The Tears of St. Lawrence
Tonight is the last night of the Perseid Meteor shower and the spectacular cosmic display often called the Tears of St. Lawrence.
Photo courtesy of © José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro
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A Feast for Music
November isn’t just a month to give thanks for our blessings, it’s also offers us a day set aside to celebrate Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music and musicians. Saint Cecilia, a Roman noblewoman who lived in Rome during the 3rd century, was one of the earliest Christian martyrs.
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A Letter of Thanksgiving
Edward Winslow was not the most popular of the Mayflower’s passengers. In fact, his life in the Plymouth Colony ended because the rest of the passengers betrayed him. He wasn’t a politician, he wasn’t rich, and he had no ulterior motives when in the summer of 1620 he decided to head to the New World.
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A Time for Martinmas
Once upon a time, the world used a different calendar called the Julian calendar During this time, Samhain aka Halloween occurred on November 11 instead of October 31. November 11 is still known as Martinmas.
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Bonfires and Devil’s Boulders
Tomorrow is Bonfire Night and this year I want to introduce you to another tradition that takes place on November 5, a pagan celebration that predates Guy Fawkes Day by centuries and is believed to be one of the oldest traditions in Europe. It’s also a tradition that lends itself more to Halloween than any of the winter festivals.
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History of Werewolves
Legends about werewolves have been around since ancient times, and the stories cross all continents and cultures. While doing research for a super-secret writing project, I learned all sorts of strange and interesting facts about werewolves that could explain our fascination with these stories
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An Irish Halloween
As we get closer to October 31st, more and more stories are popping up about the history of this holiday. As an avid Irish folklore researcher, I’ve learned a lot about the stories of pagan Ireland.
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The Highwayman: A Romantic Halloween Poem
This time of year I tend to read thematically darker poems and stories, and The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes is one of my favorites!
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Witch Trials: Beyond Salem
Everyone has heard about the Salem Witch Trials, but there’s a darker history behind why that event happened. A history that began fifty years earlier, in 1642.
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Elizabeth Marie Pope’s The Sherwood Ring
A brief introduction to the acclaimed YA author Elizabeth Marie Pope and her first ghostly novel The Sherwood Ring. A perfect romantic thriller to read on a cold autumn night.
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Beauty & The Beast: A Tale as Old as Time
Beauty and the Beast is a fairytale that dates back centuries and has a complex and interesting history which has made it one of the most beloved fairytales ever.
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Irish Myths & The Deadly Force Series
To celebrate my newest release in the Deadly Force series, I’ve written a brief background on the mythic Gaelic warrior who led the Fianna long, long ago. Before Rome even invaded Britain. This warrior’s name is Fionn MacCumhaill.
