I started traveling the backcountry when I was a teenager. My first love was a mountain climber, and he shared his passion for the outdoors with me. The bug bit deep. After we parted, because first loves almost never go the distance, I found another mountaineer and we made a life together. I’m an unlikely climber. For one thing, I’m short. If you take a look at most climbers, they’re tall and rangy. Having that extra reach helps—a lot. It’s good for stepping around obstacles and for navigating rock-strewn slopes. But size cuts both ways. Sometimes I’ve been able to …
This is the ultimate Thanksgiving dessert for witches who happen to have a vegan daughter and a dairy-free son. LOL
And I KNOW it’s the ultimate because it’s gets eaten fast. My family is an apple dessert kind of bunch. I’ve been making apple pies, apple turnovers and apple crisps for years. HOWEVER, about six years ago, my girl child went vegan and son soon added onto the dietary restrictions list by going no dairy. I said… no problem. My first, second and 34756734 attempts were not good. But I’m not a quitter. The recipe I’m going to share can be made with regular butter, but I use Earth’s Balance and it’s just as delicious! Ready or not… here’s the …
Conjure up a spiced honey cake this Thanksgiving
As Thanksgiving approaches, it’s the perfect time to bring a touch of magic into your kitchen. My spiced honey cake is just the treat you need to add a dash of enchantment to your harvest celebrations. With its warm spices and sweet honey glaze, this cake is as delightful to taste as it is to behold. This cake isn’t just any old dessert—it’s a spellbinding blend of flavors designed to capture the essence of autumn! The aromatic mix of cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg pairs beautifully with the rich sweetness of honey, creating a cake that feels both comforting and …
Musings on the Paranormal
I believe in paranormal phenomena. It’s a prerequisite for anyone writing fiction with paranormal elements where suspension of disbelief is effective. Let me kick this off by sharing one of my experiences. About thirty years ago, I was living in Shingletown, California, a small community a few miles east of Redding. I took a shortcut one morning on back mountain roads to drive to Burney where I was scheduled to do a radio broadcast. Coming down Highway 44, the steering wheel of my Volkswagen Rabbit ripped its way to the stops. My car spun a few times and slammed into a …
Give Me Some of that Old Time Romance
Romance comes in all forms. That handsome fellow is a fur seal staking out his territory on a sub-Antarctic island. The boys show up first in the Antarctic spring, and it’s a good bet he’s dreaming about this year’s mate while battling the other dudes for a prime bit of beachfront. I didn’t start out writing romance. Nope. I started out writing science fiction and fantasy. Hence the whimsical photo above. But you know what? After a while I noticed no matter where my story was set—modern world, high fantasy world, or a twisted science fiction dystopia—romantic elements always crept …
Easy Low Carb Pecan Pie Autumn Tarts
These low-carb, gluten-free mini pecan tarts always remind me of those holiday dinners when pecan pies were the star of the dessert table. The smell alone was enough to make the whole room feel warmer, like the whole family had been wrapped up in a cozy blanket. Everyone had their own way of enjoying it—some went for tiny slivers, others for big, generous wedges with a scoop of ice cream, but my favorite part was always the top layer of pecans. I would eat the crispy, nutty, and sweet halves first. That’s the best part of these tarts! They’re just …
Yes, I have a broom.
I have a broom. Her name is Sally. Why? Well, why not. LOL All witches need transportation and I love to fly. Plus, Sally is gorgeous. Writing is magical. The way I started my book career was filled with dumb luck, lies and magic. I should sweep this story under the rug, but Sally insists I share. Side note… Sally is in my office and I talk to her when I’m stuck on a story. She’s become my magical muse. What she says goes. So here’s the scary truth… I’ve been asked how I got published. The answer is simple…I lied. That’s right, …
My Familiars Own My Ass
Yep, I have said many times that I like animals better than people. LOL And I stand by my words except when my dogs get skunked and my cats bring me gifts. Sadly, the dogs don’t understand that sniffing a skunk’s butt repeatedly ends in multiple baths and lots of swear words from Mom. The cats… forget about it. A gift is a gift even if it causes me to scream and run. I love them even with their smelly and unappetizing habits. First thing you should know about me… besides being an author I’m also a collector of stray …
Spooky and Spellbinding: Witchy Rituals for a Magical Halloween
Halloween is just around the corner and with so many different ways to celebrate it, I thought I’d chat about Halloween traditions. Growing up in Australia, Halloween wasn’t something we celebrated on a regular basis. It’s only since I began writing paranormal cozy mysteries and paranormal romantic suspense books that I started to research Halloween traditions in more detail. I’ve found it interesting while researching this topic that there are many traditions, each with their own important meaning. Here are my top six traditions that I’d like to add to my Halloween celebrations this year. What sort of traditions do …
My BFF Bigfoot!
What is a best friend? To me, it’s someone with whom you share your deepest secrets. Someone who has your back no matter what. Like when you wore gauchos to a housewarming party and no one would make eye contact with you except for your BFF. Who, I might add, complimented your heinous fashion faux pas multiple times. Or the time you ate so many hot wings and drank soooo many Mike’s Hard Lemonades that you were able to belch half of the alphabet making everyone leave the table… except for your BFF. In fact, he ripped a belch in …