Summer Phantom

This summer has handed me some unexpected health challenges I'm still figuring out how to deal with, and it's times like now that I miss my mother the most.

I like to imagine a dimension where I can still call her up and just. . . chat about the blue jay couple in my backyard, gripe about my persnickety roses, and laugh about silly, boring things.

I like to imagine her painting again, or reading Green Knowe, watching Miss Marple, hiking in a mossy forest, and cooking mouth-watering paella...

Her ashes sit silent on my desk. Sometimes, I trace a soul-shaped space in my ink for her.

 

Presenting The Luniferous Gazette!

I'm embarking on a new creative adventure with the launch of my weekly newsletter, The Luniferous Gazette!

Why did I choose such a pretentious mouthful for its title? I simply couldn’t resist. I would argue that words are far more glamorous with -iferous tacked onto the end like a fancy plume. Take these sassy sparklers: diamondiferous, stelliferous, splendiferous, and luminiferous, etc. I think "luniferous” elegantly alludes to the light transmitted by the moon.

You can enjoy the newsletter on cynestiamoon.com, or subscribe for free to my Substack to have it delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. But beware, the content shall vary widely by whim, so read at the risk of your own consternation and delight . . .

 

Iffy Magic: the Pink Cover

Iffy Magic got a pink and pearly makeover! Can you find all nine marbles hidden in the new cover?

  

The porcelain rose belonged to my great grandmother, Ruby Mae, the rose quartz rock was a gift from my grammie, Nancy Anne, and the velvety scarf that serves as a background was a surprise present from my sister Becci because she is keenly aware of my excessive adoration of all hues pink. The wings came from a fairy from my mother-in-law that I accidentally broke, which proves that it's wise to hoard even your broken sparkly bitsies. You never know when they might prove useful. The acorn, pearl branch, and pink rose slipper were all thrifted treasures. 

I barely saved the shoe from the bins, the last stop before the landfill. Every pixie in the Goodwing family is named after roses, and Primrose whips up shoes with her magic whenever she is nervous, so I think it fits perfectly with her character.

What a difference a month can make. I'm plowing through my Agent Regalia chapters and revisions with the help of my secret Alpha Reader A and my amazing SCBWI ink group, learning how to use Artweaver, and the month isn't even halfway over yet. 

Stay tuned for a lunar surprise on June 18th . . . I am about to start a splendiferous new Wednesday tradition! And I don't use the word "splendiferous" lightly.