Rebecca M. Douglass, Author

After my lovely week plus in the canyons of Utah, I'm back at the computer, and finally taking the dive into the notes on my next Seffi Wardwell mystery, Edited Out. Things don't look too bad, but there is plenty of work to be done. I love hiking and scrambling around the canyons, but you know the best part of this trip? Little to no cell coverage, and thus a lovely news block-out. I know I can't keep my head in the sand all the time (hmm... given the stuff the winds were blowing around into faces, meals, etc. for a couple of days, that might be more literal than intended!), but a true break from all the scary news is a good thing sometimes! Since I was traveling with a couple of good friends, for once I didn't do a lick of work. I had my draft with me, and my laptop with a couple of other projects I could have messed with, but chose to be social, and just to read when we were hiding in our cars because the weather got... interesting! In other writer news, just before ...

A couple of weeks ago I offered my seniors' writing class a selection of wonky characters to work with, and nabbed a pair for myself. The following is the result, though I could see making some changes and turning it into a full-length short story (is that an oxymoron?) Among the Dunes “Damn!” Bargo let the air-cruiser coast toward the surface of the planet he’d come to pillage. Once again the blasted impulsion motor had cut out and he was about to be stranded… where? He pulled up his map and tried to figure that out. Somewhere in the middle of something called the “Mojave Desert.” His home planet had only one biome, the one inside the domes, so he wasn’t sure what that meant, but based on what he was seeing below him, it meant nothing good. He shifted to concentrate on landing in one piece, for all the good it might do him. The air-cruiser landed gently in one of the clear spaces, where he was pretty sure he’d not rip the belly out on the sharp rocks or po...

I found Matt Haig's The Comfort Book in the library listings while looking for his fiction, and decided that in these times, a book with that title was worth a closer look.    Title : The Comfort Book Author: Matt Haig. Read by the author Publication Info :  Penguin Random House 2021. 3 hours. Hardcover by Penguin Life, 2021, 272 pages. Source: Library Publisher's Blurb (via Goodreads) : “It is a strange paradox, that many of the clearest, most comforting life lessons are learnt while we are at our lowest. But then we never think about food more than when we are hungry and we never think about life rafts more than when we are thrown overboard.” The Comfort Book is Haig’s life raft: it’s a collection of notes, lists, and stories written over a span of several years that originally served as gentle reminders to Haig’s future self that things are not always as dark as they may seem. Incorporating a diverse array of sources from across the world, history, scienc...

While I'm out playing, I'm re-running some flash fiction for your enjoyment. This one dates to something like 2017, and I think came from a challenge where people wrote a first paragraph and we selected one to complete. 1160 words.   Millions of Cats   Things never work out according to plan when there are cats involved.   I knew that, and I should have known better than to take the job.   But Keelan made it all sound so easy: we just had to pick up the consignment from Alpha-Centauri 4 and take them to Exilion 17.   Four days, max, and two of them in hyperspace.   “What could go wrong?”   I should really have run when Keelan said that, because I know darned well that anytime those words are uttered a disaster is sure to follow.   Unfortunately, we needed cash, and the cat people had it.   So we went and picked up the load of cats.   That was where the trouble began.   They were supposed to be cr...

The blog is on autopilot for a couple of weeks here while I'm out getting new photos to share!  Meanwhile, the writer updates are: -- Edited Out is still out being edited (okay, not really edited, but beta-read) --Since my IWSG update, one more short story is out on submissions, and one has been accepted! --I'm teaching a short-story class at the senior center, so am finally writing some new flash fiction.   And that's about it! I'm excited to get out hiking and will get on the photos as soon as I'm back home :)   Teaser shot for what may be coming :)   ©Rebecca M. Douglass, 2025    As always, please ask permission to use any photos or text. Link-backs appreciated. 
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Thanks to Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours for the chance to read and review Ignoring Alva, by Emilie Khair. Ignoring Alva by Emilie Khair Ignoring Alva Cozy Mystery/Sibling Fiction  Setting – Minnesota and Wisconsin Publisher ‏ : ‎ Current Words Publishing (February 4, 2025) Paperback ‏ : ‎ 282 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1957224452 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1957224459sota and Wisconsin Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DW4F61RW Audiobook ASIN B0DW1Q5J9X Meet Alva and Millie…. not your typical eighty-something sisters. While recovering from a mild stroke, Alva’s vivid dreams of daring exploits spark a restless desire to break free from the predictability of her quiet life. Her sister Millie-a practical yet spirited counterpart-is skeptical of Alva’s newfound boldness. But when Alva suggests an impulsive road trip, not even Millie can resist the call of adventure. What starts as a lighthearted escapade quickly spirals into a whirlwind of mischief, suspense, and unexpected...

I'm teaching a short-story class at the senior center just now--primarily providing writing prompts and some conversation about aspects of story-creation. Since a chunk of the class time is spent in writing to the prompts, I'm taking the opportunity to do so along with my students. I had to finish the story at home, but it was fun to sit in a room with other people, all of us scribbling or typing away. This was my take on one of the prompts... what happens when a superhero needs a vacation.  A Quiet Day at the Beach   Lois stripped off her cape, letting the fabric waft to the floor, heedless of the dust. She could regret that later when she had to clean it. Silly thing to wear, anyway, but it did look cool when she was flying. She made herself pick it up before she wriggled out of the bodysuit that went with it. Damn, but it was getting hard to keep in shape for an outfit like that, super-powers or no. When the magic powers were handed out they never t...

I'm posting today with t he fantastic Marvelous Middle Grade Mondays blog hop hosted by Greg Pattridge of Always in the Middle . Check out Greg's blog for a list of additional middle grade reviews.  I'm pretty sure I learned about this book from one of my fellow MMGM bloggers--they've been tipping me off to the best books lately.   Title: The Secret of Honeycake Author: Kimberly Newton Fusco Publication Info : Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2025. 363 pages. Source: Library Blurb (from Goodreads) : Hurricane is quiet while her Aunt Clare is a force of nature with very particular ideas--and a host of Latin sayings to back them up. When Hurricane gets stuck living with her, she retreats into herself...until a series of unexpected friends, including a mangy cat, help her find her voice in a whole new way. With a name like Hurricane, you'd think this girl would take the world by storm. But instead, she's almost invisible. And when her sister gets tuberculos...

 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...