All posts by philgiunta@ptd.net

Blog, Holidays, New Releases

When Christmas Was Still Christmas…

Over the River and Through the Woods (front cover)In A Charlie Brown Christmas, cynicism resulting from the commericalism of the holidays is summed up by Lucy Van Pelt when she says, “Look, Charlie, let’s face it. We all know that Christmas is a big commercial racket. It’s run by a big eastern syndicate, you know.”

Well, I’m not sure about that eastern syndicate, but in Over the River and Through the Woods, James Robinson, Jr. addresses this sentiment—as well as his childhood disappointment in learning the truth about Santa Claus—through his honest yet hopeful essay, “The Day the Magic Died.”

“I guess it’s now that I realize—and expressed in my own twisted little way in this piece—is that Christmas used to be a special time for me. As a child, my senses tingled with excitement when I sensed that Santa was due to make his annual appearance. Even as an adult—at the tender age of 38 or so—my wife and I drove around with our three girls with a New Kid’s On the Block cassette playing the entire season. It was a time of reflection, a time to seize the moment to enjoy the good will, the music, and all of the feelings that go along with the experience.

But when it comes to children, the old mantra that Christmas is for children is simple not the case anymore. Christmas isn’t for kids; Christmas isn’t for adults; Christmas is a percentage increase of the of retail sales. Kids don’t just get a bicycle; they get Best Buy Gift Cards, wireless headphones, iPhones, and a bunch of other meaningless crapola. Christmas is impersonal. Christmas is a fit it in when you get a chance, “I haven’t done my Xmas shopping yet,” “We need to get a gift for your Aunt Pearl,” impersonal mess. Christmas is a lazy online scam, a boon for Amazon, a fiasco.

But my pet peeve has to be the commercials that begin to rear their ugly heads in November and refuse to die until after New Year’s featuring Mercedes Benz’s and Lexus’ wrapped in huge bows—the ultimate gift for the few who can afford it, commercialism run wild. —but I siphon whatever magic I can from the modern-day experience.

If you dread Christmas and breathe a sigh of relief when it’s gone, I can’t blame for your feelings. I can’t chastise you if, for whatever reason, you’ve lost the dream. But if a small spark somehow still burns, despite the madness and lunacy that has overtaken us all, enjoy whatever piece of the magic that remains. After all, people are still a little nicer from mid-November until January. They still smile little more and try a little harder to get together as family units. Take solace in the little things. And have a nice Christmas.” —James Robinson Jr., author of, “The Day the Magic Died”

In the final essay of our anthology,  Sherren Elias Pensiero reminisces about rockin’ out with The Beatles on New Year’s Eve…

“I wrote this with the memory of a simpler, happier time… before the earth shook beneath my feet… in my mind.” —Sherren Elias Pensiero, author of “‘Twas A Hard Day’s Night and Another Auld Lang Syne”

Proceeds from the sale of Over the River and Through the Woods benefit the Ligoner Camp and Conference Center, home of the Mindful Writers Retreat. We thank you for your support!

Over the River and Through the Woods (front cover) Over the River and Through the Woods (back cover)

Blog, Holidays, New Releases

Home for the Holidays

Over the River and Through the Woods (front cover)Traditionally, Thanksgiving and Christmas are holidays (hopefully) spent with family, enjoying their company and creating endearing memories. Several of the stories, essays, and poems in Over the River and Through the Woods focus on this theme—but the topics are diverse, ranging from an essay involving actor Alec Guinness to a story about a  magic bed; from a contemporary version of the Holy Family to a coming of age tale involving a lost diamond ring.

Read on as authors Ramona DeFelice Long, Michele Zirkle, Lori M. Jones, Jennifer Diamond, Cara Reinard, and Denise Weaver reveal the inspirations behind their contributions to our fantastic winter holiday anthology.

My essay, “The Bridge on the River Obi-Wan,” is based on a real Christmas Eve when my son was 11. My husband often worked holidays, so the merrymaking was usually left to me, and I wasn’t always very merry about it. This day, however, turned into a life lesson that stayed with me for years. Nearly a decade passed before I was able to craft an essay on what *I* learned that day while trying to teach my son. —Ramona DeFelice Long

Growing up, my grandparents bed seemed a magical place of arm-tickling and story-telling and I wanted to capture some of that rapturously sweet dream-time. Dreams are magical, especially when sleeping in this sleigh bed where more than visions of sugarplums dance in Ciara’s head… love lights up the dark and shines hope into her heart. —Michele Zirkle, author of “Magic Sleigh Bed”

When I was thinking about an idea for a Christmas story, I thought, what is Christmas all about? Although I know it’s not the correct answer, Mary and Joseph popped into my head. Obviously their miracle child is who [we] celebrate, but their stories are pretty amazing. So I wanted a story about a modern day Mary and Joseph and what would happen to them if they inadvertently stumbled upon a miracle.  —Lori M. Jones, author of “The Gift”

The spark for “Fathers and Daughters“ began with a memory from author Jennifer Diamond’s childhood. It bloomed from a simple story about a misplaced gift into the true tale of how a self-conscious, semi-self-centered thirteen-year-old looked at her family with a new viewpoint. By the end of that one Christmas day, she leaped into young adulthood and learned to appreciate the moments shared between fathers and daughters. —Jennifer Diamond

“Buon Natale,” which means Merry Christmas in Italian, is dedicated to my family. The poem captures our true day of celebration, Christmas Eve, which is marked by a huge meal known as The Feast of Seven Fishes. Both sides of my family have celebrated this bountiful dinner of no less than seven seafood dishes since I was a small child. As an adult, each year, my Aunt Reene and I switch off hosting this special occasion for whoever can attend—our table is never too full, our hearts are open to all—tis the true meaning of Buon Natale. I hope you enjoy my poem and that it brings you holiday cheer. —Cara Reinard

My essay, “Shaping Christmas,” is a reflection of how Christmas has been shaped for me through the particular influences of several women throughout my life. It has led to my awe and joy of the holiday season, focusing on faith, family, friends, and food. I am happy to share a Christmas cookie recipe from my beloved mother-in-law; it’s a family favorite. —Denise Weaver

Proceeds from the sale of Over the River and Through the Woods benefit the Ligoner Camp and Conference Center, home of the Mindful Writers Retreat. We thank you for your support!

Over the River and Through the Woods (front cover) Over the River and Through the Woods (back cover)

Blog, Holidays, New Releases, Writing Retreats

Have Yourself a Speculative Little Christmas

Over the River and Through the WoodsFellow SF writer N.J. Hammer offers an otherworldly tale of hope in her contribution to our winter holiday anthology, Over the River and Through the Woods.

“Because I write Science Fiction/Fantasy, I often wonder how future generations will celebrate the important holidays of our religions. Ending strife and pointing the way to a better future for another society is an excellent way to honor our traditions. This belief was the basis for “Stars of Peace.”” — N.J. Hammer

Perhaps the most bizarre of the three speculative fiction tales in the book is “Solstice.” I’ll let author Eileen Enwright Hodgetts describe it in her own words.

“”Solstice” is one of those stories that comes about by the author (me) staring into space and asking “what would happen if…?”  In this case, what would happen if a man’s fingers kept falling off?  I thought the idea would be worth exploring  for its humor but instead I found I was writing about the death of the steel industry, the treatment of the disabled, and the loss of youthful dreams; all without losing the central theme… There’s a man, and his fingers keep falling off.”              —Eileen Enwright Hodgetts

Finally, my own tale “Limited Time Offer” puts a dark twist—a la Twilight Zone/Outer Limits—on the bromidic theme of holiday romance.

“Statistically, December reigns supreme as the most popular month for engagements. Most of you probably know that, but if you don’t believe me, Google it. Seriously, I’ll wait…

However, I’m sure you’ll agree that a few thousand words about a marriage proposal alone would be dull. After all, the best stories serve up a healthy dose of conflict. I could have written about an intractable parent who attempts to prevent the engagement for their own selfish and misguided reasons. I could have gone with the ever-reliable “reappearance of the old flame” trope, forcing one of the would-be spouses to question where his or her heart truly lies. I might even have placed one of our young lovers in mortal jeopardy, prompting the other to undertake a dangerous rescue mission. Actually, that last one is the plot of a fantasy tale I wrote a few years ago.

No, I had something else in mind for Over the River and Through the Woods. Besides, I enjoy challenging myself to explore new territory with each writing project. In “Limited Time Offer,” there is no obstacle preventing my protagonist, Derek, from successfully proposing to the love of his life, Kristy. The problem arises when the world around them begins to disintegrate seconds after he slips the ring on her finger, and we soon learn the hard lesson that life itself is a limited time offer.

As a speculative fiction writer, I mainly work in the genres of science fiction, fantasy, and the paranormal. I’m inspired not merely by the unexpected, but by elements strange and bizarre that knock a character’s reality off kilter, tossing them headfirst out of their comfort zone and forcing them to change in order to thrive in a new reality—regardless of how painful that process might be. I believe I achieved that with “Limited Time Offer,” but of course, that is for you, dear reader, to decide.”  —Yours Truly

Proceeds from the sale of Over the River and Through the Woods benefit the Ligoner Camp and Conference Center, home of the Mindful Writers Retreat. We thank you for your support!

Blog, Book Reviews

Book Review: Science Fiction Showcase edited by Mary Kornbluth

Science Fiction Showcase edited by Mary KornbluthA tribute to SF writer C.M. Kornbluth— who died at the age of 34 in 1958—Science Fiction Showcase delivers eleven excellent speculative fiction tales edited by Kornbluth’s wife, Mary Byers. Contributing authors include Ray Bradbury, Damon Knight, Ted Sturgeon, Robert Bloch, Frederik Pohl, Avram Davidson, James Blish, Jack Williamson, Philip K. Dick, Poul Anderson, and Richard Matheson.

With a line-up like that, how could you go wrong? It’s a rare occasion when I enjoy every story in an anthology almost equally, but in this case, they were all brilliant. Were I forced to choose favorites, they would be…

Richard Falk, a fugitive from Earth, steals a space freighter and heads to Mars where an alien transportation device was long ago uncovered. Unable to live in a society brainwashed into complacency by the government, Falk intends to use the device to begin life anew on a distant world. There’s only problem—once you step inside, where you end up is anyone’s guess in “A Ticket to Anywhere” by Damon Knight.

Anderson “Sonny” Trumie grew up poor, practically raised by robots, in a society whose highest priority was to consume. Yet, time passed Sonny by and he failed to share in its enlightenment. He continued to consume, until he was too obese to move without assistance, and to construct robots to help him acquire his own island… and still he wanted more, for Anderson Trumie was “The Man Who Ate the World” by Frederick Pohl.

In “A Work of Art” by James Blish, 19th century German composer Richard Strauss is resurrected in a new body in the year 2161. Repulsed by what he considers the regression of music in this modern age, Strauss sets out to compose an opera based on Christopher Fry’s play, Venus Observed. Although his opera is wildly successful, Strauss comes to realize two awful truths about himself… and his fate.

The orphaned boy of two American explorers must leave his Tibetan upbringing and migrate to Kansas where he is to be raised by his intolerant Christian aunt who, glaring down at him with one eye brown and other a glassy green, will not bear the boy’s heathen faith and philosophy. Yet despite her chastisements and beatings, the boy holds true to his Tibetan teachings while his aunt learns a lesson in cruelty in Jack Williamson’s “The Cold Green Eye.”

“Mantage” by Richard Matheson – Alfred Hitchcock observed that “drama is life with the dull bits cut out,” but what if you were so eager to achieve your goals that you had the option to live your life without those dull bits? Heed the old adage, you can’t live your life in a day—unless you’re award-winning writer Owen Crowley who learns that the gaps between the accolades are just as precious.

Blog, Holidays, New Releases, Writing Retreats

We Three Scribes

Over the River and Through the Woods (front cover)Our delightful winter holiday anthology, Over the River and Through the Woods was edited by the talented Demi Stevens of Year of the Book Press. Her story also marks her first foray into writing fiction.

“Even though I’ve edited 200+ fiction titles, I’ve only ever written non-fiction before… so I decided to be a masochist and write about characters who live somewhere I’ve only visited, with lives wildly different from mine, who throw parties and actually seem to like being around people, who’ve faced serious health traumas, and excel at the sport of golf. Needless to say I relied on the help of many friends, and a master editor, Ramona DeFelice Long, to save me from the abyss!” —Demi Stevens, anthology editor and author of “Christmas Pearl”

Two more creative stars in our anthology are Kimberly Kurth Gray and Hilary Hauck. Each put their own unique twists on holiday themes, clearly thinking outside the gift box!

“The name, or character rather, of Joyce came to me before the story did. I knew Joyce was a lost soul who had tried to make the best of the bad choices she had made in her life. When the theme for the anthology was decided, I began to wonder how Joyce might be spending her holidays. It was then that I realized she spent her time trying to avoid her mother-in-law. Through that story, I discovered who Joyce was and it’s where I met Beau, Joyce’s true love. From there the story practically wrote itself.” —Kimberly Kurth Gray, author  of “Tidings of Comfort and Joyce”

“My story, “Once Upon a Life Well Spent,” was inspired by the first story I ever wrote in primary school. I remember having an incredible feeling of elation and freedom as I took my character, a candle, on an adventurous journey. My writing style has evolved over the years, but that rush of elation when a story comes together or a character comes to life has not.” —Hilary Hauck

Proceeds from the sale of Over the River and Through the Woods benefit the Ligoner Camp and Conference Center, home of the Mindful Writers Retreat. We thank you for your support!

Over the River and Through the Woods (front cover) Over the River and Through the Woods (back cover)

Blog, Holidays, New Releases, Writing Retreats

Christmas Rocks!

Over the River and Through the WoodsFellow writer Larry “Rock ‘n Roll” Schardt reveals the personal  inspiration behind his essay, “First Nativity” for Over the River and Through the Woods. This winter holiday anthology—published by Year of the Book Press—features stories, essays, and poems from the attendees of the Mindful Writers Retreat.

“Christmas rocks! Through my life, Christmas has always been an exciting time. My mother taught us the joy in giving in the spirit of Jesus. As the oldest of nine, I learned the elation that goes with giving… picking out that special gift for each of my four brothers and three sisters. The manger of our nativity set was always the centerpiece of every holiday. When I moved out on my own it was critical that I got my own heirloom to have forever. My story is about carrying on that family tradition.” —Dr. Larry Schardt

Together with Kathleen Shoop, Larry serves as co-organizer of the Mindful Writers Retreat which takes places three times per year at the Ligonier Camp and Conference Center in Ligonier, PA and nestled in the gorgeous Laurel Highlands.

Speaking of Kathleen, her delightful story for our anthology was adapted from a touching historical event.

“My story, “The Christmas Tree,” was inspired by the true story of Mark Carr, the first Christmas tree vendor to sell trees in Washington Market, New York City. I’d read about him over the years, as he’s mentioned in various Christmas books I own. So when coming up with an idea for a holiday story to submit to Over the River and Through the Woods, Carr’s story immediately came to mind. I changed the names and pieced together the facts I could find to make the fictionalized story feel “real.” I think I captured what must have been the wonder and joy the family felt when they realized they could share their abundance of trees with others and save their farm.” —Kathleen Shoop

Proceeds from the sale of Over the River and Through the Woods benefit the Ligoner Camp and Conference Center. We thank you for your support!