Monthly Archives: June 2014

The middle of the year

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Brian Bixby

Tomorrow is July 1, 2014. Summer officially began with the equinox on June 21. Midsummer Night, June 23, I sometimes sit back with a good drink and read Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I have to admit I didn’t do it … Continue reading →

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Chapter 20 of Prophecies and Penalties

Posted on June 27, 2014 by Brian Bixby

For Emily Fisher, bumping into people has ceased to be a figure of speech. She’d tell you it’s not her fault; she’s not normally clumsy, but between being shot at and taking paths that defy geography, her life has become … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Prophecies and Penalties, Writing fiction | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

A Mary Wilkins-Freeman twofer

Posted on June 23, 2014 by Brian Bixby

Ever hear of Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman (1852 – 1930)? It’s not one of those names that has come ringing down the ages. She was one of those female New England regional writers circa 1900,[i] at a time when the … Continue reading →

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Chapter 19 of Prophecies and Penalties, and some niceties of language

Posted on June 20, 2014 by Brian Bixby

For once, Emily Fisher’s investigation of High Council member Stephen Nash’s murder is beginning to look straightforward. All she has to do is go to a place that doesn’t exist, by a transportation system that shouldn’t work, to talk to … Continue reading →

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How did the reading habits of your parents affect you?

Posted on June 16, 2014 by Brian Bixby

My parents were both firm advocates of education and voracious readers. My father liked the books he grew up with, and history books, while my mother was more inclined to British murder mysteries and American paperback novels. Initially, this affected … Continue reading →

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Prophecies and Penalties Chapter 18, and a short vacation

Posted on June 13, 2014 by Brian Bixby

Emily Fisher’s investigation of the murder of High Council member Stephen Nash has taken a giant leap forward, which makes her happy. On the other hand, that leap implicates her sister Elsie, and Elsie’s lover, the so-called Prophesied One, Alex … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Prophecies and Penalties, Writing fiction | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

Visiting where Shakers conducted businesses sacred and secular

Posted on June 10, 2014 by Brian Bixby

Those of you who have been following this blog for a while know about my interest in the Shakers, a religious group that worshiped a godhead with male and female aspects, and practiced celibacy and communal living while awaiting the … Continue reading →

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Chapter 17 of Prophecies and Penalties

Posted on June 6, 2014 by Brian Bixby

Finally, Emily Fisher feels she’s making progress. She’s going to get the real story of how High Council member Stephen Nash’s body was found, and maybe even some clues about the murder itself. But first she has to deal with … Continue reading →

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Is it the birthday of Cagliostro, definitely a man of mystery?

Posted on June 2, 2014 by Brian Bixby

Wikipedia claims today is the anniversary of the 1743 birthday of Count Allesandro di Cagliostro, and who would disagree with Wikipedia? Well, actually I have, several times, but that’s irrelevant, because Cagliostro’s birthday is only the MacGuffin for this post … Continue reading →

Posted in History | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments