Stephanie's Studio

All was going well, as well as it could for an underprivileged Negro living in the deep south during the 1940's. I'm talking about Earnestine's life. I was excited to share tidbits of her story with you, writing about her for the letter "E" of the A to Z Challenge. As I was saying, all was reasonably well, until Kyane came to town. Earnestine didn't know what to make of her. Was she black or white, rich or poor, human or not--who knew. She seemed around her age but so different from the other girls she knew. Quickly Kyane inserted herself into Earnestine's family life, cracking it wide open like an ornery walnut. From that time forward, she had her own name for Kyane, as derogatory as it was. This girl, that was part animal, woman and thing, was forever to be known as the Vixen to Earnestine, her mother, aunts, uncles and cousins. Her brother and sister, the twins, were much too young to grasp the full meaning of a vixen. The unpleasant name tripped aw...

"A Girl Writing; The Pet Goldfinch" by Henrietta Brownne 1829-1901 (Google Art Project) The craft of writing is the impetus for my A to Z Challenge theme. I've been seemingly railing out against exclamation points but that's only to make a point. Really this is a conversation about nuance. I am attempting to crystallize thoughts that have arisen during the lengthy process of developing my books. One aspect central to my work, whether it's the nonfiction that has been published, or the fiction I'm working towards publishing, is storytelling. I love storytelling and that is the reason I've gravitated towards mythology and folklore. Universal themes on life and death, and everything delicious in between, can be found by gaining a deeper appreciation of mythic tales. Holy Fire Daces of Hirucan Tuva by Kent Dorsey 2003             www.centerforshamichealing.com  My novels take themes I've explored in my other published...

In Africa the preferred container for all sorts of purposes—music, magic, healing, sustenance, ritual, ceremony and fulfillment is the calabash.  As herbalists, we celebrate the magic held within the calabash but we also realize that this earth wisdom should be available to all—this is the lesson of orisha Osayin and the calabash.  With no choice left Osayin’s calabash of herbal information, recipes, rituals and ceremonies for health and spiritual well-being, is now open to all.  If you dare to look deep within the calabash, who knows what might be waiting inside?  Calabash Child One Igbo folk story from Nigeria shows us that there are truly surprising things held within the calabash plant.  A royal couple is unable to have children.  They have a sincere desire for a child; their heart goes out to this wish each day.  Meanwhile, their farms are doing exceedingly well and are about ready for the harvest.  The King’s wife goes out to...

I wrote this a few years back and wanted to share it here today, on this very special day of Spring Equinox and Ostara. Tale of the Easter Bunny  “Mama, how does the Easter Bunny lay eggs and then bring them to all of our houses?” I asked circa late 1960’s early 1970’s. "I don’t know Sweetie … he just does,” was the tentative and unsatisfying reply. Somewhere along the way between Walgreens, Walmart, and Super Target, we forgot. We had an event called Massive Cultural Amnesia or MCA for short. Hey, sounds catchy. Maybe I can get a spot on the Today Show. Maybe not … okay, back to the story. "Once upon a time, long, long ago in a distant land called Europe , there were witches. Witches were not all ugly and green and covered with warts, smashed against a tree, as we see them today at All Hallow’s Eve or Halloween as some like to call it. Those early witches blended in with townsfolk. There were pretty ones—still maidens; fat ones in their motherhood sta...

Dragons, be they beasts, monsters, muses or fantasies, have been with us since the earliest of times.  Dragon lore can be found all over the world. They come from the deserts, mountains and seas. I have been conjuring dragons as a writer and as an artist for quite a while as well. Dragons are so mysterious however, they are hard to work with. Mine are shy and secretive on the one hand, yet powerful and awe-inspiring on the other. Being a water person, Ii am particularly enthralled with sea dragons. In my story “The Girl and the Goat,” for that is all it is right now, (4 chapters), dragons wreak havoc on a tiny village by the sea. As I’ve said in a previous post, Serene, the sorcerer has conjured the dragons. Serene is the main character, Sophia’s aunt. Sophia doesn’t know her aunt Serene is a sorcerer or the cause for the dragons descending on the village that she is called to save. I am working, sort of out loud here, on paper, on bringing those dragons back to ...