Rebecca M. Douglass, Author

My brother set this challenge, based on something he saw in the grocery store... it's a very short flash, just over 250 words.  Harvest Time It wasn’t the farmer’s favorite job. At the end of the growing season, the crop had to be brought in, and it was… disconcerting. Right up to harvest time, the crop was a pleasure to tend. He liked it all, carefully managing the fields, not thinking about the end.   He looked out over the fields now, aware that harvest time was coming fast. There were certain unmistakable signs, a stillness that began to settle over the fields. One more day. Not for the first time, he wished he could pick the time. It was going to be unseasonably warm.   The next morning, the farmer check the crop and called out the harvest crew. Distributing the special rakes, he made the usual speech, with extra urgency.   “We have to work hard to get the harvest in before it spoils in this heat. You know the drill. Into the bin...

 It's the First Wednesday again already, and time for another post for the Insecure Writer's Support Group!   Purpose:   To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Posting:   The first Wednesday of every month is officially   Insecure Writer’s Support Group   day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time - and return comments. This group is all about connecting!   Don't forget you can post your link on the IWSG Facebook page !   Let’s rock the neurotic writing world! Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and...

    Welcome to Ronel Janse van Vuuren and her Irascible Immortals series!  To celebrate the release of a collection gathering this series of mini-novels in one volume, I've invited the author to talk to us about the structure of this set of stories, and to answer the question, “Why a collection of short works instead of a novel?” Here's Ronel's reply: I’ll do my best to answer this question without any spoilers about the plot. Climate Change has been something that’s affected my life personally the last couple of years with more heatwaves, floods and scary lightning storms without rain. I’ve also seen people acting really weird because of social situations, alcohol or the pandemic. And I wondered: What if several someones were behind all of this and what if it could be crazier? I wanted to showcase a different character in each situation, getting to know the world and other characters from a different perspective each time. As the tension build...

Last week I shared some photos from the hikes I did in Tucson back in January. Today I have some around-town and museum photos, just for fun. We did some eating out and wandering around, some from our lodgings not far from the campus, and visited some local sights. La Chaiteria, a tasty lunch spot. Mercado San Agustin The main purpose of the trip was for a pair of northerners to absorb as much mid-winter sunlight as possible. A stroll around the U of A campus was as good a place as any to do so. Old Main, the first building built on the U of A campus. We stumbled on the Women's Plaza, celebrating the contributions of AZ women to the university, the state, and the world.  This cool arch was outside one of the science buildings. I'm not sure, but wouldn't be surprised if the figure represent real people, though they may just represent Science. The arch held male and female scientists, with symbols of their research. Another morning we visited the Tucson Botanical Gardens, whe...

I'm heading to Iceland later this year, so my reading has begun to include books of Icelandic history and legends, as well as guide books. This book caught my eye because it is the story of a remarkable woman, and also tells us a lot about the culture of the time.  Title: Woman, Captain, Rebel: The Extraordinary True Story of a Daring Icelandic Sea Captain Author: Margaret Willson Publication Info: Sourcebooks, 2023, 420 pages Source: Library Publisher's Blurb: A notorious crime, a lone woman fighting for equality, and the thrills of the wide-open sea A daring and magnificent account of Iceland's most famous female sea captain who constantly fought for women's rights and equality—and who also solved one of the country's most notorious robberies. Many people may have heard the old sailing superstition that having women onboard a ship was bad luck. Thus, the sea remains in popular knowledge a male realm. When we think of examples of daring sea captains, swa...

I'm catching up on photo edits again, and have some shots from some of the hikes I did around Tucson last month. It's such a contrast from Seattle's winter landscape! The next afternoon after arriving I went for a short hike with a friend up the very popular Sabino Canyon. We were so busy talking and catching up that I pretty much forgot to shoot photos, but did capture this, one of the most graphic warning signs I've seen (I kind of collect interesting signs). "If you aren't careful you will ruin your bike and fly off the bridge to land on the rocks below and die." A day or so later I went to the local "A Mountain" (not just a mountain, but the one with the big white A for the University of Arizona) for a bit of trail-running (heavily mixed with walking). That offered some good views of the city. Tucson, with Saguaros. People below me are sitting on the big A. A third hike was out by the Sonoran Desert Museum, in the National Park's West Uni...