It’s back to school we go!

On September 3, 2023 By Willow CroftIn Uncategorized14 Comments

Even if you’re not actually going back to school, you can make believe you’ll be in attendance with the best and the brightest…or the most evil and depraved!

Learn what your fate will be at the posh private academy of your dreams…

https://horrortree.com/september-2023-horrorscopes-how-youll-die-at-a-posh-private-academy/

I’m still trying to find ways to flee the state of Kansas to a safer, supportive, inclusive locale, but it’s slow going.

What’s going good (or so I think) is my first week(s) of my latest academic endeavor! The assignments are quite challenging, but fascinating.

Aside from that, things are pretty dreary in my part of the world, but I’d love to hear about all ya’ll’s quirky adventures.

Horrorscopes, Heartbreak, and Horrifying Book Reviews

On August 6, 2023August 6, 2023 By Willow CroftIn Uncategorized19 Comments

One of the most difficult parts of living in small-town Kansas is dealing with the overall attitudes here towards the nonhuman animals we share our world with.

I have been trying to help animals since I moved here, and every day is a new level of heartbreak and agony.

It hurts me more than I can possibly describe to bear witness to the things that go on here.

I used to think I was pretty resilient, but most days I worry about even getting through the day. I keep trying to fight for the animals here, especially the cats. But to say things are rough going is an understatement. It feels like a living hell–for animals and the people that care about them and their welfare. And I say that even after my experience in working with animals and animal rescue back in my hometown, and getting up close and personal with the ways people mistreat animals.

My experience residing in my current locale has definitely the stuff of “real-life horror” where animals are concerned, I tell ya.

This weekend was especially hard in regards to local animals, so I’m still not as present in the blogsphere as I usually try to be.

I did start a citizens’ advocacy discussion group for animals, and I got interviewed by the local paper (it should be coming out soon, and maybe if I feel brave enough, I’ll post the link in the comments), and I’m attempting to get an item on the agenda at the local city commission meeting. I’d like to help my fellow animal advocates that have joined the group start a nonprofit to have an official platform from which to launch the ideas we’ve been discussing, but that’s a little ways off.

In other, lighter news, August’s horrorscopes and the tarot reading for writing inspiration are up over at Horror Tree.

And I’m still taking a stab at writing reviews over there…hopefully they aren’t too horrifying!

https://horrortree.com/august-2023-horrorscopes-how-youll-die-in-a-national-park/

https://horrortree.com/august-2023-tarot-cards-for-writing-inspiration/

Book Reviews (I’m still kinda new at this):

https://horrortree.com/epeolatry-book-review-the-midnight-lullaby-by-cheryl-low/

https://horrortree.com/epeolatry-book-review-the-ghost-of-laurie-floyd-by-courtney-lynn-mroch/

https://horrortree.com/epeolatry-book-review-maskerade-6-by-kevin-smith-and-andy-mcelfresh/

https://horrortree.com/comic-book-review-miss-truesdale-and-the-fall-of-hyperborea-3/

https://horrortree.com/comic-book-review-conan-the-barbarian-1/

I hope everybody’s weekend is fabulously spooky!

Pining over Squirrels on National Squirrel Appreciation Day…

On January 21, 2023January 21, 2023 By Willow CroftIn Uncategorized42 Comments

Every time I prepare to move to a new place, I get sad that I have to leave all my bird and squirrel friends behind. I worry about how they’re faring without the fully stocked bird feeders I had out for them.

I miss my wildlife friends.

Like this one who came to my apartment porch a few times a day.

Although, admittedly, Moon Pie was less than thrilled at the glass separating her from her potential lunch.

I’d hoped I’d moved to a place where I could see my wildlife friends return year after year, or stay all year ’round. But even if I were staying, I would lose some of my friends due to the fact that it’s legal here to shoot doves and other like birds. And that’s even more heartbreaking.

I mean, who even still kills birds like that? And why?*

Kansans, apparently. And all the out-of-state hunters they let run amok across the Kansas landscape.

So, given that it’s also National Hugging Day, send out imaginary hugs to all your wildlife friends.

And, please, if you don’t want to hug, them, fine. (It’s not a good idea to actually hug wildlife. Remember, it’s WILD life.)

Just don’t shoot them.

https://nationaldaycalendar.com/january-21-2023-national-hugging-day-squirrel-appreciation-day-national-hyaluronic-acid-day-national-use-your-gift-card-day-national-granola-bar-day-national-fruitcake-toss-day/

*Rhetorical questions, of course.

Lollygagging into 2023…

On January 7, 2023January 7, 2023 By Willow CroftIn Uncategorized31 Comments

Recently, I wrote an article over on LinkedIn about how 2023 could be the year of the slowdown (in a proactive way). I’m not slowing down much myself, but I am taking some time out here and there for some fun things that don’t really accomplish anything useful. *gasp*

The pressure is on, though, to get the income needed to help me escape what I’m now calling the Nightmare Hell Zone* (and not in a fun way), so I’ve been applying for jobs in brick-and-mortar locations as well as online remote-work locations. One thought I’ve recently had was that I could maybe get a job with a chain and then use that to transfer to another location in the United States, or, perhaps even more wishful-thinking, transfer to a Canadian locale!

Anyway, until I go figure things out (or win the lottery–the HGTV dream home–Travel Channel Sweepstakes), I’m sharing some links for you to stroll through as you, yourselves, meander into 2023.

(Unless, of course, you just want to stop reading here, and go write a snail mail letter or take a day off next week to hang out with your houseplant BFFs. That’s fine too!)

Here’s January’s “Tarot Card Readings for Inspiration”: https://horrortree.com/january-2023-tarot-cards-for-creative-inspiration/ and their snarky horoscope sidekick: https://horrortree.com/january-2023-horoscopes-tempting-fate-in-the-new-year/.

And if another bomb cyclone is bearing down on you again, check out my “Cultivating Winter Magic” post as well: https://horrortree.com/cultivating-winter-magic-for-writers/. Who says you can’t go out in style, right?

*Want to exercise your creative muscles? Feel free to share (in the comments) your own wild and wacky names for a terrifying town in rural U.S.A.!