History classes in the United States teach that the first Thanksgiving was celebrated as one of the successful harvests early English settlers had with the help of the Wampanoag people in the early seventeenth century, during one of the peaceful moments between the two groups. Though its origins come from that 1621 shared harvest feast, … Continue reading Season of Gratitude
Once more, my prompt came from writing.com. Write a story or poem in which a mountain village wakes up to find that overnight, the season's first snow has fallen in strange, perfect shapes — spirals, symbols, and patterns no one can explain. A child claims the snow is trying to tell them something. What happens? … Continue reading First Snow
Once more, I delved into my Story Engine cards. This time, I drew cards that led to a scoundrel who wants to get revenge using a complex forgery, but he’ll have to keep a promise he’s been avoiding. Gavyn Voss never ignored a grudge, especially one as personal as the one between himself and Lord … Continue reading Ink of Vengeance
Being a substitute contest judge on writing.com, this year, I had the privilege of picking a story for Halloween. This is the prompt I chose:Write a supernatural short story centered on the blurring of worlds during Samhain (All Hallows’ Eve)Since I’m not allowed to write a story for my prompt, I wanted to write one … Continue reading The Hallow Between
First Reader and I spent the last couple of weeks on the road. We traveled to Central California to attend my 😳 50th high school reunion. Because I prefer to drive across our beautiful country, we packed the car, picked up a friend (and former classmate) on the way out of Colorado, and hit the … Continue reading Revisiting the Past
It’s been five years since the Cameron Peak Fire ravaged our neighborhood and stole our home. Barely half of us who lost homes have rebuilt. Some decided it wasn’t worth it or they were too old to start over rebuilding in a wildfire zone, so they moved. A few survivors sold their properties and left … Continue reading Rebuilding the Dream: Five Years Later
Here is another story I wrote for a writing contest. This time, I needed to use these phrases in the story: a dog barked; the salt was tipped over; an empty bird feeder; sound of wind chimes; the mailbox was full. The sound of wind chimes caught my ear as I passed by the old … Continue reading The Old House
Here’s a story to start the month of October out right. What’s really out in the woods? The moon hung low over Dragonsford, casting an eerie pewter glow over the narrow streets and crooked houses. In the woods beyond the village, a presence stirred. A cold and unrelenting wind whispered through the trees, carrying with … Continue reading Whispers on the Wind
I write a lot of character sketches trying to find the characters that intrigue me the most. Here's one I wrote a few years ago about an unlikely adventurer. I hope you like it. Sister Lorielei Alterian stalked the hallways of the dormitory, fuming after the meeting with the Patriarch. She’d been expecting a meeting … Continue reading Lorielei: Ready or Not
Kimimela Birdsong looked up at the caves carved into the sandstone formations. Her tribe called these formations “Dreaming Caves.” Legends told of shamans who went on vision quests in these shallow caverns. As part of her thesis, she needed to explore the niches to discover the archaeological significance of this location. She knew other students … Continue reading The Dreaming Caves
A piece of my scattered mind.
Tavern Tales
Poetry BLOG By Edge of Humanity Magazine
New Writing Engaging with the Sacred
J.J. Shaun 