I listened to Sounds To Make You Shiver over and over as a kid. Blowing wind and hooting owls made me imagine empty places. Frankenstein's monster breaking loose was the very sound of havoc. But, goodness, look at that album cover! So. Many. Monsters. They are tumbling out of that castle! Frankenstein's monster is stomping towards … Continue reading Throwback Thursday – 23 Days Until Halloween
My parents passed away last year, and my family and I are getting things cleaned up to sell their home. There have been lots of creepy surprises along the way. The jack-o-lantern door mat and classic horror movie DVD's were warm reminders of my dad and his love of spooky stuff. The bags of bones were probably from … Continue reading The Haunted Shed – 24 Days Until Halloween
Wild areas teem with life and death. The urgency and decay are deeply beautiful to me and source of much of my writing. In the wet areas, life bursts forth throughout the year. Mosquitos emerge from the water desperate for a blood meal and mating. New shoots grow from the ground at alarming speeds. And all … Continue reading Writing From Wild Areas – 25 Days Until Halloween
Alligator by Victoria Nations Thunder rolling. Drive the cart faster, hurry past. Dead gator. Entrails.
Do you remember the first time you stopped at a shop window, drawn to the oddities arranged there? Some of them were vaguely ornate, gleaming and reminiscent of the other side of the world. Dolls with piercing blue eyes may have looked out at you, their red mouths open to show small, white teeth. The mechanical toys were … Continue reading Wolf’s Museum Of Mystery – 28 Days Until Halloween
I saw a surf shop mannequin in a wet suit and witch hat this weekend. Someone had drawn eyes on paper and taped them in place. They weren't particularly witchy eyes, but they transformed her blank visage to a face. She was a winsome, sporty witch. It was a short-sleeved, short-legged wetsuit. Because it's still bathing … Continue reading Halloween In Florida – 29 Days Until Halloween
October is here! October is here! There's a faint chill in the morning, and night is coming earlier. Bats are flying like mad in the evenings as the summer insects emerge and search for mates. Pumpkins are everywhere. Flying skeletons and graveyard fences are showing up in neighborhood yards. I'm late haunting our yard … Continue reading It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year – 30 Days Until Halloween
I’m very glad I went to the Florida Heritage Book Festival and Writing Conference this year. I gained insight into my writing and new ideas for telling stories. Thursday was a writing critique session. Participants submitted their first 10 pages of a work in early September, and we brought written comments for each other to … Continue reading The Power Of Writing Conferences – Recap Of #FHBF2015
Horse by Victoria Nations Smooth planes of muscle and bone grown over with layers of detritus, lichen and grime caught in the corners spreading until they touch one another crusting the surface beneath which lies smooth planes of muscle and bone and skin shiny with sweat wetting the living things who drink and cover the … Continue reading Horse – A Poem Poised To Run
Yo the rain, fallingScolding about might have beensAnd sweet memories
Victoria Nations 