Yesterday I was awake early and my windows were open as a persistent and melodious birdsong wafted in. It was the false dawn. I’ve long been intrigued by this word pair because not only is it the liminal light that precedes dawn, but it also describes a promising situation that doesn’t come to fruition. The […]
Read the rest of this entry »Archive for the 'Jessica Page Morrell' Category
Happy Solstice to writers everywhere
These beauties are harebells after a rain. They’re also called Scottish bluebells or fairy thimbles. And they’re edible. I’m not familiar with them, but grow a larger variety of Campanula, the bellflower. Their peak season is about over in my garden, but I’m going to try coaxing out more blooms. However, since the harebells are […]
Read the rest of this entry »According to Dorothy Allison: the transformative power of story
On Tuesday night I spoke to writers in Portland and while out of practice with public speaking, I returned to the topic of the importance of keeping writer’s notebooks, commonplace books, word lists, and ephemera that inspire. Because sometimes words and visions can appear so fleeting it’s best to capture them whenever, however possible. And […]
Read the rest of this entry »Why are we reading, if not in hope of beauty laid bare…
“Why are we reading, if not in hope of beauty laid bare, life heightened and its deepest mystery probed? Why are we reading if not in hope that the writer will magnify and dramatize our days, will illuminate and inspire us with wisdom, courage, and the possibility of meaningfulness, and will press upon our minds […]
Read the rest of this entry »Portland, OR area writers I’ll be speaking on June 4
We’ve got another cloudy morning here in the Pacific Northwest as spring winds down. I’m working on another manuscript with the deadline fast approaching–it’s the third in a thriller series and is appropriately twisty, fast-paced, and more than a little scary. As usual, I’m trying to turn up the thrill and tension. And speaking […]
Read the rest of this entry »Tribal: Part 2
We’ve got a changing weather pattern happening that’s destined to hang around after a bout of cold, unseasonal temperatures, waking to frost in May, snow accumulations in the mountains, and profound rainfalls drenching the valleys. On Sunday I ventured out to a giant, outdoor plant and garden sale wearing a heavy sweatshirt and jeans, tbick […]
Read the rest of this entry »Tribal: Advice for Writers
It’s a chalky-sky morning here in the Pacific Northwest. It started raining last Thursday and there have been deluges and downpours and drizzles. This is a pause before more rain returns tonight. I’m still practically swooning in gratitude. Because rain washes away pollen. Let me set the table here: Over the years I’ve become allergic […]
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