Cosy, Eerie, and Splendid, a writer’s blog
Cozy distractions in the time of Corona
Even if you're healthy and safe at home, you may be losing your mind right about now. I've put together a list of things (in no particular order) that might brighten your mood during this surreal quarantine from the rest of humanity. -- First of all, complete your...
March Tea and a Book: The Invited by Jennifer McMahon
After a long drought, I finally found a book that captivated me, kept me glued to the pages until the end, and only took two days to read because I could hardly bear to put it down. Goodreads synopsis: In a quest for a simpler life, Helen and Nate abandon the comforts...
A Horror Interlude for February
This past week I visited Dallas for the Highland Park Literary Festival. The festival volunteers always put on a great event, and the highlight for me was spending time with the HPHS students who signed up for my presentation, "How to Build a Horror Hero" (a companion...
Valentine’s Tea and a Book
ALERT: there's a GIVEAWAY at the end of this post! The other day I was making a mental list of the most romantic novels I've ever read. "This needs to be a blog post!" I thought. Interestingly enough, on this blog I only have ONE previous post related to Valentine's...
A Tour of Three Indie Bookstores in Philadelphia
I've made it my mission--when visiting an interesting city, I will find the best tea rooms AND explore the independent bookstores, and then I'll share my findings with you. My recent post on a lovely Philadelphia tea room is here. Today it's all about the book stores!...
Friday Favorites: Afternoon Tea in Philadelphia
Every January my husband has a meeting in Philadelphia, and I join him when I can. This time I was intent on having tea in the Mary Cassatt Tea Room at the Rittenhouse Hotel, and I was thoroughly delighted when Steve said he'd like to join me. We booked for Wednesday...
Friday Favorites: Holiday Tea at the Arizona Biltmore
Last week Steve had a conference at the Arizona Biltmore, and I was happy to tag along. The Biltmore is famous for its architecture, beautiful grounds, celebrity guests, and . . . afternoon tea! The hotel has a fascinating history and offers cozy elegance along with...
Friday Favorites: Cozy Christmas Tea Party 2019
Does it seem like the holidays are rushing right past you? One way to slow time and enjoy this festive season is to sit down to a holiday-themed afternoon tea. Today I'm sharing a tea I hosted at home just last week, and in particular I'd like to highlight some of the...
Tea for One at the Boston Public Library
I've been longing to have afternoon tea at the Boston Public Library's Courtyard Tearoom for years now. Due to various commitments and unforeseen conflicts, I haven't had success in getting my husband or a friend to join me, so during this latest trip I went solo. It...
Part III: Ghost-free SPOOKY Films
Today I conclude my 2019 spooky film recs with some Ghost-free viewing options! All film synopses are from imdb.com. Cold Skin (2017) -- Unrated In 1914, a young man arrives at a remote island near the Antarctic Circle to take the post of weather observer only to find...
Part II: Ghostly and Gothic SPOOKY films
Oh, how I love a good GHOST film! Ghosts and/or related paranormal entities feature in each of the following recommendations. All film synopses are from imdb.com. The Wind (2018) -- Rated R A plains-woman faces the harshness and isolation of the untamed land in the...
Part I: Family Friendly SPOOKY Films
I'm launching this year's festivities with a few movies the whole family might enjoy. Please check the Parental Guide for each title. If you’re new to the blog and have younger children, you might check my 2016 post that includes solidly PG films, and don't forget...
Friday Favorites: The Harbor Springs Festival of the Book
Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending the 4th annual Harbor Springs Festival of the Book in Michigan--as a fan rather than an author. What a delight! Harbor is a lovely town on Lake Michigan, offering many restaurants and shops, including an indie bookstore....
September Tea and a Book: A Vicarage Family by Noel Streatfeild
Have you noticed how I tend to ping-pong between Gothic and Cozy stories? After last month's gluttony of dark mysteries, I craved comfort, and thus I turned to Noel Streatfeild's fictionalized account of her childhood, A Vicarage Family. Streatfeild is best known for...
August Tea and a Book: A Gluttony of Gothic Mysteries
Quick take: After weeks of "comfort" reading (see more here), I had a sudden and powerful appetite for spooky Gothic. These four novels were just what I was craving, and I DEVOURED them in a matter of days. (Many thanks to Myra and Melissa for recommendations!)...
