Tag: writing
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Angels on the Ceiling
A Christmas Bonus Excerpt from my novel Misty Dreams, Chapter 4. 🎄✨ Manhattan, Christmas Eve Richard Kelly had never been a believer. At least, not since he was five years old and still believed Santa Claus was a kindhearted old man from the North Pole who traveled the world bringing gifts to children. Angels, to…
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WINDBLOWN IN LIVORNO
(A short story loosely inspired by real-life events) Glimpsing her distorted reflection in the polished brass railing, Bianca wanted to cry. Or scream. Preferably both. Out on the Europa’s main deck, surrounded by crowds of passengers, she felt painfully conspicuous, convinced almost every eye was trained on her horrendous hair. She resisted the urge to…
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THE FORGOTTEN LETTER: A Short Story
Image from Unsplash Summers are always busy for me, and writing often takes a back seat. But every now and then, a memory or feeling surfaces, and I find myself racing to the keyboard. This story is purely fictional, though inspired by memories of my mother. I lingered in the entryway, clutching the ring of…
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WRITING LIFE: Excerpt
I’m excited to share another excerpt of my work-in-progress, the Misty Dreams prequel. This scene is written from the perspective of twelve- and thirteen-year-old Richard and Tony. I hope you enjoy this glimpse into their world! Shards of golden light from the low-hanging sun burst between the tall buildings, casting a warm orange glow over…
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THE MEMORY KEEPER – A Short Story
My short story, The Memory Keeper, received an Honorable Mention in the Writers Weekly Spring 2025 short story contest. I hope you enjoy it! The breeze carried a sweetness that hit Marianne before the fairgrounds came into view, bringing back a rush of memories. She paused at the edge of the gravel lot and pulled…
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From Notebooks to Keyboard: How I Wrote My Way Into the Digital Age
As a child I was fascinated by anything associated with the writing craft, from notebooks and pens, to keyboards. Even before I could identify it as my passion, I was enamored with writing. Back then, the personal computer was the stuff of science fiction. Typewriters were the real deal—bulky, mechanical beasts like the one in…
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THREADS OF MEMORY
(Cover image by Freepik) I have very few memories of Nonna, the grandmother whose name I carry— fragile, translucent threads that still linger in my memory after more than half a century. The last time I saw my grandparents, my family was preparing to leave Italy for South Africa, and though I was too young…
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A SHORT STORY
I’m excited to share my short story, Footprints in the Snow, which received Special Recognition in the Writers Weekly Winter 2025 short story contest. I hope you enjoy it! Footprints in the Snow by Josephine Strand Outside Matt’s window, the view was one of serene beauty and stillness, wrapped in a soft snowy blanket. The…
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Writing Life: An Excerpt From the Current Draft of “Finding Home” – The Prequel to ‘Misty Dreams’
This excerpt is an unedited draft and may contain errors, inconsistencies, or changes from the final version. It is shared for early insight and enjoyment only. Thank you for reading! “Are you okay?” Max asked the boy hunched on the park bench. The kid couldn’t be more than twelve or thirteen. One sleeve of his…
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Crutch Words in Writing: How to Spot and Avoid Them
One of the biggest mistakes I made in crafting my first novel was relying too much on “crutch” words—those little words and phrases we slip into our writing without thinking. Sometimes we use them out of habit, sometimes to fill space or emphasize a point. In my early drafts, I constantly used words like just,…