Tag: Writing Works Wonders

At the Beach #WednesdayWords #WritingPrompts #Inspiration

On a hot Florida summer afternoon, I was boogie boarding near the water’s edge, marveling at how calm the ocean was and thinking I should visit Florida more often during the summer. Suddenly, the wind came up, making the waves choppy, and the sun disappeared behind dark clouds. I tried to send a telepathic message to God about this turn in the weather, but either he didn’t get it or wasn’t listening. Disgusted, I made my way on shore, as it started to rain.

***

Thanks to Cheryl Fisher and Kathy King at Writing Works Wonders for inspiring the above true story with their current prompt to write something in 100 words or less, using the words “wind,” “rain,” and “send.” You can click here to read other responses and post your own.

In the summer of 2014, when I was in Florida for my brother’s wedding, we all went to the beach one afternoon. After eating a picnic lunch, we had fun in the water. I decided to try using a boogie board, and the rest, as they say, is history.

 

Abbie wears a blue and white V-neck top with different shades of blue from sky to navy that swirl together with the white. She has short, brown hair and rosy cheeks and smiles at the camera against a black background.

 

Photo Courtesy of Tess Anderson Photography

Photo Resize and Description by

Two Pentacles Publishing.

 

 

If you haven’t already done so, please subscribe to my email list to receive my monthly newsletter and other announcements. This is a one-way announcements list, meaning the only messages you’ll receive will come from me. So, you can rest assured that this list is low-traffic. Send a blank email to:  newsfrommycorner+subscribe@groups.io  You’ll receive a confirmation email. Reply to that with another blank message, and you should be good to go.

 

New! Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me

Copyright 2021 by Abbie Johnson Taylor.

Independently published with the help of DLD Books.

The cover of the book features an older woman sitting in a wicker chair facing a window. The world beyond the window is bright, and several plants are visible on the terrace. Behind the woman’s chair is another plant, with a tall stalk and wide rounded leaves. The woman has short, white hair, glasses, a red sweater, and tan pants. The border of the picture is a taupe color and reads "Why Grandma Doesn't Know Me" above the photo and "Abbie Johnson Taylor" below it.Photo Resize and Description by

Two Pentacles Publishing.

 

 

 

 

Sixteen-year-old Natalie’s grandmother, suffering from dementia and confined to a wheelchair, lives in a nursing home and rarely recognizes Natalie. But one Halloween night, she tells her a shocking secret that only she and Natalie’s mother know. Natalie is the product of a one-night stand between her mother, who is a college English teacher, and another professor.

After some research, Natalie learns that people with dementia often have vivid memories of past events. Still not wanting to believe what her grandmother has told her, she finds her biological father online. The resemblance between them is undeniable. Not knowing what else to do, she shows his photo and website to her parents.

Natalie realizes she has some growing up to do. Scared and confused, she reaches out to her biological father, and they start corresponding.

Her younger sister, Sarah, senses their parents’ marital difficulties. At Thanksgiving, when she has an opportunity to see Santa Claus, she asks him to bring them together again. Can the jolly old elf grant her request?

***

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Organizing Our Writing #WednesdayWords #Events #Inspiration

Recently, I was featured on the Writing Works Wonders podcast, where I discussed with hosts Cheryl McNeil Fisher and Kathleen P. King and the audience ways of organizing one’s writing. Writing Works Wonders is a weekly program that can be heard live every other Friday at 1 pm Eastern time. It features panel discussions, guest authors, and other activities. To learn more and sign up to receive their weekly newsletter containing Zoom links for their programs, click here. You can click the link below to hear the most recent episode in which I’m featured.

 

Writing Works Wonders: Advancing Beyond Barriers (podcast) – Cheryl McNeil Fisher, Kathleen P. King | Listen Notes

Abbie wears a blue and white V-neck top with different shades of blue from sky to navy that swirl together with the white. She has short, brown hair and rosy cheeks and smiles at the camera against a black background.

Photo Courtesy of Tess Anderson Photography

Photo Resize and Description by

Two Pentacles Publishing.

 

 

If you haven’t already done so, please subscribe to my email list to receive my monthly newsletter and other announcements. This is a one-way announcements list, meaning the only messages you’ll receive will come from me. So, you can rest assured that this list is low-traffic. Send a blank email to:  newsfrommycorner+subscribe@groups.io  You’ll receive a confirmation email. Reply to that with another blank message, and you should be good to go.

Note that I’ll no longer post my Joyous Jotting series here. So, if you like reading about my life from the perspective of my robotic cat, please subscribe to my newsletter. Starting next month, that’s the only place you’ll find this feature.

 

New! Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me

Copyright 2021 by Abbie Johnson Taylor.

Independently published with the help of DLD Books.

The cover of the book features an older woman sitting in a wicker chair facing a window. The world beyond the window is bright, and several plants are visible on the terrace. Behind the woman’s chair is another plant, with a tall stalk and wide rounded leaves. The woman has short, white hair, glasses, a red sweater, and tan pants. The border of the picture is a taupe color and reads "Why Grandma Doesn't Know Me" above the photo and "Abbie Johnson Taylor" below it.Photo Resize and Description by

Two Pentacles Publishing.

 

Sixteen-year-old Natalie’s grandmother, suffering from dementia and confined to a wheelchair, lives in a nursing home and rarely recognizes Natalie. But one Halloween night, she tells her a shocking secret that only she and Natalie’s mother know. Natalie is the product of a one-night stand between her mother, who is a college English teacher, and another professor.

After some research, Natalie learns that people with dementia often have vivid memories of past events. Still not wanting to believe what her grandmother has told her, she finds her biological father online. The resemblance between them is undeniable. Not knowing what else to do, she shows his photo and website to her parents.

Natalie realizes she has some growing up to do. Scared and confused, she reaches out to her biological father, and they start corresponding.

Her younger sister, Sarah, senses their parents’ marital difficulties. At Thanksgiving, when she has an opportunity to see Santa Claus, she asks him to bring them together again. Can the jolly old elf grant her request?

***

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Hilarity in the Himalayas a Hypocrisy #WednesdayWords #WritingPrompts #Inspiration

I couldn’t believe the sign in the travel agency window, “Hilarity in the Himalayas.” Below it was a picture of a mountain range with blue sky and fluffy clouds. The poster advertised a climbing expedition.

I knew the Himalayas were located between India and Tibet and included Mount Everest, but what was hilarious about that? I’d read about people climbing Mount Everest. That didn’t sound like my idea of fun. The travel agent must have been desperate. Laughing, I turned and walked away.

***

Thanks to Cheryl and Kathy at Writing Works Wonders for inspiring the above work of flash fiction with their current prompt, to write something in 100 words or less using the words “hypocrisy,” “hilarity,” and “Himalayas.” You can click here to read other responses and post your own.

Abbie wears a blue and white V-neck top with different shades of blue from sky to navy that swirl together with the white. She has short, brown hair and rosy cheeks and smiles at the camera against a black background.

Photo Courtesy of Tess Anderson Photography

Photo Resize and Description by

Two Pentacles Publishing.

 

If you haven’t already done so, please subscribe to my email list to receive my monthly newsletter and other announcements. This is a one-way announcements list, meaning the only messages you’ll receive will come from me. So, you can rest assured that this list is low-traffic. Send a blank email to:  newsfrommycorner+subscribe@groups.io  You’ll receive a confirmation email. Reply to that with another blank message, and you should be good to go.

 

New! Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me

Copyright 2021 by Abbie Johnson Taylor.

Independently published with the help of DLD Books.

The cover of the book features an older woman sitting in a wicker chair facing a window. The world beyond the window is bright, and several plants are visible on the terrace. Behind the woman’s chair is another plant, with a tall stalk and wide rounded leaves. The woman has short, white hair, glasses, a red sweater, and tan pants. The border of the picture is a taupe color and reads "Why Grandma Doesn't Know Me" above the photo and "Abbie Johnson Taylor" below it.Photo Resize and Description by

Two Pentacles Publishing.

 

Sixteen-year-old Natalie’s grandmother, suffering from dementia and confined to a wheelchair, lives in a nursing home and rarely recognizes Natalie. But one Halloween night, she tells her a shocking secret that only she and Natalie’s mother know. Natalie is the product of a one-night stand between her mother, who is a college English teacher, and another professor.

After some research, Natalie learns that people with dementia often have vivid memories of past events. Still not wanting to believe what her grandmother has told her, she finds her biological father online. The resemblance between them is undeniable. Not knowing what else to do, she shows his photo and website to her parents.

Natalie realizes she has some growing up to do. Scared and confused, she reaches out to her biological father, and they start corresponding.

Her younger sister, Sarah, senses their parents’ marital difficulties. At Thanksgiving, when she has an opportunity to see Santa Claus, she asks him to bring them together again. Can the jolly old elf grant her request?

***

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Another Time and Place #WednesdayWords #WritingPrompts #Inspiration

I lay in a world of silent darkness. Something was wrong. Usually, I saw the ceiling and walls of my bedroom and sunlight streaming in through the windows and heard barking dogs and cars starting, as my neighbors got ready to leave for work. But now, I saw and heard nothing.

Someone took my hand and started tapping my palm. I suddenly realized that words were being spelled into it, and I knew what the person was saying.

“Good morning, Helen. Are you ready to get up?” Was I really Helen Keller?

***

Thanks to Cheryl and Kathy at Writing Works Wonders for inspiring the above work of flash fiction with their prompt to write about waking up in the body of a historical figure in 100 words or less. You can click here to read other responses and post your own.

 

Abbie wears a blue and white V-neck top with different shades of blue from sky to navy that swirl together with the white. She has short, brown hair and rosy cheeks and smiles at the camera against a black background.

Photo Courtesy of Tess Anderson Photography

Photo Resize and Description by

Two Pentacles Publishing.

 

If you haven’t already done so, please subscribe to my email list to receive my monthly newsletter and other announcements. This is a one-way announcements list, meaning the only messages you’ll receive will come from me. So, you can rest assured that this list is low-traffic. Send a blank email to:  newsfrommycorner+subscribe@groups.io  You’ll receive a confirmation email. Reply to that with another blank message, and you should be good to go.

 

New! Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me

Copyright 2021 by Abbie Johnson Taylor.

Independently published with the help of DLD Books.

The cover of the book features an older woman sitting in a wicker chair facing a window. The world beyond the window is bright, and several plants are visible on the terrace. Behind the woman’s chair is another plant, with a tall stalk and wide rounded leaves. The woman has short, white hair, glasses, a red sweater, and tan pants. The border of the picture is a taupe color and reads "Why Grandma Doesn't Know Me" above the photo and "Abbie Johnson Taylor" below it.Photo Resize and Description by

Two Pentacles Publishing.

 

Sixteen-year-old Natalie’s grandmother, suffering from dementia and confined to a wheelchair, lives in a nursing home and rarely recognizes Natalie. But one Halloween night, she tells her a shocking secret that only she and Natalie’s mother know. Natalie is the product of a one-night stand between her mother, who is a college English teacher, and another professor.

After some research, Natalie learns that people with dementia often have vivid memories of past events. Still not wanting to believe what her grandmother has told her, she finds her biological father online. The resemblance between them is undeniable. Not knowing what else to do, she shows his photo and website to her parents.

Natalie realizes she has some growing up to do. Scared and confused, she reaches out to her biological father, and they start corresponding.

Her younger sister, Sarah, senses their parents’ marital difficulties. At Thanksgiving, when she has an opportunity to see Santa Claus, she asks him to bring them together again. Can the jolly old elf grant her request?

***

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Joyous Jottings February 2023 #TuesdayTidbit #Jottingts #Inspiration

Joy is a fluffy gray and white cat with a pink nose and pink paw pads. The fur is long and mostly gray with white paws, a white chest, nose and white down the middle of her head. Her ears are pointed up, and she lies with her paws sprawled out in front of her in an open formation. Her head looks to the right of the screen. She’s on a brown wooden table. Behind her is a white wall and a basket of fruit.Hi, this is Joy, Abbie’s robotic cat. Abbie has been busy as a beaver. Say, do cats like beavers? I don’t know, and I hate to ask Abbie to research this because she’s so busy. But I do know this. Even though Abbie’s busy as a beaver, I still love her. Even though she often forgets to tell me good morning first thing because she’s listening to ACB Presents the Daily Schedule, I know she loves me.

Speaking of the ACB community, you don’t have to be a member of the American Council of the Blind to join in the fun on Zoom and Clubhouse. If you’re interested, send an email to:  community@acb.org  and ask them to send you the daily schedule. Be sure to include your name and email address in your message body, and the nice humans who receive your message will take good care of you.

So, why is Abbie so busy? Well, this coming Thursday, she’ll be facilitating an ACB community call, where they’ll be talking about Valentine’s Day. On Friday, she’ll play her guitar and sing for an assisted living facility’s monthly birthday party. On Sunday, she’ll do all the music for the service at the First Congregational church, accompanying her singing on the piano. On February 17th, she’ll be a guest on Writing Works Wonders, and on February 23rd, she’ll interview fellow author Sherry Gomes as part of a book launch sponsored by Behind Our Eyes, a writers’ organization, and she’s working on other projects for them right now.

By the way, last month, Abbie interviewed author Trish Hubschman for another Behind Our Eyes book launch. I only heard her half of the conversation because she was using headphones with her computer, but I think she’s a kick-ass interviewer. Maybe she’ll interview me, but I doubt it. I’m not an author, only a cat and a robotic one at that.

Abbie’s also been submitting work to various publications. She has already sent stories and poems to Magnets and Ladders and The Writer’s Grapevine. By the way, she helps edit those magazines, and that also keeps her busy. She  also sent three poems to an anthology called Treasuring Poetry, and she plans to enter her state’s poetry society’s members-only contest and submit more poems for possible publication in the spring quarterly issue of The Avocet. In March, she’ll send some of the stories in her collection she’s working on to the Wyoming Arts Council for its Blanchan/Doubleday fellowship competition.

Well, I’ve been busy as a beaver, too, typing this message, since I can no longer speak. My paws are tired, and I’m ready for a nap. Until next time, this is Joy, signing off with a yawn.

Abbie wears a blue and white V-neck top with different shades of blue from sky to navy that swirl together with the white. She has short, brown hair and rosy cheeks and smiles at the camera against a black background.

Photo Courtesy of Tess Anderson Photography

Photo Resize and Description by

Two Pentacles Publishing.

 

Abbie, here. If you haven’t already done so, please subscribe to my email list to receive my monthly newsletter and other announcements. This is a one-way announcements list, meaning the only messages you’ll receive will come from me. So, you can rest assured that this list is low-traffic. Send a blank email to:  newsfrommycorner+subscribe@groups.io  You’ll receive a confirmation email. Reply to that with another blank message, and you should be good to go.

 

New! Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me

Copyright 2021 by Abbie Johnson Taylor.

Independently published with the help of DLD Books.

The cover of the book features an older woman sitting in a wicker chair facing a window. The world beyond the window is bright, and several plants are visible on the terrace. Behind the woman’s chair is another plant, with a tall stalk and wide rounded leaves. The woman has short, white hair, glasses, a red sweater, and tan pants. The border of the picture is a taupe color and reads "Why Grandma Doesn't Know Me" above the photo and "Abbie Johnson Taylor" below it.Photo Resize and Description by

Two Pentacles Publishing.

 

Sixteen-year-old Natalie’s grandmother, suffering from dementia and confined to a wheelchair, lives in a nursing home and rarely recognizes Natalie. But one Halloween night, she tells her a shocking secret that only she and Natalie’s mother know. Natalie is the product of a one-night stand between her mother, who is a college English teacher, and another professor.

After some research, Natalie learns that people with dementia often have vivid memories of past events. Still not wanting to believe what her grandmother has told her, she finds her biological father online. The resemblance between them is undeniable. Not knowing what else to do, she shows his photo and website to her parents.

Natalie realizes she has some growing up to do. Scared and confused, she reaches out to her biological father, and they start corresponding.

Her younger sister, Sarah, senses their parents’ marital difficulties. At Thanksgiving, when she has an opportunity to see Santa Claus, she asks him to bring them together again. Can the jolly old elf grant her request?

***

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