Author Archives: Val

Book Review: The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

It’s Halloween, and my daughter is obsessed with ancient Egypt, so when I saw this book for about a dollar at a used book store, I didn’t think twice, even though I had never heard of this Newbery Honor book. … Continue reading

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Fantastic Friday: Stop and Smell the…

Sometimes, on a crazy morning, I look at my two kids and my two corgis and try to remember what life was like without them. Like, when I could actually consider things like what I wanted for breakfast or what … Continue reading

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Flash Fiction: The Impatient Passenger by Phil Yeats

Welcome to the Spot Writers. This month’s prompt is to write a story inspired by what you see out your window. Today’s post is written by Phil Yeats. Last December, Phil (using his Alan Kemister pen name) published his most … Continue reading

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Fantastic Friday: A Chill in the airwaves, or the Internet

It is no secret that I love Halloween. I am just as happy as my three-year-old to be headed from one pumpkin festival to another. As a teacher, I am always looking for read-aloud resources for those days when I … Continue reading

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Flash fiction: Pencil by Val Muller

Welcome to the Spot Writers. This month’s prompt is to write a story inspired by what you see out your window. This week’s post comes to us from Val Muller, author of the Corgi Capers mystery series. Find out more … Continue reading

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Flash Fiction: The Panhandler by Phil Yeats

Welcome to The Spot Writers. September’s prompt: mistaken identity—a story where a mistaken identity plays a major role. This week’s story comes to us from Phil Yeats. The Panhandler by Phil Yeats The scruffy young panhandler sat on the busy … Continue reading

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Fantastic Friday: Violins of Hope

I like to hoard “Fantastic Friday” ideas. Some I keep scrawled on notebook paper. Some I keep open as a tab in my browser. Sometimes I’m saving them for a particular anniversary or time of year. Other times, I’m saving … Continue reading

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Flash Fiction: New York 2019 by Cathy Mackenzie

Editor’s Note: When I received this story from Cathy, I inquired about the connection to the anniversary of 9/11. Cathy told me she actually wrote this back in 2015. She was recently impacted by Hurricane Dorian and was unable to … Continue reading

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Flash Fiction: A New York Reunion by Val Muller

Welcome to the Spot Writers. This month’s prompt is to write a story in which mistaken identity plays a major role. Today’s tale comes to us from Val Muller, author of the Corgi Capers mystery series. Find out more at … Continue reading

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Book Review: The Writing Life by Annie Dillard

A friend loaned me this book last year, but in my sleep-deprived state, the metaphors in the first chapter were lost on me as impractical, and I put it off to the side in hopes of something more blunt. Fast-forward … Continue reading

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