I imagine a woman of stone with her arms crossed and her wide stance as unyielding as her disposition. Is this what a statue of limitations would look like? A force blocking your way? Or perhaps something headless, limited herself.More
Teeming with chaos or teaming with chaos? And how does this change if we’re talking about ducks? Oh, a little letter makes all the difference. The world can feel overwhelming sometimes, but let’s at least ensure your spelling is under control.More
Let’s talk rebels with an ostentatious cause, because whether we’re talking “flout” or “flaunt,” rebellion and arrogance are likely part of the conversation.More
Oh, spellcheck, “suss” is indeed a word, even though it seems to be flagged often. It’s red-flagged “spelling mistakes” like this that make you seem kind of “sus” yourself actually, spellcheck. See what I did there?
Are you having “sus” vs. “suss” confusion, folks? More
Okay, people! (Peoples? Persons?) Have you ever wondered when to use “persons” vs. “people” vs. “peoples”? Yes, all are proper plural forms in English. Let’s leave the singular “person” out of things for a moment. If we’re looking for the correct plural form, what is a writer/speaker to do?More
Oh, ellipses, the confetti of punctuation marks. A little here, a little there, and it feels a little bit like a celebration, no?
Wait, that’s not what you’re going for?
Sure, I talk about ellipses (the plural form of “ellipsis”) in detail in Get a Grip on Your Grammar (Career Press, 2017; HarperCollins India, 2020), but I wanted to return to the old favorite (ahem, overused) punctuation mark to clear up some confusion.More
Amid my book talks, book club visits, and signing events around the release of my fiction debut, The Baba Yaga Mask, I’ve had the urge to do more. I’m honored to teach about Ukrainian folk art, folktales, history, and dance as I discuss my book, but I also want to help Ukrainian people in need right now. Won’t you join me?
A Community Challenge
At various book-signings, book talks, and community events, I will also be holding collections of humanitarian relief supplies to support the millions of Ukrainian adults and children affected by the war. The majority of these efforts are in support of Lift Up Ukraine.
Next Collection:
TBD, coming soon!
A Book Club Challenge
For book clubs interested in reading The Baba Yaga Mask, I’d be honored to join your meeting to discuss Ukraine, its folk art and history, strong women, and travel fiction with a multi-generational suspense story. And in addition to an author visit, your group can make a difference in the lives of far-off families.
As I’m scheduling virtual and in-person visits to book clubs in the coming months, I’m encouraging book club members, friends, and neighbors to contribute to our donation drives for Lift Up Ukraine and/or The Ukrainian National Women’s League of America.
Contact me today if your book club might be interested in chatting and so much more!
Reading allows us to empathize with those whose lives are different from our own. Whether picking up a signed copy of The Baba Yaga Mask at these events, another book that calls to you, or simply dropping off supplies or a gift of support, we’d love to see you!
Thank you for your generous support!
What have we collected so far?
1,064 diapers
1,440 baby wipes
170+ hand warmers
45 first aid kits
20 toothbrushes
14 toothpastes
23 rain ponchos
7 sleeping bags
10 blankets
12 flashlights
23+ bottles of pain relievers
30+ boxes of gauze
24 bars of soap
20+ pairs of socks
and so much more!
On July 14th, 2022, this live-streamed conversation about Ukrainian folk art, dance, and culture, packed with talented Ukrainian artists, served to educate and inspire in the tradition of Kris Spisak’s past “Story Stop Tour” events, while also acting as a fundraiser for the UNWLA – the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, Inc., a powerful group now focusing on medical assistance to the people of Ukraine, as well as taking care of those orphaned by the war.
Should we talk about not catching “flak” when wearing your flak jacket? Is “flack” spelled similar to “quack”? Or else “flac” like “Big Mac”? “Flaque” like “plaque”?
First things first, let’s narrow it down to just “flak” or “flack” for this conversation.
Catching flak/flack
Getting flak/flack
Taking flak/flack
As always, there’s a right answer, but there’s also a larger discussion. And this time, the conversation involves artillery, publicists, and the author Tom Wolfe. Sure, this sounds like the setup of a bad joke that I’ll catch flak/flack for, but stay with me.More
Bragging’s not good, but a little bit of confidence can be powerful. I’m not talking about #humblebrags or #sorrynotsorry comments. When you’re with the right listener and you want to toot your own horn (there’s an expression we need to dive into on another day), what’s the correct phrase to follow your statement of pride?
Is it “If I do say so myself” or “If I don’t say so myself”? If I “do” or “don’t” say so myself?More