cinders to dust
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January 4, 2021 at 8:48 pm
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May 10, 2021 at 8:35 pm
Neat stuff! Can Indonesian DB be used for ink as well?
May 10, 2021 at 11:49 pm
From what I found, it seems like it doesn’t work because the Indonesian kind won’t dissolve properly in the old ink recipes. But it might make for an interesting experiment all the same!
October 23, 2021 at 4:23 pm
This was an extremely interesting read by Professor Huhn. I never realized that the simple act of reading and writing could be so toxic!
October 23, 2021 at 5:53 pm
So true! He did some great work and I was happy he was willing to share it ;D
January 31, 2022 at 9:44 am
Woot! This is SO AWESOME! Thank you for helping us spread the word, Elle! <3
May 11, 2022 at 1:09 pm
Now you know how I feel when I have to go to the grocery store!
May 11, 2022 at 1:46 pm
Hahaha! At least there, the stakes are a little lower. 😉
May 18, 2022 at 6:59 pm
I love it!
May 18, 2022 at 7:04 pm
Thanks! 😀
May 18, 2022 at 7:00 pm
That’s so interesting! I love learning about folklore and how beliefs evolved. Like did someone have a near death experience and attributed their survival to lilacs, thus the warding off of evil? So fascinating.
May 18, 2022 at 7:05 pm
I agree! It’s quite a mystery. 🙂 Folklore is one of those topics that is endlessly intriguing, I think!
May 18, 2022 at 7:05 pm
Our bunnies love kale, too! It seems like Ingram would benefit from a prompt for new users leading to an intro or orientation slide deck “cover design for beginners” or similar. Way to persevere! The cover design catches the eye, and the use of color draws one’s attention to the relevant details well!
May 18, 2022 at 8:06 pm
Awww thank you!! <3 I hadn't even thought of other critters that might like kale, but that makes total sense. :) And I feel like Ingram does try, but . . . there's a lot to learn, haha!
May 18, 2022 at 7:11 pm
It makes sense that when we were more dependent on the seasons, more tied to our agricultural roots, the focus of our community gatherings and celebrations would be times of the year that are pivotal to planting, harvesting, or getting through the cold winters. When religion came along and co-opted the pagan/agrarian celebrations in order to recruit more adherents, it largely just gave new names to the same celebrations. It’s lovely to reclaim those.
May 18, 2022 at 8:07 pm
Yes! I find it’s a good way to remind myself to slow down and appreciate what’s going on around me.
May 20, 2022 at 4:45 pm
So timely, I was discussing with my class the same thing (sans monsters) with my students – looking at how myth and oral tradition come with a kernel of truth and shrouded in the cultural baggage of a peoples. Didn’t think of it with animals too!
May 20, 2022 at 5:03 pm
Haha, so cool! I love sniffing out those little kernels of truth in the stories. (And I love the stories, too, but for different reasons. 😉 )
May 29, 2022 at 8:32 pm
They should use the smoot! Truly the best unit of measure!
May 31, 2022 at 12:53 pm
Of *course* you would know an archaic unit of measurement to suggest! xD
June 24, 2022 at 4:55 pm
Love the pictures! Nice work!
June 26, 2022 at 10:30 pm
Thank you!! 💗
July 20, 2022 at 2:19 pm
Sounds like an interesting read.
July 20, 2022 at 2:28 pm
Thank you! I’m excited to share it. 🙂
August 3, 2022 at 11:33 am
This is so amazing! Thank you so much, Elle, for having me!
August 3, 2022 at 11:54 am
Of course! Thanks so much for your time! 😀
September 25, 2022 at 7:36 am
An exceptional interview! I am a fan of Saffron’s series already, but it was nice to learn more about her and her process in this post. Well done!
September 27, 2022 at 1:32 pm
Thank you! It was a fun interview to do! 💗
October 22, 2022 at 9:55 am
Andersen “redeems” mermaid.
An Angel tells her that her self sacrifice, gives her a chance to earn a place in heaven.
She becomes something like a guardian angel.
October 22, 2022 at 4:46 pm
Very true! In my head I was treating that as a sort of epilogue and exception to the rule. I try not to go on and on in these posts, but I should probably have pointed out that detail, too. 🙂
February 8, 2023 at 12:32 pm
Cool! I like ice cream! Mint chocolate chip! Yum yum!
February 8, 2023 at 12:34 pm
Hahaha, I guess it must be lunch time! 😉
February 23, 2023 at 4:44 pm
Erm, I have no idea how this commenting-on-blog-thing works, but there is so much to say about this entry! My first thought was that you had a loot of people you work with xD Then I read on to discover that, of course, it’s all you. Let me just say: this is already enough! I’m extremely impressed with the amount you’re doing on your own. But yes, I also understand the whole “never enough” deal. It’s probably not very helpful, but I relate so much to it, and struggle with it everyday… Love your final thoughts on that, since “Am I enough?” is an everyday question for me xD Sending you lots of support <3
February 23, 2023 at 5:13 pm
Awww, thank you!! <3 Hahaha, we writers tend to develop many hats. ;) It is definitely helpful to know that other people relate! It's such a good reminder that we're not totally off-base or alone for feeling this way. And telling you that you are absolutely enough--because you totally are!--is not only true, but also on some level, it helps me practice to be able to say the same thing to myself. (I hope the same is true for you!) I'm so glad you got the comment function to work out! ;D
February 24, 2023 at 6:51 am
Thank you for the kind words! 🙂 And yay I made it! (I feel like such a noob ahaha!)
February 24, 2023 at 9:51 am
I feel this so much, Elle. The part about labor exploitation? Um, wow! Yes, I force myself to do too much because I’m always worrying about not doing enough.
February 24, 2023 at 1:35 pm
I’m so glad! Well, not about you also suffering from this–but at least we can have solidarity. 😉
March 1, 2023 at 5:43 pm
Interesting thoughts… I like the idea of treating oneself – I’ve only recently discovered that yes, finalizing a long term project is enough to deserve it (especially when there is no one around to say it!) – and it’s easy to do so even with something small!
I’ve never thought about “after release” burnout but I can actually see it happening.
Hope you feel better soon! 🙂
March 2, 2023 at 2:12 pm
Yes! Hitting a goal of any kind is enough. 😉 And thank you! I think with each release it gets better (or I get better at anticipating it, haha). <3
March 12, 2023 at 6:54 am
That’s interesting how this post follows your own with the women in Belville. Definitely echoing your thoughts. Fascinating!
March 13, 2023 at 2:48 pm
Isn’t it funny how things come together that way? I actually hadn’t started reading this book yet when I wrote that post (because procrastination is real, haha). But thinking about Red and her friends and how they fit into the larger world definitely influenced me to pay special attention to those quotes in the book! 😉
March 30, 2023 at 6:35 am
I’m so happy you got this award! 🙂 I see why you could be suspicious -it always feel like it can happen to someone else, but it’s trickier to believe when it’s happening to ourselves! Congratulations again, you were very brave to try this – and it paid off!
March 30, 2023 at 1:04 pm
Aww, thank you!! It’s hard when we hear so much about tricks and crimes in the world, and not as much about actual good things that happen, haha. It just strengthens the anxiety! But yes this was such a good thing! 😀
April 7, 2023 at 9:11 am
A huuuge thank you for sharing this. So many things you wrote resonate with me right now – the purpose in work, the identification to a professional activity, and the loss of it, the way you like writing but how “writing” itself is not really a purpose.
I’m not sure I can say more right now because I need to process a little longer what this article did to me, but it was a great read! 🙂
April 10, 2023 at 4:43 pm
I am so, so glad it was helpful in any small way! 🙂 (And I’m sorry for my delay getting back to you!!) When I wrote it I thought it might be a little too specific to resonate with others, but I think sometimes it’s actually the specificity that helps. I totally get needing to process. 😉 You have my full support while you do so! <3
June 14, 2023 at 9:53 am
I feel this – so much! (I was going to be the perfect example of your post by saying – sorry I see this only now… xD) You’re right about breaks. It’s not even a choice, sometimes, but a necessity. And I think you’re right about our unwillingness to take them being related to fears! Rooting for you to confidently go on with your summer 🙂
June 14, 2023 at 2:14 pm
Thank you so much! I think with this kind of thing, it’s helpful just to realize that we aren’t alone–and we aren’t “the worst” for feeling this way, haha. Here’s hoping for some of that confidence and kindness for yourself, too! 😉
June 14, 2023 at 9:56 am
I love how creative you are with the “cover blocks”. It’s really fun!
June 14, 2023 at 2:14 pm
Aww, thanks! I must admit, I love a good theme, hahaha. 😀
June 29, 2023 at 6:21 am
I have a release on July 11 (my 22 since 1990 though most of those were non-fiction and honestly everything changes every time) But thank you — this was so helpful.
June 29, 2023 at 1:27 pm
Congratulations on the upcoming release! It does seem like the release process changes for each book, haha. I’m glad to have been of some help!
June 30, 2023 at 11:15 am
Hi Elle. You asked for my ‘digital penny,’ so here’s my ‘two cents.’ I admire your self-awareness. It’s a real talent to be able to look into yourself and not judge, just see. I am far, far, far behind you on the trail to publication but I catch an important point from this post. Don’t tie your self-worth up into your professional success, particularly when it comes to aspects of it that you have no control over. this message feels extremely valuable, and not only for when one is launching a book. Thank you. I loved this.
June 30, 2023 at 11:36 am
Hello, and thank you for sharing your thoughts! 🙂 I think you hit the nail on the head. It can be especially difficult to remember what we actually have control over, and what we don’t! Thank you so much for your kind words, and I’m so very glad that the message resonated and was helpful.
August 16, 2023 at 1:55 pm
Good ideas! These are things we should implement in our everyday practices even beyond just vacations.
August 18, 2023 at 4:56 pm
You make a very good point–I hadn’t even thought of it that way, believe it or not. Clearly I still have some practicing to do! 😉 Thank you!