Rebecca’s Reflections
Writing on the Lam
October 2, 2012 On leave from academic duties, I have traveled to the mountains of Eastern Tennessee to spend a month in the rustic log cabin my father built by hand in the 1970s. Here, in my “writer’s retreat” I have time to myself. I’m supposed to be...
Seeking Inspiration: How the Japanese Mountain Witch Encourages Artistic Creativity
Have you ever wondered how authors find the ideas for their books? Or, how they nurture those ideas to publication? Join this live zoom-based interview to explore the way the Japanese mountain witch, or the yamamba, has encouraged artistic creativity across time...
Cabin Dreams
October 4, 2012: The fourth day of my “writer retreat.” I am staying in the log cabin my father built in the 1970s. My brother and I were in junior high when the building began. He’d bring us up with him on weekends to help him dream it. One...
Chinese Takeout and Rustic Cabins
October 3, 2012: I am now on my third day of my writer’s retreat, or what I’m calling my writer’s retreat. I’ve come alone to the cabin my father built in the mountains of Eastern Tennessee. He had intended the cabin to be a temporary shelter for the permanent house...
From the Mists of Blue Mountains
I had a sabbatical in 2012, an entire year released from teaching and other academic duties (such as meetings, in addition to meetings, and occasionally and often more meetings.) The year release was one I negotiated as compensation for my six-year term as Associate...
My Trixie Belden Summer
When I was a child I loved reading mystery novels. My older sisters passed along their copies of Nancy Drew and I was drawn to her sleuthing skills and bold behavior. I devoured The Secret of the Old Clock, The Secret in the Old Attic, and many others. My favorite was...