Last week, the kiddo talked me into an evening outing to Duke Gardens because they wanted to feed the ducks. I was tired, and didn't really want to go, but I went anyway, because the kid asked and they're growing up too fast. The universe rewarded me with a close encounter with the semi-resident heron, one of my favorite birds, and a bonus turtle! #herons

In June, I was able to visit Ireland--thanks largely to the largesse of my mother. I ran across these photos today, in trying to get the collection sorted so I can make Mum a photo album. It was such a magic spot--this garden in Strokestown. I think I am happiest in a half-overgrown garden, where nature is winning.

Sweetman and I are headed back to the Carolina tonight for a double feature of Legend and Ladyhawke. Can't wait to see what they have in the greenscreen booth for it. We have a lot of fun playing with these. Got any fun plans for your Friday night?

The Carolina Theater in Durham, North Carolina is one is my happy places. I’m more a cinephile than a concert attender, and the Retro film series brings classic films back to the big screen. Besides the joys of Kaijuquest (Gamera last night) the art deco style of the building delights me. On the way out, I caught this view, awash in cyberpunk pink.

It’s release day! I’m so happy to have my short horror story “How Does Your Garden Grow?” In this great new anthology. If recent political machinations regarding reproductive rights got under your skin, you might find this up your alley. All proceeds go to support reproductive rights.

I'm reading the most amazing book right now: The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish. Historical fiction, dual timeline (then: 17th century England; now: 21st century England), centered around a Portuguese Sephardic Jewish community that settled in England just in time for a plague. The writing just sings and I'm so interested by the characters and history. What are you reading?

#goodmorning What’s your go juice? For me, it’s a walk and a good stiff cup of tea most of time. My “tea shirt” says: Tea. It keeps things civilised. If by “things” we mean “me”, then this is true!

From my walk today: some pictures of my favorite magnolia tree.

Magnolias are one of my favorite things about living in the south. They have so many different textures at various stages of blooming. The white flowers glow in the sunlight, and the cones are beautiful all on their own. do they grow where you are?

Sometimes when we take the Boyo out for a potty break, he’ll just stop and sit on the asphalt and look wistfully off into the distance. I think he just likes how the warm asphalt feels on his haunches. Maybe I should’ve named him Ferdinand after the bull instead of Ghost.

Are cattails common in your neck of the woods? I grew up in Northern Kentucky, in a pretty urban area. So I never really saw a pond in my day to day life. But every pond in every storybook I read as a little girl was surrounded by cattails. I’ve lived a lot of places since, but it’s only recently that I’ve actually seen cattails with my own eyes: in a parking lot, I’m guessing they built this Wendy’s on the swamp.

I start each day with a walk. The days I can't, it's like I don't wake up. Sometimes, it's the only mentally quiet part of my day. It's always full of small beauties like this very fancy and frilly fungi. Doesn't it look like the forest put on a party dress?

#newrelease A little bit of promo today, y'all. I've got a story in this new anthology from Crone Girls Press, coming soon! If you love horror, or are just horrified about the dismantling of reproductive rights, I hope you'll check out this charity anthology. You can bet I'll share the buy links as soon as I have them.

We had such lovely weather today. It only hit the 80s, in a summer that has often gone over 100°. So we went to Duke Gardens and watched the ducks for a good long while. #familytime

Another peek into my writing oasis. This is the all important tea corner, with my electric kettle and collection of writing related mugs. Today's advice to myself: write, revise, repeat.

This made me spit take my tea. #wordnerdhumor

When my eldest went off to college, I got a "room of my own" for the first time in more than a decade and it's been a joy creating my writing oasis. Here's the Gill-man corner, featuring my movie poster signed by Ricou Browning and a painting of my favorite Universal monster by a local artist. Do you have a space all your own? What's in it?

Here's another pretty rock from my office. It's sitting on top of my new productivity journal which I'm using to try and get myself back on track with my writing life. I find I'm much more a "carrot" than a "stick" person when it comes to motivation. How about you?

I always love reading the conversations here, but I've been really irregular about checking in. I'm going to try and be better about that, but I feel like I"m getting worse at meeting people and making new friends as I get older. I miss the days when I could make friends with another kid by showing them the shiny rock in my pocket.

I’ve never figured out make up. And fancy clothes make me itchy. But there is something about getting my hair done. Always makes me feel pretty.

It's "gotcha day" for these little mooks. They've been Bryants for a year now, and they might be 4 years old-ish. They add smiles to every day, and have come a long way from their rough start. #rescuedogs