Hello, All Readers. Autumn and its Magic Approach! Being a shy kid, I made good friends with books. But I was also lucky enough to grow up with fog-shrouded castles, moonlit forests, prowling creatures, and times when every night felt like Halloween. Please journey with me, and I will lay all the magic before you.…
Hello, Kids, and All Readers, Alert readers may remember that in my May 31 newsletter, I shared that our four Botanic Hill detectives declared a summer moratorium on mysteries following their exhausting eighth case, Bougainvillea Street: Stolen Tiara, to recuperate and explore personal passions. They promised to share their experiences with us in late summer.…
Hello, Kids and All Readers, When I was growing up, summer meant that I suddenly had more time to read. What a gift! I hope children everywhere feel the same way. My TBR pile included Nancy Drew, Phyllis A. Whitney mysteries, and a sprinkling of the Hardy Boys adventures, along with any other whodunits I…
Hello, Kids and All Readers, It’s late May. In the Northern Hemisphere, that means–HERE COMES SUMMER! How will you spend it this year? After months of cracking codes, sneaking through shadows, and outsmarting adults who really should know better, our four young Botanic Hill detectives have declared a summer moratorium on mysteries. (Or so they…
Hello, Adult Readers, Are you aware that today, March 15, is called “The Ides of March“? So, what are “ides,” and who really cares? Well, I do, having an inquiring mind for interesting historical tidbits that my Botanic Hill Detectives Mysteries might embrace! Turns out that “ides” refers to the first full moon in a…
Dear Kids and All Readers, Here comes March! It is a month in motion. Birds take flight on long journeys, chasing the sun. In the Northern Hemisphere, nests are built. Animals emerge from winter slumber. Even the weather seems to migrate—drifting from cold to warm and back again in a single afternoon. (Though here in Southern…
Hello, Kids, and All Readers, Can you name all eight of Santa’s reindeer–not counting Rudolph, who is the ninth? Go ahead. I’ll wait. . . . If you’re grinning because you remembered them, did you rely on the 1949 song “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” with the verses, “You know Dasher and Dancer, and Prancer and…
Hello, Kids, and All Readers, I consider myself lucky to live in Southern California, where Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, is celebrated every November 1 and 2. The first day honors deceased children; the second day, deceased adults. It is a fiesta that can trace its roots to Mesoamerica, specifically to…
Dear Adult Readers–Be Forewarned! This news blog post may be too scary for some children or inappropriate for anyone dealing with the death of a loved one. Otherwise, in my opinion, it is perfect for Halloween! Read at your own risk or pleasure, depending on your circumstances, and preferably by candlelight or the glow of…
Hello, Kids, and all Readers, We see them everywhere in the Northern Hemisphere right now–from farms to grocery stores, garden shops, front porches, ovens, and Starbucks. Presenting autumn’s icon, the ubiquitous Pumpkin! Did you know that the word “pumpkin” came from the Greek pepon, meaning “large melon”? The French called it pompon, and the English…
