she won’t make any noise on the gravel.

The night Phyllis died; she came to me in a dream.

She wanted to tell me, Sue it’s alright. It’s my fault too, I didn’t write.

Lots of laughs, love, good food and wine. Your life just took a different turn than mine.

Now, she continued, I understand so much; really my life was great.

Sue, keep on laughing and loving. Life is short, don’t hesitate.

Finally, Phyllis pointed and said, I think I’m supposed to go into that light.

I wasn’t always so good at following the rules, but I know this is right.

I awoke from my dream, but her presence seemed real.

I laid there a moment analyzing how I feel.

I smiled and thought, it ’s Halloween where we see goblins and ghosts. Have you seen one? I have now, I can boast!

Ms. DeCrescenzo grew up in New Jersey and summered on the coast of Maine.

On foggy summer nights around beach bonfires, Sue entertained her siblings telling hair raising ghost stories.

Now Sue is happily retired. She lives in northern GA on Lake Lanier with her husband, Keith Guernsey, and their 2nd rescue dog Zoey, a “Jack Chi” (Jack Russell/ chihuahua mix).

Sue has contributed numerous short stories to online magazines, Mom’s Favorite Reads and Spillwords Press”. Body on the Ramp is her first mystery novella, which is available on Amazon.com. If you wish to reach Sue, her email address is writing4youalways@gmail.com

Summer Sunsets

by Sylva Fae

© Sylva Fae

National Mad Hatter Day

by Melanie P. Smith

October

Cover design created to honor National Mad Hatter Day

There are some phrases that seem immortal. They are so familiar that one sentence is enough and the person you are speaking to immediately knows what you mean.

• “Down the Rabbit hole”

• “Curiouser and curiouser!”

• “I’m late, I’m late, I’m late! For a very important date!”

• “A very merry unbirthday to you.”

• “Off with their heads!”

I bet one of these phrases made you think of Alice in Wonderland. And, you can’t talk about Alice without immediately thinking about the Mad Hatter and his crazy tea party.

The History of Mad Hatter Day….

Well, it’s simple really. A group of computer technicians first dubbed October 6th a day of silliness in 1986. Why the 6th of October? In honor of the label tucked in the Mad Hatter’s hat band that reads “In this style 10/6.”

So, if you’re feeling a little melancholy as we move from summer to fall grab your party horns and a really big hat and have a slightly silly celebration. Oh, and don’t forget to walk backwards. How to celebrate:

Re enact the tea party or ask your local library to sponsor a reading day children where you can read silly stories to the kids.

Watch a marathon of silly movies.

Randomly ask ridiculous riddles like “Why is a raven like a writing desk?”

And the most important one wear a silly hat and have fun! Happy Mad Hatter Day!

We are excited to announce that Goylake Publishing has teamed-up with the Fussy Librarian and in partnership we are offering you 20% off your first book promotion with the Fussy Librarian. To qualify for this promotion, your book must be either permafree or listed free during a special offer.

In our experience, the Fussy Librarian is the best book promoter in the business. When we promote with him, our free books always reach the top five of Amazon’s genre charts, most often they reach the top three. We promote with the Fussy Librarian every month and will continue to do so into the foreseeable future.

Prices start from as low as $15, minus our special discount of 20%.

Click here: https://authors.thefussylibrarian.com/?ref=goylake for full details. And, at the checkout, be sure to enter this code: goylake20 to claim your 20% discount. Thank you for your interest. And good luck with your promotion!

Brought to you

Marketing seems to be one of those areas that every author struggles with. It’s the same struggle companies world wide have been dealing with for decades. How do I get my product in front of my target audience? Connections eMagazine can help. The publication is free to readers, bloggers and to authors looking for a little extra exposure. Visit our website for details.

https://melaniepsmith.com/

https://melaniepsmith.com/emagazine/

Connections eMagazine is a FREE quarterly publication founded by authors Melanie P. Smith and Rhoda D’Ettore. It is currently produced entirely by Editor, Melanie P. Smith. Over the years, the magazine has evolved and it now features promos, freebies, blog articles, and short stories in every issue.

Discover more about Connections eMagazine on their website here: https://melaniepsmith.com/emagazine landing/

Find some great books and award

winning

Editor In Chief Hannah Howe

The Editor-in-Chief is the key figure in every publication. Hannah Howe works closely with the editorial staff to ensure the success of each publication. She is the author of the Sam Smith Mystery Series, the Ann’s War Mystery Series and Saving Grace. Get to know more about Hannah, her projects and her work on Mom’s Favorite Reads website here:

https://moms favorite reads.com/moms authors/hannah howe/

Executive Editor | Graphic Designer—Melanie P. Smith

The Executive Editor / Graphic Designer is responsible for developing the layout and design of MFR eMagazine. She also works hard to create new covers each month that captures the essence of each publication. In addition to the editorial staff of Mom’s Favorite Reads, Melanie P. Smith also produces Connections eMagazine. She is a multi genre author of Criminal Suspense, Police Procedural, Fantasy and Romance novels. Get to know more about Melanie, her projects, and her work on Mom’s Favorite Reads website here:

https://moms favorite reads.com/moms authors/melanie p smith/

Managing Editor, Art Director & Proofreader —Sylva Fae

Our Managing Editor oversees the physical content of the magazine and coordinates the production schedule. She administers the day to day operations of the publication, manages submissions, sets realistic schedules and organizes each edition of the magazine. Sylva is is responsible for the amazing graphics that appear throughout the publication each month. She works hard to ensure the images capture the spirit and message our author's convey in their articles and stories. In addition, As Copy Editor, Sylva works hard behind the scenes to correct any grammatical, typos and spelling errors throughout the magazine. Sylva Fae Mum of three, fairy woodland owner, and author of children’s books.

https://moms favorite reads.com/moms authors/sylva fae/

Copy Editors / Proofreaders — Wendy H. Jones and Sheena MacLead

Our Copy Editors for Mom’s work hard to ensure content is appropriate and free of grammatical and spelling errors.

Wendy H. Jones is also our Feature Editor and works hard to provide content that is interesting, informative and professional. She’s the award winning, international best-selling author of the DI Shona McKenzie Mysteries, Cass Claymore Investigates Mysteries, Fergus and Flora Mysteries, Bertie the Buffalo children’s books and the Writing Matters books for writers. She is also a writing and marketing coach and the President of the Scottish Association of Writers. You can learn more about Wendy on her website:

https://www.wendyhjones.com/

Sheena Macleod lectured at the University of Dundee, where she gained her PhD. She now lives in a seaside town in Scotland. Reign of the Marionettes is her first novel. She currently has two additional books: Tears of Strathnaver and Women of Courage A Forgotten Figure Frances Connolly. You can learn more about Sheena on her website:

https://www.sheenas books.co.uk/

Story Editor—Allison Symes

Allison Symes works diligently each month to generate flash fiction writing prompts that will stimulate creativity in our authors and entertain our readers. As Story Editor, she also ensures each entry is professional and polished. Allison Symes is an award winning, published flash fiction and short story writer. She also writes a weekly column on topics of interest for writers for online magazine, Chandler's Ford Today. Allison's fiction has appeared in anthologies (CafeLit and Bridge House Publishing) over many years. Allison judges competitions, runs workshops, and is always happy to talk/write about flash fiction writing.

https://allisonsymescollectedworks.com

Marketing Director Grant Leishman

Our Marketing Director, Grant Leishman, oversees marketing campaigns and social media engagement for our magazine. After an exciting career in accounting and journalism, he now focuses on his true calling writing. Get to know more about Grant on Mom’s Favorite Reads website here: https://moms favorite reads.com/moms authors/grant leishman/

Our Content Writers are freelance authors who contribute articles, short stories, etc. to the eMagazine on a regular basis. They work hard to make our magazine interesting and professional. Get to know our Content Writers here:

T.E. Hodden https://moms favorite reads.com/moms authors/t e hodden/ Stan Phillips https://moms favorite reads.com/moms authors/stan phillips/ Father Ian Maher https://imaherblog.wordpress.com/ Alison Rasmussen https://paynesgreyillustration.com/ Chantel Bellehumeur https://author chantal bellehumeur.webnode.com/products /

Joy Margetts www.joymargetts.com

Angela Abraham https://www.descriptionari.com/ Lisa Shambrook www.amaranthalchemy.etsy.com

Becky Hemsley https://www.facebook.com/talkingtothewild/

Allison Symes — https://allisonsymescollectedworks.com/ Penny Luker www.pennyluker.wordpress.com