No longer road-tripping, but still ramblin’…

On By Willow CroftIn Uncategorized17 Comments

Granted, driving back and forth multiple times and through multiple states as part of this move could hardly be considered “road tripping”, but despite the taxing ordeal, I find myself missing being on the road with just the bare minimum of stuffy stuff. And with nothing much else to do except rest and watch cable, of course!

As such, I’m having some trouble getting back into some sort of productive-as-all-get-out routine. The heat of summer makes a handy scapegoat, I suppose, so I’ll just blame that.

I have managed to knock out some book reviews for books that have their own rambling adventures in store for the reader (or kind of).

Check them out here:

https://horrortree.com/epeolatry-book-review-dead-girl-driving-and-other-devastations-by-carina-bissett/

https://horrortree.com/epeolatry-book-review-iron-star-by-loren-d-estleman/

And, in the meantime, I’ll be off trying to find ways to be less slothful.

But I have managed to resurrect my theme interviews (such as the Spooky Six) over at Horror Tree as well.

https://horrortree.com/willow-crofts-spooky-six-interview-with-author-hailey-piper/

Oh, and I found this post from a fellow blogger to be awesome (and awesomely funny!), so I just thought I’d share.

https://gigisrantsandraves.wordpress.com/2024/07/30/eve-and-adam-a-very-short-story/

How are you faring with this summer (if it’s summer where you are)?

Letter to a Literary Muse

On By Willow CroftIn Uncategorized17 Comments

Letter to a Literary Muse

Your time is spent nurturing fans, and I am preoccupied with once and future worlds. I am never in sync, but I see you in each parallel; we touch and go on our way. Constantly inconstant forces in each other’s lives.

But I have never been anytime; born in a thistle maze, kept captive in a briar patch, wandered worlds only in my head, where I dream dreams in Mobius strips: nightmares and fears; misplaced intentions and missed chances; a thousand thousand deaths, countless lost and founds.

This night, I dreamt in Celtic lore, both modern and past, once and future; my mind’s eye’s mirror reflection; dark red hair in cascades, hunter-green Victorian dress, among glass and metal and life-in-a-pod on a strange new world. There is no prickly nest to trap me; to hide me in thorny safety. I am exposed. Alone.

You. You see me. Not a mirror reflection. No haint from a past world. This is the future. Our future. You gently work a twig from my hair, and hold it for an eternity while our worlds dream themselves together.

One Derelict Disaster After Another…

On By Willow CroftIn Uncategorized14 Comments

It took a lot to get here…car problems and lots of other chaos. (I am tired of being the Chaos Fairy…anyone want to take over the job? LOL!)

What a big mistake it was to take an apartment without seeing it first. It has been a disaster from the start. 

Not that I had much of a choice. 

Anyway, I’ll stop complaining (well, in here, anyway) for now.

I’m working my way back into my blog-reading duties. At least they are more fun than a lot of other stuff going on right now. Sigh.

In any case, I spent yesterday completing my downsizing tasks…going through most everything I own and making a pile of boxes all over again in hopes of having a yard sale when/if it gets cooler.

I found this little vignette on a piece of paper when I was going through all my stuff. I liked it, even if I wrote it, and if I do say so myself. But maybe that’s because I dreamed it, and one’s dreams are always more interesting to the dreamer than to the people told about it. 

Hope things are well with all of you. I missed reading your blogs. 

Letter to a Literary Muse

Your time is spent nurturing fans, and I am preoccupied with once and future worlds. I am never in sync, but I see you in each parallel; we touch and go on our way. Constantly inconstant forces in each other’s lives.

But I have never been anytime; born in a thistle maze, kept captive in a briar patch, wandered worlds only in my head, where I dream dreams in Mobius strips: nightmares and fears; misplaced intentions and missed chances; a thousand thousand deaths, countless lost and founds.

This night, I dreamt in Celtic lore, both modern and past, once and future; my mind’s eye’s mirror reflection; dark red hair in cascades, hunter-green Victorian dress, among glass and metal and life-in-a-pod on a strange new world. There is no prickly nest to trap me; to hide me in thorny safety. I am exposed. Alone.

You. You see me. Not a mirror reflection. No haint from a past world. This is the future. Our future. You gently work a twig from my hair, and hold it for an eternity while our worlds dream themselves together.

June 2024 Horrorscopes and more!

On By Willow CroftIn Uncategorized20 Comments

The move day is looming!

If I pull this off with zero dollars, it will be a feat, I tell ya!

Anyway, that’s all very dull…but what’s not dull are the horrorscopes and tarot card readings for June!

And I did a couple of book reviews over at Horror Tree as well!

I miss reading all the blogs so here’s hoping I’ll be in Southern Illinois for long enough to catch my breath at least.

Book Reviews:

https://horrortree.com/epeolatry-book-review-momma-durtt-by-michael-shea/

Okay, I was too exhausted to find the rest of the individual links, but here’s a link to a whole bunch of good reviews (mine, and others).

https://horrortree.com/?s=book+review

Click on the pictures/links below:

june-2024-horoscopes-1024x1024

https://horrortree.com/june-2024-horoscopes-beware-the-creepy-children/

june-2024-tarot

https://horrortree.com/june-2024-tarot-cards-for-creative-inspiration/

Hope you all have a great summer!

That’s One Dark, Gloomy Spring!

On By Willow CroftIn Uncategorized15 Comments

I realized the other day that I have been so preoccupied with things like, you know, money and bills and moving on a shoestring budget that I had completely let reading you all’s blogs fall completely off my radar.

But I imagine you won’t hold it against me as I am seriously trying to pull off a move with nonexistent funds.

Wish me luck!

In any case, I hope you all are still out there reading, and I hope you enjoy this week’s tarot cards for inspiration and May’s horrorscopes!

https://horrortree.com/may-2024-tarot-cards-for-writing-inspiration/

https://horrortree.com/may-2024-horrorscopes-femme-fatales/

(I’ve narrowed it down to two places, although I had an inquiring phone call from a potential employer with some leads that I’m hoping against hope come about–because it sounds like a dream come true! *crosses fingers*)

I hope all is well with you, and I hope you have some great summer activities planned!

I Got Nothing…or “Nothing” Has Me.

On By Willow CroftIn Uncategorized11 Comments

Yeah, I couldn’t really summon up a better blog header.

I am moving…AGAIN. 

I’m not sure where, and I’m so preoccupied. Apologies for missing out on all your great posts that I haven’t been able to keep up with blog-reading.

And you know what? I went into my WordPress and saw this “Pending” tab, and I said to myself “Maybe I should check that out” and there was a whole slew of comments in there that weren’t all spam, but actual comments I hadn’t approved. Arrgh, I am so off my Virgo-organized game. Sigh. 

I hope I get back on track, but I just can’t seem to catch my breath and get settled. I can’t even call it the COVID effect anymore, I suppose, but I just am all topsy-turvy still. EVERYTHING seems to be falling by the wayside, and my teaching job/move to Santa Fe is not working out like I hoped.

I’m just gonna stress this again….I am ALL OVER the place, above and beyond my usual ADHD state. 

I did manage to do my April horrorscopes and tarot-card-reading-for-creative-inspiration, so I hope you all are still out there and following! 

https://horrortree.com/april-2024-horrorscopes-the-timeless-nature-ofvampires/

https://horrortree.com/april-2024-tarot-cards-for-writing-inspiration/

Oh, and courtesy of my spooky colleague over at Haunt Jaunts (Hi Courtney! *waves*), who sent me a link about a town here, which was linked to another list, which led me to a small town in Illinois that has an annual Vulture Fest (I love Vultures)!   

https://www.enjoyillinois.com/explore/listing/makanda-spring-fest/

Soooo, long story short, I’ve added that to my list of places (Makanda/Carbondale, Illinois and Hot Springs, Arkansas) to head off to. I’m resuming my original plan to hopscotch across the country (I don’t have the $$ for a complete move), exploring places I’ve had an interest in for a while, until I land in the New England area. (I’m open to suggestions and advice about other places to check out, as always!)

Vulture

Oh, and if you want to say “hey” to Courtney yourself, fly on over to their website and their YouTube channel:

https://www.hauntjaunts.net/

https://www.youtube.com/@HauntJaunts

 

See you after I (hopefully) land somewhere new! 

 

All’s Fair in Love and Noir!

On By Willow CroftIn Uncategorized14 Comments

So, yes, I have been as incognito as a Cold War spy, but work and school have been hectic as my school semesters are going into the “final project” mode!

I hope you enjoy February’s horrorscopes and inspirational tarot card readings! Head down that dark alley at Horror Tree!

Love in the Time of Noir: https://horrortree.com/february-2024-horoscopes-love-in-the-time-of-noir/

February 2024 Tarot Card Reading: https://horrortree.com/february-2024-tarot-cards-for-writing-inspiration/

Showing Appreciation for Squirrels!

On By Willow CroftIn Uncategorized5 Comments

It’s January 21st and it’s time to show appreciation for those wonderfully clever critters…squirrels! Hurry up and get those feeders filled double-quick! https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-day/squirrel-appreciation-day-january-21

Squirrel 2024

Punch in 2024 with a “24-Hour” Book Review!

On By Willow CroftIn Uncategorized20 Comments

I kicked off 2024 with a new job…teaching!

Between that and working towards not one, but two, college degrees, and keeping my business going and blogging and (trying to) write, it does feel like I’m putting in 24-hour shifts.

Speaking of 24-hour shifts, I ironically reviewed a book titled Twenty-Four-Hour Shift: Dark Tales from on and off the Clock by Cecilia Kennedy and put out by Dark Winter Press.

The short stories are perfect for reading while you’re on break from work!

https://horrortree.com/epeolatry-book-review-twenty-four-hour-shift-dark-tales-from-on-and-off-the-clock-by-cecilia-kennedy/

Hope you get to read lots of great books in 2024!

Catching up on Catching up on….well, all the catch-up!

On By Willow CroftIn Uncategorized16 Comments

Hey all and sundry!

I’ve landed in New Mexico, and, while there’s been some emotional ups and downs, I’m here, I’m working, and I’m staying on top of things (mostly). I’ve got a lot to catch up on, but I’m hoping to be trickling back into blog reading and interactions and whatnot, but it’ll still take time (and the holiday/winter season madness is already almost upon us).

I’m still hoping for a holiday miracle to come through today for a certain situation because time’s running out, so all my peeps with magical powers, put them out there for a wonderful resolution for ones that are close to my heart right now. It’s sorely needed, and I’m wishing on stars and 11:11 and crossing fingers for an impossible miracle too!

Have a lovely weekend!