Returning....
I have returned. Life has sent us a few hard knocks of late, but I don’t stay down for long. Since last we spoke, my second novel, Knights of Lancaster has been released for publication. This is a follow up from Witches of Fawsetwood in the series The Cup and the Ring. Come back to the 12th century with me and see how Elspet’s life unfolds. She narrates book three which I am working on, so you don’t want to miss any of this. More about that to come when I do a snippets post on Sunday or Monday.
Fridays I write about Taboos. For now that will be about political activism, given where I live. How that fits in with my 12th century novels may not be obvious, but these books are about justice and injustice, power and the lack of it, using your voice and being silenced. The themes wind out slowly over the several books, but behind the immediate concerns of a young witch who wants to control her life is the right to be heard, believed, and heeded.
In that vein, I was listening to Stacey Abrams (no relation) and Corey Booker the other day and was challenged to remember three basic things about hard times.
You can’t do everything, but you can do something. That something might be passing on smart stuff from other people with an inside track. It might be encouraging people to hang in there and believe good and love still holds the world in its heart. We can too. It might be speaking out in areas when you are knowledgeable. Let your light shine. If you know the facts are wrong, say so and say why.
Follow your elected officials on your choice of social media. Send them notes either by e-mail (most of them have a site that is easy to use), snail mail (keep it short original and personal), or call them (the lines are busy). Use your real name. They check to see if you are a registered voter. They ask for sampling from their staff, so original beats form letters every time. Do this even if you are of different parties. Be nice. Practice radical empathy.
Find friends who heal your heart. Hang out with them. Create community. Give help when you can and ask for it when you need to. A friend of mine called absent friends to check in. Another decided to send a small donation to the ACLU. Even the smallest action helps.
If you are not in the US, you may find these things helpful in other contexts. I care about you, what happens to you, what heals you. Come talk back to me and keep it friendly.