Kay Castaneda
Kay Castaneda is retired from a career as a college English instructor in Indiana. She received a B.A. and M.A. from Indiana University. Her articles about education and sociology are included in Sage Publication’s Education and Society Reference Book. Her poetry and creative nonfiction have been published in literary journals. Kay is currently researching the history of Ireland and Scotland for a novel based on her ancestors, in addition to editing her poetry manuscript. Kay’s hobbies include reading biographies, memoirs, traveling and baking.
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Finding Fran: A Midlife Moxie Novel WOW! Blog Tour
Nancy Christie Author Interview Today for the WOW! Book Blog Tour, I am featuring an interview of author Nancy Christie. Nancy is a writer of fiction, short stories, non-fiction for writers, and essays. I’m happy she allowed me to interview her on Bookplaces Blog. K. Hello Nancy! Tell us about yourself. Where do you live? Where did you grow up and attend school? N. I live in northeast Ohio (Youngstown) and have been here all my life. K. Are you married or single? Any children or pets? N. I’m not married and I’m not single. (I have a wonderful guy in my life who is very supportive of my writing—and…
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Thursday Doors La Hacienda
Thursday Doors is a weekly challenge inviting enthusiasts to share door images or stories. Since relocating to Mexico, the author joined the challenge, enthralled by Mexican doors and the history they unveil, specifically in Zacatecas. Their exploration touches upon hacienda architecture, communities, culture, church, and mines, highlighting the deep ties residents have to these historic estates and the considerable impact of mining, alongside a personal vow to write more about their experiences and observations in Zacatecas.
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Poetry Treasures 4: In Touch With Nature-Word Crafter’s Book Blog Tour
Hello everyone! Welcome to Day Three of Word Crafter’s Book Blog Tours for Poetry Treasures 4: In Touch With Nature. Poetry Treasures 4 is an anthology featuring the works of twelve poets. Today’s stop includes an interview with Emily Gmitter and a reading by Selma Martin. Giveaway Leave a comment for a chance to win one of three free copies of Poetry Treasures 4: In Touch with Nature. Leave a comment at each stop for additional chances. Winners chosen by random drawing. You can keep up with the tour through the links in the schedule below, but they won’t work until each stop goes live. Mon. April 8 – Writing to be…
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Telling Stories
That’s What Writers Do I began writing this blog post because someone asked me a very rude question. The subject itself wasn’t the problem; the person’s tone of voice and the look on their face was the giveaway to their sarcasm. I’ll name this person Jealous Envious Maude. Don’t be offended if your name is Maude. It’s not about you. Maude really tried to push my buttons that day when she engaged me in a conversation about my book. I had recently published my new novel, Emmie of Indianapolis. She avoided me when I spread the news to family and friends. She’s not nice enough to be called a friend.…
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Angela Rigley Author Interview The Writer’s Life
The Writer’s Life Today for the series The Writer’s Life, I am featuring an interview of author Angela Rigley. Angela is a writer of historical fiction and children’s fiction. I am happy she allowed me to interview her on Bookplaces Blog. Kay-Hello Angela! Tell us about yourself. Where do you live? Where did you grow up and attend school? Angela-I live in the UK, in a village called Langley Mill on the Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire border. When first married, I lived in Hucknall, a town in Nottinghamshire, but was born near Brighton, in Sussex. At 6 months old we moved to Hampshire where we lived on various farms, and I changed schools…
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Where In the World Am I?
When I tell people that I live in Mexico, the most common remark is “It must be fun to sit on the beach all day!” “So you live in Mexico City?” is another question I get. Cancun is a popular vacation spot so people ask if I live there. “Our cruise stopped in Puerto Vallarta. Is that where you are?” No, I don’t sit on the beach all day. There’s not a drop of water around here. No way would I live in Mexico City. It’s too big, too crowded and the air is horrible. We are going on a short trip there soon, but just for three days. Tony…
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Saint Brigid of Ireland
Who Is Saint Brigid? Brigid is one of the patron saints of Ireland, the only female patron saint. This fascinating woman was born February 1st, 451 AD, in the Southeast of Ireland, in the Kingdom of Leinster. Her father was Dubhthach, a chieftain of Leinster who wooed his slave Broicsech until she became pregnant. The Book of Lismore, a late fifteenth-century manuscript written in Gaelic, says Brigid was born in the doorway of a barn on the dawn of February 1st. Many writers have recorded that she was born between indoors and outdoors, winter and spring, and night and day. Ancient tales remain that Brigid became a peacemaker because of…
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December Roses
Red, orange, white, yellow, pink, fuscia, peach. My mother-in-law loved flowers and roses were her favorite. Since she loved all colors, she planted whatever seedlings she found. My husband and I visited her for years so I watched those rose bushes from the beginning. I helped her water a little but she really didn’t like to be bothered with another person while she tended the flowers in her garden. I might carry a bucket from the well to her so she could refill her metal watering can. It wasn’t one of those things with a long spout to gently water plants that you would buy in a garden store. No,…
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Finding Katya: How I Quit Everything to Backpack the Former Soviet States
Finding Katya: How I Quit Everything to Backpack the Former Soviet States by Katie R. Aune This is the memoir of Katie R. Aune, who spent a year backpacking in Russia and the former Soviet Union republics. Katie is a lawyer with a high-paying job and friends but she leaves it all behind to satisfy her desire to travel. The wanderlust she feels pushes her to meticulously plan out nearly every detail of the trip from flight schedules, housing, even down to her budget for food. Katie has always dreamed of visiting Russia since she was young. She understands the Russian language because she majored in Russian Studies in college.…
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Saint Nicholas: the real-life inspiration for Santa Claus
Nikolaos: The Retelling of the Story of Saint Nicholas by Taylor R. Marshall Many people have heard of Saint Nicholas who was the real-life inspiration for Santa Claus, the fictional character who gives gifts in secret on Christmas Eve. Taylor Marshal has written a novel that explores the life of the saint, Nikolaos: The Retelling of the Story of Saint Nicholas. A retelling is a new, and often updated or retranslated, version of a story. Nikolaos is a Presbyter, an honorific title for Christian clergy. The word derives from the Greek presbyteros, which means elder or senior. Saint Nicholas is the Patron saint of sailors, merchants, and children. He was…
