Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter holiday weekend. On Saturday I got to venture out to the Mount Vernon area in Washington to see the famous tulip fields in bloom for the first time. The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival consists of flower fields dispersed throughout the Skagit Valley and was inaugurated in 1984. What a […]
99¢ Early Spring Fairytale & Historical EBook Sale
Spring is just around the corner, and it’s a great time to curl up with a book in a field of daffodils and tulips. 😉 When you find said field, you should then head over to Amazon, as today I’m having a worldwide ebook sale on both of my books for .99. If you are […]
A Magical Look Inside Diagon Alley at Universal Studios, Orlando
I got to take a fantastic trip to Florida during the holidays, and I’m finally getting the pictures up from visiting Universal Studios, Orlando. It’s hard to put into words just how magical of an experience Diagon Alley was. I probably could’ve stayed there for at least a week photographing all the enchanting details. If I’m […]
New Ghost Story Novel Project Announcement: ‘Winterbay Abbey’
Very excited to officially announce that I’ve teamed up with Spokane-based author/historian John Bladek to write a ghost story novel entitled Winterbay Abbey. The book is about a young Seattle architect who travels to the coast of Maine where he becomes entangled in the terrifying past of a ghost haunting an abandoned convent he is restoring. […]
Ten ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Dresses Inspired by Belle’s Yellow Gown
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast was one of my favorite movies as a child. Somewhere there’s video footage of me dressed as Belle singing every song from the movie while acting out the film as a one-woman show. Thankfully those tapes have been long-lost, but my love for the movie has carried on. I’m a […]
An Enchanted Photo Journey Through Washington Park Arboretum
New Year’s Day turned out to be quite chilly. Not cool enough to keep me from grabbing my camera and meandering through one of the local parks though. 😉 It was my first time venturing around the Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle and what a treat it was. The lighting was interesting that day, harsh […]
The White-sand Beaches of Western Florida
Continuing on the Florida vacation photo tour, the next stop is an in-depth look at some of the white-sand beaches around the St. Pete Beach area. Such amazing scenery down there! There truly is something so enchanting about beaches. For me, the sea reminds me of countless stories and paintings of mermaids — which I’ve […]
Snakes and Aligators: The Wilds of the Boyd Hill Nature Preserve in Photos
A very Happy New Year to you all! December came and passed pretty quickly. Not only was I enjoying the holiday season, but I got to take a lovely vacation to Western Florida. Taking pictures around the region was quite fun. In addition to visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, I stopped off at […]
Easy, Whimsy Christmas Centerpiece
Orange is a fun hue and makes a lovely accent color in the home. I love how it brightens up any space. When I was thinking about a Christmas centerpiece this year, I wanted to stray from the typical red and green and incorporate this warm color. After remembering that oranges were traditionally given as […]
Scouting for Fairies Through Carkeek Park (Photos)
Just a short post today. Yesterday I got a chance to meander through Carkeek Park in Seattle. The park opened in 1928 and boasts 220 acres of lush forest, meadows, wetlands, creeks, and beach. It truly is a magical place and the perfect backdrop to scout for new fairy photo inspiration. Here are some pictures I […]
Purple Dresses Inspired by Lady Amalthea’s Medieval Gown in ‘The Last Unicorn’
November has been pretty enchanting. This month I got to meet one of my childhood heroes, fantasy author and screenwriter Peter S. Beagle. Beagle is responsible for my love of unicorns via one of my favorite books — The Last Unicorn. In addition to penning the beloved fantasy classic, Beagle also wrote the screenplay adaption for the 1982 movie. […]
Peter S. Beagle’s ‘Last Unicorn’ Tour Sells Out in Seattle
This has literally been the year of meeting my childhood heroes. On top of getting to shake hands with Brian and Wendy Froud (The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth) this summer, last Tuesday my idol — Peter S. Beagle — one of the literary community’s most heralded fantasy writers, stopped by Central Cinema in Seattle. The Last […]
Dresses Inspired by Sarah’s ‘Labyrinth’ Ball Gown
A couple of weeks ago I was beyond thrilled when the Variety announced a Labyrinth sequel in the works. Labyrinth was one of my favorite 80s fantasy movies! I’ve seen it countless times and may own an original 80s Labyrinth comic book. Casino online chile cuenta rut Las visitas a las apuestas casino online chile webpay. Aunque […]
Creepy China Dolls Come Alive in Susan Hill’s Novella, ‘Dolly’
Last weekend Seattle got its first taste of fall weather. A brisk thunderstorm doused the city, heralding more wet days to come. As much as I hate to see summer coming to an end, the turn in the weather put me in the perfect mood to read a ghost story. With a cup of tea in […]
Dark Fairy Tales Reign Supreme in Seattle at Krab Jab Studio Gallery
During the past three years, fairy tales have swept Hollywood by storm. Films and TV shows such as “Maleficent,” “Frozen,” “Once” and a whole host of other titles have whisked their way into theaters and thousands of living rooms across the globe. And there is no sign of this trend slowing any time soon. “Into […]
Magical Summer Woodland Fairy Photos
This summer I went on a lovely vacation to western Montana. Like all trips, I usually read at least one book while relaxing. My book of choice this year was Brian Froud and Alan Lee’s “Faeries.” This non-fiction fantasy classic includes watercolor illustrations of mythic occidental creatures. I used to pore over the pages when I was […]
Pretty Green Pixie Dresses Inspired by Tinker Bell
Summer has been especially busy this year. I returned not too long ago from a recent trip to the magical land of Glacier National Park, and in addition to a wonderful vacation, I’ve had all things fairy on the brain. While in Montana I managed to do some fantasy photography that featured miniature fairy scenes. Amidst […]
Glacier National Park and Two Medicine Dinosaur Center (Photos)
Just returned from an incredible vacation in Montana where my family and I got to tour around Glacier National Park and its outskirts. In addition to exploring the Park, we got a chance to get out to Bynum, Montana and see the Two Medicine Dinosaur Center to check out all the prehistoric fossils they had […]
Minneapolis Author J.M. Lee Wins Jim Henson’s Dark Crystal Author Quest Contest
Just a quick post wishing author J.M. Lee a huge congrats in winning the Dark Crystal Author Quest contest! The winners were announced today via the Dark Crystal’s website. Last summer the Jim Henson Company and Grosset & Dunlap of the Penguin Young Readers Group announced that they would open submissions to find an author […]
Hollywood, Take Notice: Jim Henson-Style Puppets are Hot: Toby Froud’s Film Greeted by Enthusiastic Sell-out
Deep in the heart of the Hollywood District in Portland, Oregon a very magical film premiered this past weekend. Filmmaker Toby Froud, best known as the baby stolen by Goblin King (David Bowie) in Jim Henson’s ’80s fantasy film Labyrinth, resurrected the Hensonian tradition of live-action puppetry on the big-screen. Froud’s film, Lessons Learned opened to […]
The Goonies’ House is Alive and Well in Astoria, Oregon
I had a fantastic weekend down in Oregon. One of the highlights of the trip was stopping in Astoria to see the house where “The Goonies” was filmed. I’ve lost count how many times I’ve seen “The Goonies.” If you haven’t seen it…seriously, where have you been? The film was the brain child of Steven […]
Book Reviews: Five Gothic Ghost Stories
I’ve been looking back at some of the memorable Gothic fiction and ghost stories I’ve read this past year and wanted to share my favorite reads. Some are modern, some Victorian and Edwardian, but all are creepy-delicious. 1) “Printer’s Devil Court” by Susan Hill First off, I love Susan Hill to pieces. Hill wrote “The […]
Interview: Jim Henson’s ‘The Dark Crystal’ Author Quest Finalist J.M. Lee
Last summer the news of an exciting literary contest spread throughout the publishing community. The Jim Henson Company and Grosset & Dunlap of the Penguin Young Readers Group announced that they would open submissions to find an author to write a new novel set in the world of Jim Henson’s fantasy film, “The Dark Crystal” […]
Gowns Inspired by Ariel’s Purple Dress in ‘The Little Mermaid’
Out of all the gowns featured in “The Little Mermaid,” my absolute favorite was Ariel’s purple dress that she wore when running through the water to reunite with Prince Eric. The long dress is ultra dreamy with pretty sparkles and a slit accentuating the flowy skirt. Recently I was searching around for some gowns that I […]
New Evidence Sheds Insight on the Location of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon
The splendor and mystery of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World hold a fascination for many spanning the globe. Out of the seven, only one still remains intact — the pyramids of Giza — and there are ongoing archeological searches to find the remains of two: the Colossus of Rhodes and the Hanging Gardens of […]
Critically Acclaimed Gothic Illustrator Abigail Larson Dishes on What it’s Like & What it Takes to be a Full-Time Artist
Enter the wicked world of critically acclaimed gothic illustrator Abigail Larson. Abigail is a lovely lass who’s work has been featured in many galleries across the United States and Europe, including the Museum of American Illustrators in New York and The Poe Museum of Richmond. Her illustrations have also graced the pages of: “Spectrum Fantastic Art,” “Art Fundamentals,” […]
Dreamy Frozen Prom Dresses Inspired by Elsa’s Blue Gown
“Frozen:” The newest fairy-tale retelling in the long, successful line of Disney princess movies. I loved the film and the most magical moment was Elsa’s decoration of her ice castle and the dazzling transformation into her new sparkly, blue ensemble. It totally reminded me of Cinderella’s blue gown revamp right before the ball. Sometimes as a […]
What Victorians thought Dinosaurs Looked Like
I’ve been doing a lot of research as I begin wrapping up my first draft on my pop sci-fi novel “Origin.” After I sifted through some data yesterday, I stumbled across this Victorian drawing and had to share. This is an illustration by John Martin completed in 1840. The work was featured in “The Book of […]
‘Jem and the Holograms’ Inspired LPD’s (Little Pink Dresses)
Not too long ago, I was thrift store shopping and found the cutest pink dress at Goodwill. The dress totally reminded me of something Jem from “Jem and the Holograms” would wear. This sparked an idea to do a full post dedicated to the LPD (little pink dress) and further fuel my Jem obsession. Because if it’s […]
Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture Trip (Pictures)
Just a quick post today. Took at trip to the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture last week and I thought I’d share some of the photos. The tour was lead by paleontologist and geologist Dr. Tom Braziunas who was also the instructor for the recent dinosaur class I took. There was an interesting discussion during […]
Seattle Paleontologist Explores ‘Jurassic Park’s’ Secrets & Intriguing Dinosaur Facts
Dinosaurs. Those monumental beasts that have captured the imaginations of millions. Capitalizing on this global fascination, author Michael Crichton and director Steven Spielberg tapped into the high concept idea of bringing these monsters back to life. “Jurassic Park” made an estimated $1 billion worldwide in gross revenue and ignited a new wave of dino fever. I was […]
Day Trip to Snoqualmie Falls, Washington
Took a quick jaunt out of the city and up to Snoqualmie Falls yesterday. The falls are located about 30 miles east of Seattle and are part of the Snoqualmie River. It was lovely up there and while I was exploring the premise, I found out some interesting facts: 1. The falls appeared in the series […]
Betcha Didn’t Know that Alexander the Great’s Sister was a Mermaid
Researching a novel is one of the most enjoyable aspects about writing fiction. I’m always picking up interesting facts that might not make it into a book but are still fun to share. My upcoming young adult novel entitled “Origin” has been extremely research intensive. It is a supernatural pop-science book that revolves around long […]
Charles Darwin’s Missing Mermaid: ‘Origin’
I’ve been getting some questions from readers lately about my next upcoming project and wanted to post a short synopsis of my work in progress entitled “Origin.” The young adult novel is a supernatural pop-science story in the spirit of “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.” I plan to share more updates about the mystery, […]
Gothic Book Review: ‘The Woman in Black’ by Susan Hill — The Best English Ghost Story Ever Written
“The Woman in Black” by Susan Hill has earned its place as one of the finest English ghost stories of the last quarter century. The novella has been adapted into two films, with another movie sequel in the works, and a stage play that has become the second longest-running production in the history of London’s West […]
Interviewed by Best-selling Author Summer Lane
Got the chance to be interviewed by best-selling author Summer Lane on her blog Writing Belle. Lane is the young adult and new adult author of the post-apocalyptic “Collapse” series and is also a contributor to NA Alley. As an early supporter of publicizing genre versatility within the new adult category, Lane is a contributor […]
Maleficent like You’ve Never Seen Her: A Chilling Rendition of ‘Sleeping Beauty’s’ Prime Witch
I have had Maleficent on the brain lately. I’m in high anticipation of the upcoming movie and also am a sucker for dark fairy-tales in general. Recently I meandered through the cyber forests of deviantArt to look for works paying homage to the famed “Sleepy Beauty” witch. I stopped dead in my tracks when I […]
Fantasy, Photography, and Feminism: Interview with BookTuber Paige Firth
BookTuber. Book blogger. And mother of (bearded) dragons. That almost sums up writer Paige Firth. I got a chance to talk to Firth, the owner of the ever-growing YouTube channel Enchantology, about her up-and-coming BookTubing career. In the process of meeting Paige, I discovered that she is one savvy, fascinating woman. Not only is she in the […]
Antique Teacups?
I popped over to Goodwill this past week and was excited to find these two lovely little teacups in the wares section. I’ve been wanting to start a teacup collection but haven’t had the space. All that changed on this shopping trip. At $6 per cup, I couldn’t resist buying them. The brown and white […]
Vampire Maven was Disney’s Inspiration for Maleficent
I’m uber excited about the release of Disney’s film “Maleficient” coming up next month. Was even more jazzed when I stumbled on an interesting article over on Salon.com regarding the link between the 1950s Vampira actress and Disney’s villain Maleficent. The Salon piece was written by documentary filmmaker R. H. Greene who wrote and directed “Vampira […]
Pictures of Alice in Wonderland-esque Glass Plant Display at Bell Street Park Opening
Today was a fun day over on Bell Street in Seattle. The city dedicated a new park to the Belltown community. To celebrate, vendors filled the street. Lawn games, jugglers, Chinese dragons, a band, and food trucks were among the many highlights of the festivities. As I walked along Bell Street between Second and Third, […]
Friday Dress Fix: 1980s Drop Waist
Okay, guys, how lovely-awesome is this 1980s drop waist dress? I sooooo want it and it would go perfect with a pair of pink heels. The drop waists were popular in the ’80s and early ’90s. I actually remember having a couple of them and wearing them both out quickly. Wish I could’ve nabbed this […]
A ‘Jem and the Holograms’ (LPD) Little Pink Dress
Jem from the ’80s animated TV series “Jem and the Holograms” is definitely one of my main sources of fashion inspiration. And if it’s one thing that was a staple of Jem’s wardrobe, it was an LPD (little pink dress). It’s also no secret that I love going to thrift stores to pop some tags every […]
‘The Goonies’ Invasion
March and April are turning out to be too good to be true as far as ’80s reboots and nods. First, the very ’80s awesome ABC comedy series “The Goldbergs” had a “Goonies” tribute. If you haven’t seen “The Goldbergs” yet, you should check it out. It’s like “The Wonder Years” but with an extra […]
Tulips at Pike Place Market
Had a nice excursion down to Pike Place Market yesterday. The weather was a lovely 72 degrees and the tulips were in full bloom. Many a gentleman was seen picking assorted flower stems from white buckets for that special person in their life. I couldn’t help but snap some pictures. The petals were so rich in […]
Springtime in the Rockies
I took a trip out to western Montana last month and shot this photo right before a snowstorm hit. The weather is very changeable during the springtime in the Rockies. Sometimes 0-60 degrees in a matter of days. 😉 Well…maybe not that bad. But close! After I finished taking snapshots, I immediately rushed back to […]
‘Seeing Red’ Reviewed by Georgia Peach Award Committee Member
Was very honored to see a five star review written for my novella “Seeing Red!” The praise came from Georgia Peach Award committee member Melanie C. Duncan. “Seeing Red” was not nominated for the Georgia Peach Award (GPA) but it is extremely honoring to be read and reviewed by a committee member. For those who aren’t familiar, the […]
Oh, Those Lovely 1950s Dresses: Friday Dress Fix
It’s time to talk about 1950s dresses. If you didn’t already know, I’m dress obsessed. My absolute favorite era for gowns is the 1950s and early ’60s. To me, this period truly is the epitome of the best cocktail and party dresses. Dior. Lilli Diamond. Edith Head. I love them all and those talented designers […]
‘Jem and the Holograms’ Movie Reboot!
Outrageous! I may have screamed for joy last week when I found out that there’s going to be a live action reboot of “Jem and the Holograms.” For those who aren’t familiar with the show, it was a popular ’80s cartoon series about the very fashion-fabulous Jerrica Benton. The premise of the series revolves around […]
A Gévaudanian Werewolf in Paris: The Mystery of the Beast of Gévaudan
The year is 1767. The place is the Gévaudan province of France. For three bloody years an unidentified man-eating beast terrorized the southern French countryside and was know simply as the Beast of Gévaudan. Tragic and horrific? Yes. But something I considered to be the perfect backdrop for my YA “Scarlette” as it is a […]
