No one should’ve been outside with that storm coming in. But someone was slipping between the trees.“Ice Cherries” by #TandyMalinak is a story of storms, sweetness, and an unexpected rescue. #FlashFiction #EmotionalRead https://www.mockingowlroost.com/blog/ice-cherries-fiction/

"Margery Vale trudged through the snow, carving a trench of labored footsteps as she pulled her thick woolen cap low over her ears and beat her mittened hands against her arms. Her breath..."

Read on in the #Beauty issue of the #MockingOwlRoost - #shortstory by #TandyMalinak

https://www.mockingowlroost.com/blog/beauty-issue/ - PAGE 28

Beauty – the MockingOwl Roost

Come play in the Lonely Maple Wood, dance in the Winter Wonderland, dream of of things to come at Love's Open Door. Within the pages of the MockingOwl Roost issue

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"The massive Tupperware mixing bowl sat on my Great-Aunt Erma’s dining table, mounded over with ripe, red, freshly picked raspberries from her garden. My siblings and I sat around it, fingers stained, bellies sated. And yet more berries awaited picking. I think my family carted home enough to fill three of those huge bowls that day — and my aunt still had more left over."

Read the #essay by #TandyMalinak on the #MockingOwlRoost blog.

https://www.mockingowlroost.com/blog/raspberry-season/

It’s Raspberry Season!

Nine years ago I picked up two tiny, summer-bearing, full-sun berry plants for an 11-foot-long garden box that I’d situated along the sunny side of my garage. Today that box overflows with canes —

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Our next in-depth #writingresource is here. Worldbuilding 101: Timelines, Your Story Sequence. From author #TandyMalinak

Find this great help and others in her #worldbuilding series at the #MockingOwlRoost

https://www.mockingowlroost.com/blog/timelines-your-story-sequence-worldbuilding-101/

Worldbuilding 101: Timelines, Your Story Sequence

Timelines establish the sequence or schedule for your story. Everything on them should be necessary to the world or your characters and must be done in a precise order so that what you create makes sense in story form.

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As the moon swallowed the last sliver of sun, the sky darkened to a dusky blue. Birds grew silent and sleepy. Cicadas and frogs awoke with startled buzzes. With a sudden gust of wind, the blistering 90-degree day chilled to a comfortable 80 degrees or less...

My Favorite Things: The Total Solar Eclipse
https://www.mockingowlroost.com/blog/solar-eclipse-mft/

#solareclipse #myfavoritethings #TandyMalinak #MockingOwlRoost

My Favorite Things — The Total Solar Eclipse

Totality lasted less than 3 minutes — such a tiny fraction of time compared to the years I’d spent waiting, hoping, planning, and preparing. It overwhelmed the mind yet further rooted a desire for more at the same time.

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Classic cozy mystery series under review: The Cat Who Series.

If you love cats - and you love cozy mysteries, you'll want to catch this review from avid fan and author #tandymalinak

https://www.mockingowlroost.com/blog/cat-who-series-review/

#cozymysteryreview #catwhoseries #cats #cozymysteries #fictionreviews #seriesreview #bookstagrammer

Cozy Mystery Review: The Cat Who Series

Every title begins with the phrase ‘The Cat Who’. The reason is simple: A cat is the crime-solver. His devoted human is merely the tool he uses to impart justice, and the actions described in the title are a clue...

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What is the one thing a good character needs in order to thrive. A world for them to exist, flourish, conquer or die in. Please enjoy “Worldbuilding 101: Story Setting, Your World’s Framework” by #tandymalinak This amazing guide will help make your character’s environment come to life. It can be found in the MockingOwl Roost blog.

https://www.mockingowlroost.com/blog/worldbuilding-story-setting-world-framework/
(Pictured is a background of maps. The title and byline are in white print.)

Worldbuilding 101: Story Setting, Your World’s Framework

Story setting is more than just the physical stuff. It’s the mood and culture, period and genre, and many other things all wrapped into one. But it’s worth parsing out to find the sticky spots in your work that need more detail.

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Dance history is fraught with bias. But what happens when the Black Swans of Harlem stand up to declare themselves? An incredible story of ballet, and strength. Please enjoy this book review by #tandymalinak entitled “The Swans of Harlem” by #KarenValby It can be found in the MockingOwl Roost blog.

https://www.mockingowlroost.com/blog/black-swans-of-harlem-review/
(Pictured is the book cover with ballerinas on the cover. The title and byline are in gold and black print.)

The Black Swans of Harlem, a Book Review

The Black Swans of Harlem is as steeped in history as the dance of ballet itself, yet time and culture have kept much of its story buried.

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What is the best way to start off a blustery Monday? It’s with a new work of fiction from #tandymalinak of course. Toss in a few Pirates for good measure, and it’s smooth sailing. Arrr…me buck—o, enjoy “The Night Sweeper” in the MockingOwl Roost’s latest mini issue, “Seafaring-Pirates” page 10.

https://www.mockingowlroost.com/blog/pirates-seafaring-issue/

Seafaring/Pirates Special Issue of the MockingOwl Roost

Enjoy the twists and turns, unexpected results, heart-warming joys and bittersweet moments of this special issue, inspired by the theme of pirates and seafaring adventures.

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This is the perfect time of the weekend to curl up with a wonderful doll…er…fiction. With The Doll’s Place by #tandymalinak you are able to do both at the same time. Please enjoy this fiction that appeared in MockingOwl Roost’s second issue, Dreams, on page 11.

https://www.mockingowlroost.com/blog/dreams-quarterly/
(Pictured is a ballet dancer on a black background. The title and byline are in white print on the background.)

The Second Issue of the MockingOwl Roost: Dreams

The second issue of the MockingOwl Roost: Dreams. Enjoy poetry, fiction, essays, interviews, lyrics, and more!

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