tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83520819919095201202012-02-16T22:03:37.072-05:00<br><br><br>Author of <i><b>Dead Bird in the Weeds</b></i> and <i><b>Haunted Voices from My Past</b></i><br><br><br>J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.comBlogger771100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-24480945529232062472011-07-20T09:52:00.002-04:002011-07-20T09:52:59.336-04:00

YES, I know I've been uncharacteristically quiet these past few months. I assure you, though, it's been with good reason . . . I've been writing like mad! (Big surprise, I know!) So, now that I have that cleared up, I'd like to announce the publication of my third book, Nonessential: The Expansion Paradox. Yes, you heard me right! My thought-provoking sci-fi is now available to

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-17408748264048013642011-03-06T01:33:00.000-05:002011-03-06T01:33:25.632-05:00

OF LATE, I’ve been doubting my writing, my career, and my life. Then I had the following conversation last week with a new friend of mine: NEW FRIEND: So, you write and design books for yourself, as well as for others? ME: Uh-huh. NEW FRIEND: That’s cool. ME: Well, I don’t know if anyone else would think it’s cool. . . . NEW FRIEND: Are you passionate about it? ME: Yes. NEW FRIEND: Then what

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-8829070034657810432011-02-27T08:59:00.000-05:002011-02-27T08:59:40.925-05:00

ON THE LAST SUNDAY of each month, I compile "Seanachaí's News," a status report that assesses my work during the current month and also formulates my plans for the upcoming months. It will also give you a peek at my works in progress. My Work During the Current Month "Chances Are" I'm back for good. Lucky you. LOL!   My Plans for the Upcoming Months My latest novel, Nonessential:

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-26207749831462097322011-02-13T12:26:00.001-05:002011-02-13T12:33:47.125-05:00

CHANCES ARE if you enjoy reading poetry, you’ll believe you understand how to write it. Chances are if you try writing it, you’ll realize you have no idea what you’re doing. Chances are if you respect yourself, as well as others, you’ll hide it in the desk drawer. That’s the reason I stopped writing haiku last September. That’s the reason you’re not reading the poem I’ve been sweating over the

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-43672186807658771462010-11-07T11:04:00.000-05:002010-11-07T11:04:21.492-05:00

Hal Is Dead YES, IT'S TRUE. My computer took a train to Cincinnati or Happy Dale or wherever it is that computers go when they decide to part from their masters. Although I can't begin to tell you how upset I am—Hal and I had a stimulating, four-year relationship—I do want to share a few things I learned this week while being "unplugged." The Internet is nothing more than a distraction. Granted

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-82797510999257160702010-10-31T10:48:00.000-04:002010-10-31T10:48:50.856-04:00

ON THE LAST SUNDAY of each month, I compile "Seanachaí's News," a status report that assesses my work during the current month and also formulates my plans for the upcoming months. It will also give you a peek at my works in progress. My Work During the Current Month Have you lost your motivation? Get it back with "The Golden Flower of Inspiration." "Striving for Greatness" is all about the

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-81886336567037290362010-10-24T09:26:00.000-04:002010-10-24T09:26:12.358-04:00

I'M DROWNING in my latest WIP, so I'm going to make this brief.  To all of you who have children, children who are unable to breathe or walk without the aid of headphones or earbuds or whatever they are and unable to speak or write without sliding their thumbs over a keyboard or keypad or whatever they are… Please, please, PLEASE, unplug these robots from their hardware for a few hours a day and

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-69845585611967018872010-10-17T11:43:00.002-04:002010-10-18T15:49:11.692-04:00

IF YOU FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER, you'll recall that earlier this week I mentioned having a life-changing discussion with a writer-friend of mine. Although the discussion had nothing to do with writing, it sparked an awareness and determination that had been missing in my life and my writing. So, what was the discussion about? Before I go any further, I want to say this, "I'm not telling." The

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-58684789369292073292010-10-10T02:06:00.000-04:002010-10-10T02:06:47.244-04:00

Double-spaced, left-justified, 12 pt. font, MLA style, FIVE pages! IF YOU CAN EXPLAIN the fall of Rome in three pages, tack on an extra two pages of fluff, so you can get an A. Ten pages about Einstein's theory of relativity? You'd better cut it down to five or face Dr. So-and-so's paper shredder.  Remember writing essays like that? As a student I never had a problem with the  issue of making

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-69989766802535424532010-10-03T15:42:00.005-04:002010-10-03T15:49:20.198-04:00

THE MAPLE TREES on the farm are donning their fall colors and the garden on the edge of the south field is preparing to hibernate. Before tucking the garden in for a long winter's nap, I grabbed my gardening shears and harvested the spaghetti squash on the west end. As I plodded through a tangle of dried leaves and vines, I stumbled upon an amazing find: one large yellow squash flower. This

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-56448014710582595612010-09-26T01:55:00.000-04:002010-09-26T01:55:00.402-04:00

On the last Sunday of each month, I compile "Seanachaí's News," a status report that assesses my work during the current month and also formulates my plans for the upcoming months. It will also give you a peek at my works in progress. My Work During the Current Month Do you enjoy the simplicity and beauty of haiku? Don't miss Part IV of  my continuing series, "Murmuring That Creeps

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-89116355653341365492010-09-19T09:10:00.000-04:002010-09-19T09:11:58.922-04:00

How much money did you spend on that program? None. Huh? None! Many people ask me about the programs I use in my writing and artistic endeavors. As a starving artist, I generally shy away from the expensive software and utilize free programs. On the average, most are as good as or come in a close second to the big blockbuster software. Not only that, but I don't have cut off an appendage in

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-5471361446689481942010-09-12T00:46:00.000-04:002010-09-12T00:46:53.885-04:00

THE NONFICTION A woman in an old blue T-shirt throws open a screen door and glares at a vulture gliding in the late afternoon sky. "There's nothing dead around here but my brain," she screeches. The door slams and the carrion eater decides to hang around for handouts of human brain and sanity. *** As you may have guessed, the scene above did in fact happen this week. The strain of working on my

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-36058115555274638062010-09-05T02:37:00.007-04:002010-09-05T02:53:25.862-04:00

6/3/10  Actually, a spring sky . . . shhh! ;^) Lemonade and laughter subside and the warm summer sun gives way to an amber autumn sky. This week's feature is Part IV of my continuing series of haiku entitled "Murmuring That Creeps into the Life of a Wandering Soul."   Enjoy! *** nothing so mournful as a dove in the morning silenced by motors hear wagon wheels crunch a pair of red

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-55552976480750967772010-08-29T00:32:00.000-04:002010-08-29T00:32:44.684-04:00

 On the last Sunday of each month, I compile "Seanachaí's News," a status report that assesses my work during the current month and also formulates my plans for the upcoming months. It will also give you a peek at my works in progress. My Work During the Current Month Starting a new work of fiction? Name the Baby discusses the importance of naming your work before it's published. Are you

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-22285425000242479742010-08-22T12:20:00.000-04:002010-08-22T12:20:55.838-04:00

Do you ever have those days when you can't think clearly? I had planned to present a new short-short for this week's blog, but the words I'm writing are garbage. I could blame my focusing problem on the new computer chair my brother gave me for my birthday. Sitting in something other than a beat-up rocking chair is messing with my mind . . . or not. Maybe it's because I've been busy uploading my

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-63665343639895537432010-08-15T10:23:00.001-04:002010-08-15T10:28:29.475-04:00

I've recently disembarked from a runaway train I like to call "writer's binge." Writer's what? No, believe me, you've had it, too. It's that insane burst of creativity when the words are being generated so fast your fingers can't keep up. You give up sleep, food, and common sense and write until your aching, malnourished body drags itself to the engineer—your brain—and begs to be let off at the

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-9536640715232671812010-08-08T02:24:00.001-04:002010-08-08T02:30:44.169-04:00

A SONG SPARROW lives in the giant pines trees on our farm.  For the past six weeks it has bombarded us with a daily jumble of noisy trills and warbles beginning before six in the morning and lasting until the first star appears at twilight. No, seriously. The constant jabber lasts from dawn to dusk. Without interruption. Without regard for etiquette and without regard for sanity.  In the

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-29927519973776937182010-08-01T10:34:00.001-04:002010-08-01T10:35:15.188-04:00

As you know, I've been busily writing my new novel and everything was going smoothly until. . . . Hmmm . . . well, let me start from the beginning.  Part I With the exception of Dead Bird in the Weeds, every piece of fiction I've written has had a working title before the first word hit the page. Why? A piece of fiction without a title is like a newborn baby without a name. How are you going

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-58282676049892600462010-07-25T10:51:00.000-04:002010-07-25T10:51:37.687-04:00

 On the last Sunday of each month, I compile "Seanachaí's News," a status report that assesses my work during the current month and also formulates my plans for the upcoming months. It will also give you a peek at my works in progress. My Work During the Current Month The Apple Pie is in the Oven is a short piece that celebrates Independence Day using a collage of memories. Have you ever been

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-16097287395829304312010-07-18T09:11:00.000-04:002010-07-18T09:11:51.304-04:00

Did you ever have to make up your mind? I've been working--not as much as I should--on my new book this week and find myself standing at a crossroad. Let me back up. Before I write anything of magnitude, I compose several pages  (sometimes an outline [especially with historical fiction]) that detail the direction of the piece and highlight the major goals I want to achieve. So was the case with

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-51657071578412401912010-07-11T16:44:00.006-04:002011-03-27T09:31:36.569-04:00

I almost didn't write this blog post today. I almost decided never to write again. Writing has been number one in my life for the past two years but rather than giving it up, I'm assigning it a third, perhaps fourth, rank of importance.  While the reason for such a decision is unimportant, I think the "ledge" I was on made me realize that nothing in our lives should make us give up our dreams.

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-53538078191427725852010-07-04T10:05:00.000-04:002010-07-04T10:05:25.127-04:00

As we celebrate our independence on this hot, humid Sunday, I think of the many people who risked their homes and their lives to seize the right to be free of tyranny. I'm grateful to all of our soldiers at home and abroad, remembering the sacrifices of my grandfather and great-uncles in WWII and my own father during the Vietnam War. I think of my own carefree childhood and recall water-gun

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-36272322098649441432010-06-27T08:33:00.000-04:002010-06-27T08:33:40.926-04:00

 On the last Sunday of each month, I compile "Seanachaí's News," a status report that assesses my work during the current month and also formulates my plans for the upcoming months. It will also give you a peek at my works in progress. My Work During the Current Month What does one write while cooped up in the back of a car? "Ruby June," of course. Thinking, Planning, and Daydreaming takes a

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-15994675306774649672010-06-20T08:56:00.000-04:002010-06-20T08:56:02.037-04:00

Words. Your words. Other's words. Your words. Words. If you know what you're doing, don't let them destroy you. That's all I'm saying this week because all of those words are giving me a complex.

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-28161093085010155922010-06-13T13:45:00.000-04:002010-06-13T13:45:21.975-04:00

How are you? How am I? Well, if you follow me on Twitter or converse with me on Facebook, you know that I've been doing some pretty strange things lately (strange even for me). Last Sunday and Monday I spent most of my time changing scenery. I moved from sitting at the desk to sitting under the desk. When that failed to impress me, I moved to the abstract rug in front of the bookshelf that

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-3097380083188811432010-06-06T08:00:00.024-04:002010-06-06T08:24:56.410-04:00

After last month's "Mindy May," you probably saw this one coming. OK, seriously, I got the idea for this short-short during my family's annual Memorial Day trip to visit my grandfather's grave. You all know him as "Ace" from my latest book, Haunted Voices from My Past: True Narratives of an Ohio Family.  Anyway, we took an exit for a much-needed bathroom stop and as I waited for my mother's

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-48771773818551113212010-05-30T08:35:00.001-04:002010-06-05T17:14:32.459-04:00

Levi Montgomery, Me, E. Michaels; Veterans Park, Marion, OH; 5-29-10 Before I delve into this month's installment of Seanachaí's News, I want to share a special day I had. Yesterday afternoon I was able to meet author Levi Montgomery and his daughter, Lacey, during their journey through the country. Levi is everything he proclaims to be, right down to his no-nonsense publishing theory. Not

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-13541606125819117602010-05-23T12:54:00.000-04:002010-05-23T12:54:09.324-04:00

You know the drill by now. Besides, I cut my finger this morning, so typing is a challenge. Enjoy! ***  whisper to the treesand watch the blushing flowersfall onto the snow still, grey sky abovescent of rain from my guitarginger in a jar stand alone in sandthe sun burns the painted eggdancing in a glass A haiku for Tina berries on the vineblood flowing from my fingerstaste the warm, ripe

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-12678223196186001512010-05-16T09:20:00.010-04:002010-10-03T17:00:20.739-04:00

As I awaited my turn in the dentist's chair on Thursday, my eyes wandered to the streaked window above the magazine rack. On the grassy hill overlooking the parking lot was a large flock of crows searching for worms. When the birds spotted their prey, their glossy black heads jackknifed and their sharp beaks stabbed the moist earth. I often think of myself as wandering over a large field.

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-78521626111790859662010-05-09T10:33:00.001-04:002010-05-09T10:33:40.786-04:00

A wise friend suggested that I make a giraffe. I'm not artistic, so I made one the only way I know how. "The Making of a J.e.raffe" Poppy was looking for something and Chip thought he knew what it was. Five years later they were married and waited out a January blizzard in an apartment that smelled like old fish. The offspring was born two years later in August. It had black hair and yellow

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-14363492314805762012010-05-02T11:11:00.004-04:002010-05-03T02:15:19.061-04:00

I was up until 2:00 a.m. last night, haunted by the month of May and wondering why it went so well with the name Mindy.  This is what I discovered. . . .   "Mindy May" You,    The robins woke me up at 4:30 just before the alarm went off. I mumbled something about the short weekend like I always do and stumbled into the bathroom with my eyes closed. Shaving cream sputtered from a rusty can

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-83957466785652964512010-04-25T08:51:00.000-04:002010-04-25T08:51:56.361-04:00

 On the last Sunday of each month, I compile "Seanachaí's News," a status report that assesses my work during the current month and also formulates my plans for the upcoming months. It will also give you a peek at my works in progress. My Work During the Current Month If you enjoy reading poetry, you'll love Part II of "Murmuring that Creeps into the Life of a Wandering Soul." My books, Dead

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-73396340496377396592010-04-18T10:10:00.001-04:002010-05-03T02:15:31.399-04:00

Hello, how are you today? Well, besides battling ants this week (the bread is now hidden in the oven) and buying 392 bars of soap yesterday (it's a long story), I've been swamped with artwork, digitizing and such. As I was working this week, the image of a train kept returning to my thoughts. I've also been haunted by the moon for the past month. No, I'm not losing my mind (that happened a long

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-3277102295907636322010-04-11T09:51:00.000-04:002010-04-11T09:51:15.627-04:00

Every day is a gift, but for me this Sunday is special. Today, both of my novels, Dead Bird in the Weeds and Haunted Voices from My Past have been rereleased and are now available. Not only that, but my colleague's children's books, The Mysterious House and Turtles and Shells and Things, are also available. Click on any of the titles to read excerpts, watch book trailers, and order. Also, be

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-90905311607159191152010-04-04T10:06:00.002-04:002010-05-03T02:19:58.470-04:00

Taken on 3/30/10. Though overexposed, I like the effect. If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you know that occasionally I post a haiku I've written to start my day. For me, the melody of a short wandering into nature inspires my creativity and curiosity, essential qualities when writing is the order of the day. So, picking up where the "Murmuring that Creeps into the Life of a Wandering

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-59921925740950411052010-03-28T10:30:00.000-04:002010-03-28T10:30:30.741-04:00

On the last Sunday of each month, I compile "Seanachaí's News," a status report that assesses my work during the current month and also formulates my plans for the upcoming months. It will also give you a peek at my works in progress. My Work During the Current Month If you haven't checked out the awesome new cover for Dead Bird in the Weeds, be sure to do so. Haunted Voices from My Past is

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-88883100952534803832010-03-21T15:16:00.006-04:002010-03-23T10:21:31.725-04:00

How are you? I've been so busy this week editing books and redesigning a website, that I'm officially burned out. I've been averaging five hours of sleep each night and this morning when I woke up I realized I hadn't written anything for today's blog. I was irritable at breakfast, sick and tired of EVERYTHING, and ready to go back to bed. Instead, I regrouped somewhat and took a shower. While

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-25178725865320543352010-03-14T10:29:00.018-04:002010-03-23T02:55:59.790-04:00

Last week the new cover for Dead Bird in the Weeds was released. This week, Haunted Voices from My Past: True Narratives of an Ohio Family makes its debut. . . . From the back cover:  I Don’t Believe That Anybody’s SoulStays in a Graveyard     A presence crept through the leaves blanketing the earth, lingering behind the man and woman. The couple paused. Scarischle. The presence halted

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-14633087728827927752010-03-07T09:56:00.010-05:002010-03-23T02:57:14.662-04:00

As you all know, my novel Dead Bird in the Weeds is being rereleased in an easier-to-read format. One thing you may not know is that it's going to have a great new cover. So, without further ado . . . the unveiling of Dead Bird in the Weeds. . . . From the back cover: Birds no longer live in the trees. They lie dead in the weeds. According to ancient Irish tradition, the wren would

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-70734723063889849772010-02-28T09:58:00.000-05:002010-02-28T09:58:02.391-05:00

On the last Sunday of each month, I compile "Seanachaí's News," a status report that assesses my work during the current month and also formulates my plans for the upcoming months. It will also give you a peek at my works in progress. My Work During the Current Month "An Ode to Slacking" is a short work of dark, poetic prose written in the epistolary format and is addressed to you, the reader.

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-40742953443529941892010-02-21T11:34:00.003-05:002010-02-21T11:36:09.134-05:00

If you were with me last week, you'll remember I was in despair. I hadn't written a piece of fiction in so long, I was beginning to doubt myself and my abilities. Then, on Wednesday night, I began thinking about all of those green snowflakes littering my desk. Inspiration flashed. I left the computer, grabbed an old-fashioned tablet of college-ruled paper, hopped into bed, and WROTE. I

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-11447121546778713442010-02-14T13:35:00.002-05:002010-02-14T13:48:32.352-05:00

How are you spending Valentine's Day? I've been sitting here at my desk, buried beneath a pile of books, work, and slips of green paper. The books are falling into the floor, and all of those slips of paper are littering the desk like green snowflakes. The "snowflakes" are hasty notes that I write to myself throughout the day. Some have book measurements; others have to-do lists that have been

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-87660269744344646822010-02-07T15:04:00.001-05:002010-02-07T15:04:24.504-05:00

Dear Reader, I didn't write anything for this week's blog. I was too busy playing in the snow. Your friend, J.E. P.S. Have you ever gone out after midnight? Last night the moon shined its gentle white light upon the new-fallen snow that tasted like minerals and laughter and childhood and memories that made me want to cry. I dug a tunnel in the snow to hide.  Remember how we used to run and hide

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-37868833374371254572010-01-31T10:16:00.005-05:002010-01-31T10:17:48.686-05:00

On the last Sunday of each month, I compile "Seanachaí's News," a status report that assesses my work during the current month and also formulates my plans for the upcoming months. It will also give you a peek at my works in progress. My Work During the Current Month If you're laying out a book for the first time, be sure to read Stop the Press! before you go any further. It could save you a

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-51730091856500660342010-01-24T12:47:00.003-05:002010-01-24T12:50:32.996-05:00

I could have said “I was riding in an elevator and didn’t get off at the first floor,” but I didn’t. Going Down? Stale cigarette smoke consumes the remaining oxygen while whining Charlie Brown voices from outside vibrate this empty tin can. A tattered sign smaller than a three-by-five card leers at me, its precise black type shouting “I expired eight months ago.” Dead. Extinct. That’s what

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-52606190443686627572010-01-17T09:50:00.002-05:002010-01-17T09:56:23.576-05:00

Is gold where you find it? Jillian Decker discovered it by “watching the sun melt into the ocean . . . how, in those last few moments, it melts into liquid gold on the waves, and skitters away, circling around behind you for tomorrow’s sunrise” (Montgomery 14). I recently discovered gold in one of Levi Montgomery’s latest novels entitled Jillian’s Gold.  Jillian’s Gold is the story of

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-46147551757381527292010-01-10T14:51:00.000-05:002010-01-10T14:51:34.025-05:00

I was on a ledge this week. Like Jack Finney's ledge walker, I was clinging to reality with my fingertips as I witnessed a scrap of my sanity leap from my desk and bolt through a crack in the window.  At that moment I was prepared to renounce my vocation and rejoin those smart folks rising before the sun to submit their freedom to those of higher rank.   No.  My fist struck the desk, rattling

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-64481461486871138412010-01-03T15:16:00.008-05:002010-03-23T02:59:27.785-04:00

"Stop the Press!" Though cliché, I've always wanted to screech this at a hard-working press operator.  Well, folks, I've done it at last.  I'm glad I screeched, but I'm not glad about the reason behind it. I am speaking to you now from a self-imposed dungeon.  I'm on skimpy rations, and I'm not allowed to have visitors.  While my back is turned on myself, I'm going to talk to you about the

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-83408060197028868672009-12-27T12:08:00.007-05:002009-12-27T12:15:00.113-05:00

On the last Sunday of each month, I compile "Seanachaí's News," a status report that assesses my work during the current month and also formulates my plans for the upcoming months. It will also give you a peek at my works in progress. My Work During the Current Month For those of you who enjoyed reading about my rebellious grandfather in Haunted Voices from My Past: True Narratives of an

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-16015137681675946612009-12-20T16:55:00.009-05:002009-12-21T02:14:21.093-05:00

I’m always looking for new ways to promote my work and interact with readers.  Despite the plethora of resources available, promotion is tough and sometimes seems insurmountable when on a budget and without the surplus of funds that flows through the fingers of giant superstore publishers. More alarming than these like-minded big dogs and their mainstream agenda/products is the overflow of “

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-72635142660116519942009-12-13T10:45:00.008-05:002009-12-13T12:01:27.899-05:00

What do I write about on this cool Sunday morning since you have taken no notice of me?  I could tell you about the tinkling of raindrops against the window panes or let you feel the chill that seeps between my calloused fingers.  I might remark on my sleepless nights or ignore you as I watch the juncos fight over cracked corn.  Would you like me to share with you the bundle of private

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-27202535060238188582009-12-06T09:15:00.061-05:002009-12-06T13:00:33.770-05:00

On December 7, 1941, a key nation secured membership to the World War II Club.  The inductee was the U.S. and the admission requirement was met through the sinking of its fleet at Pearl Harbor. The attack on the naval base had been executed in a process similar to the means employed by a pack of hungry sharks.  The Japanese banded together, targeted their prey, and achieved their objective by

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-56596452071664901952009-11-29T12:15:00.000-05:002009-11-29T12:44:18.729-05:00

On the last Sunday of each month, I compile “Seanachaí’s News,” a status report that assesses my work during the current month and also formulates my plans for the upcoming months. It will also give you a peek at my works in progress. My Work During the Current Month I've been busy promoting my new novel, Haunted Voices from My Past: True Narratives of an Ohio Family.  Check out my "

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-54154877269438293722009-11-22T10:45:00.017-05:002009-11-22T11:56:25.082-05:00

Haiku is a wad of yellowed paper with cheesy drawings.When I was cleaning a closet several months ago, I happened upon a dog-eared folder. Tucked inside was a jumble of mismatched poems (mostly haiku) printed neatly with a rainbow of colored pencils. Each yellowed page was accented with childish doodles that frolicked around the edges. Ah, youth!As I grew older, haiku became a way to express

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-41598836878344165932009-11-15T11:30:00.014-05:002009-11-15T11:35:18.512-05:00

Toto had glass eyes and smelled like instant coffee.My mother crocheted a small grey and white blanket from leftover yarn with the aid of the dim light over the kitchen sink. She then unearthed a scruffy white poodle from my closet and dyed its shaggy coat with three cups of her favorite instant coffee. After a night spent by the heater and a quick blast from the hair dryer, the stuffed dog was

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-55979377485796181392009-11-08T11:30:00.019-05:002009-11-08T11:53:33.232-05:00

Those of you enjoying my new book, Haunted Voices from My Past, know that my garden grows not only an abundance of tasty vegetables but also harbors a roguish ghost. Try my homegrown recipe for a taste of autumn, and, if you're lucky, a sampling of the paranormal.Seanachaí's Spooky Spaghetti SquashServes 2 HUNGRY GhosthuntersWhat you'll need...1 medium-sized spaghetti squash [about 8" long and

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-49228644324575829932009-11-01T10:30:00.007-05:002009-11-01T10:43:01.058-05:00

Halloween is a time of ghosts and burning leaves, vampires and dying trees, and unwrapped candies accompanying creepy stories.I remember three distinct details from my childhood. The first two are homework and snow days. Oddly, they complement one another in that one always intends to catch up on homework during a snow day. However inclined, the snow beckons and while one is creating angels

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-37748843076282682652009-10-25T09:30:00.002-04:002009-10-25T09:34:17.952-04:00

It's Here!Last night at midnight, my new novel, Haunted Voices from My Past: True Narratives of an Ohio Family, was officially launched. If you don't know what the buzz is about, click on the book cover on the right to read an excerpt, watch the trailer, and, of course, order a copy in time for Halloween. Thanks to all of the readers making Haunted Voices... a success this morning.Also, head

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-55327557253187216832009-10-18T10:00:00.007-04:002009-10-18T10:05:41.818-04:00

Experience a Firsthand HauntingAnother exciting event is happening this Sunday. If you enjoy ghost stories, make sure you head over to the homepage for my forthcoming novel, Haunted Voices from My Past: True Narratives of an Ohio Family. Once there, you can read an excerpt and watch the trailer.Also, be sure to enter the Haunted Halloween Book Giveaway. Next Sunday, one person will be

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-90211420627924894682009-10-11T10:30:00.001-04:002009-10-11T10:49:15.435-04:00

Many exciting things have been happening this week. Yesterday, the trailer was released for my forthcoming novel, Haunted Voices from My Past: True Narratives of an Ohio Family. You can view the trailer here.Also, Sunflower Footsteps released the blurb today. You can read the blurb, watch the trailer, and enter the "Haunted Halloween Book Giveaway" (one person will receive a free, advanced

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-54753477720903880622009-10-04T12:30:00.005-04:002009-10-04T12:36:06.272-04:00

Notice anything different about my blog this week?The cover of my forthcoming novel, Haunted Voices from My Past: True Narratives of an Ohio Family, is along the right column and was unveiled today at Sunflower Footsteps. Click on the book cover to view a larger version. The link also leads to a page where you can download the book launch schedule and enter the "Haunted Halloween Book Giveaway"

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-44987720078757446362009-09-27T10:30:00.002-04:002009-09-27T10:35:08.589-04:00

On the last Sunday of each month, I compile “Seanachaí’s News,” a status report that assesses my work during the current month and also formulates my plans for the upcoming month. It will also give you a peek at my works in progress.My Work During the Current MonthMy forthcoming novel, Haunted Voices from My Past: True Narratives of an Ohio Family, is finished. Currently it is in the final

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-78467459762178428702009-09-20T13:30:00.005-04:002009-09-20T13:42:18.812-04:00

The maple tree next to the road performs its annual Shakespearean death scene. Crickets halt their strident song and vacate the courtyard. I sigh and hunt for the socks I stowed away four months ago. Summer is but a memory as autumn's chilly hand draws an amber shade over pink lemonade and charred hot dogs.In my corner of the world, autumn's cool breath is not confined to the outdoors. It

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-19017119848173645512009-09-13T09:00:00.002-04:002009-12-06T13:02:21.277-05:00

Monday was Labor Day for those of us residing in the U.S. Despite its connotation, it does not denote a day set aside for work. Rather, the day celebrates the ability to laze about and feed one’s face, preferably with one’s fingers accommodating in rapid, shovel-like gestures. While participating in this yearly ritual, I snuffled over half-cooked coconut pie filling, remembering a man who

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-85642988881913381802009-09-06T12:30:00.006-04:002009-09-06T13:56:32.337-04:00

"Write What You Know" How many times do we hear this slogan from teachers, writers, and peers? Though this adage is overused, it holds merit.On the other hand, writing what you know does NOT mean you have to write about the autumn leaves in your backyard. It DOES mean that if you want to write about something OTHER than falling leaves, you have to research.I suffered the same dilemma when

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-54760922575759707892009-08-30T13:30:00.012-04:002009-12-18T00:55:02.968-05:00

On the last Sunday of each month, I compile “Seanachaí’s News," a status report that will assess my work during the current month and also formulate my plans for the upcoming month. It will also give you a peek at my works in progress. My Work During the Current Month 1. Dead Bird in the Weeds On August 9, Sunflower Footsteps released a preview of my new book, Dead Bird in

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-73076865090531156262009-08-23T10:30:00.004-04:002009-08-23T10:41:53.125-04:00

An interview is like a garden. If one tills at regular intervals, weeds are stopped before they can take hold. If the tiller breaks, plan to harvest ragweed at summer’s end.Throughout my recent project, Haunted Voices from My Past: True Narratives of an Ohio Family, I conducted a series of interviews with family members. While some went exceptionally well, others failed miserably. One night

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-58927043105921001152009-08-16T09:03:00.009-04:002009-09-13T01:06:48.388-04:00

Last Sunday hosted an extraordinary event that highlighted the preview of Dead Bird in the Weeds. This Sunday will be no different.Today, Sunflower Footsteps releases the long-awaited preview of its first mystery series for children. E. Michaels' first Fox Mystery, The Mysterious House, is the adventure story of three fifth graders’ discovery of a mystery surrounding an abandoned house.Blurb

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-74407006251130967972009-08-09T11:43:00.010-04:002009-09-13T01:06:48.388-04:00

Hello, all.As always, I'm excited to share my life and work with you each week. This Sunday, however, will be spectacular.My new novel, Dead Bird in the Weeds, is now available for preview. To participate in this experience, visit Sunflower Footsteps.Blurb from back cover:Birds no longer whistle in the trees.They lie dead in the weeds.According to ancient Irish tradition, the wren would command

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-8092125940316529182009-08-02T14:00:00.006-04:002009-08-02T15:06:41.820-04:00

“You have to do something besides READ your summer away!” “Ah, gee, Mom, do I hafta? This book’s really good!”*** How many parents have had this conversation with their children? Probably too few and even fewer now since the domination of the Internet and video games. My poor mother had this talk with me at least twice a day from the end of May to the end of August during summer vacation.

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-6657355134162178022009-07-26T12:00:00.018-04:002009-12-18T00:49:32.479-05:00

Starting this Sunday and every last Sunday of each month, I will be compiling “Seanachaí’s News," a status report that will assess my work during the current month and also formulate my plans for the upcoming month. It will also give you a peek at my works in progress. My Work During the Current Month 1. I’ve been busy promoting my new book, Dead Bird in the Weeds. In my July 5 blog I

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-87604504681395357112009-07-19T12:00:00.008-04:002009-09-13T01:05:28.735-04:00

Q: What size shoe does a sunflower wear? An object’s size can be measured in different ways with the aid of various tools. Similar methods can be applied to assess the size of an idea. One can measure its scope through the analysis of its birth, growth, maturation, and rebirth. My idea began at the age of seven and continues to thrive through the power of teamwork. The idea?

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-76931795621466667162009-07-12T12:00:00.004-04:002009-09-13T01:06:48.388-04:00

Hello, all. I'm so glad you could join us today. This Sunday I have a special guest, E. Michaels, the author of the new children's mystery: The Mysterious House.*** Hi, this is E. Michaels of Sunflower Footsteps. I have published my first children's mystery, The Mysterious House, the first book in the Fox Mystery Series. The story is about three neighborhood kids that are in the fifth

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-42194010110897357082009-07-05T12:00:00.001-04:002009-09-13T01:06:48.389-04:00

Birds no longer whistle in the trees.They lie dead in the weeds.According to ancient Irish tradition, the wren would command the birds and the king would become the pauper for one day. For life to be restored to its natural state, the wren must be hunted and slain. Dead Bird in the Weeds relates the tale of trodden people rising as wrens to win freedom from the tyranny of England during the

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-10523013242546208212009-06-28T10:00:00.005-04:002009-09-13T01:08:30.851-04:00

This week has been an exceptionally productive one for me despite the ridiculous heat that has plagued my little corner of the world. With heat indexes near 100 degrees, it was difficult to focus but ultimately I reached an important goal.For those of you who follow my daily updates on Twitter, you have a fairly good understanding of how this villainous heat usurped my creativity and motivation.

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8352081991909520120.post-75612118893911737882009-06-21T12:40:00.005-04:002009-09-13T01:06:48.389-04:00

I have great news. My first book, Dead Bird in the Weeds, was published on June 3, 2009.Dead Bird in the Weeds is a work of historical fiction recounting the 1798 rebellion in Ireland. Set in Wexford, the story relates the tale of a courageous young woman named Aisling Doran who joins the revolutionary United Irishmen to wage war for liberty. This literary work was inspired by my Irish

J.E. Seanachaíhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00418178987361118773noreply@blogger.com0