Stealing Plums

Kicking off the New Year!

2011-01-13T08:03:00.000-08:00

Hello all! Happy New Year- a bit belatedly. I've been working hard on a creative project and haven't made time to blog for a while. Just wanted to check in and let you know what's in store for me this year. I have just had the pleasure of interviewing author Natalie Goldberg for Creativity Portal, and am in the process of writing it up. It should go live in early February, with a follow-up a couple weeks later. I'm so excited!

In the meantime, here's a treat for my followers- some fabulous new photos to inspire your pen!

Bright Blooms Are Blossoming in My Creative Garden!

2010-12-06T12:58:00.000-08:00

Bright Blooms on a Dreary Day

Photograph by Molly Anderson-Childers

Here's what's blossoming in my creative garden...

In this season of grey skies and chilly nights, it's especially important to keep the soul-fires burning bright.
That's why I picked today as the perfect time to post guest blogger Joy Paley's article about seeking enlightenment in the Nevada desert. Link to my Guest Starring page to read about Joy Paley's journey in Desert Drive.

Nevada Desert Temple with Labyrinth

Photograph by Joy Paley

I recently interviewed folk artist Tina Verduzco for my exclusive Creativity Portal interview series, "Creating a Fun, Fabulous Career in the Arts." Her story is truly amazing- and check out her art! You can connect with Tina directly at http://www.casadelunasea.com/ .

Fabulous Folk Art by Tina Verduzco

Remembering Water Fairies, By Tina Verduzco

2010-10-25T10:40:00.000-07:00

I slowly shuffled into the café and poured myself into a corner booth. I placed my sandy feet on the bench across from me. Swearing under my breath, damn! My feet were already swollen and it wasn’t even 9:00!

Old Dan appeared and wordlessly sat my order down. I chuckled to myself as I poured hot milk into my coffee and stirred in cinnamon from a bottle he placed in front of me. Remembering Old Dan when he was Young Dan. Forty or so years ago, back when his father Old Dan ran this place and Young Dan ran to keep up.

I heard the door open and turned to see three young girls walk in. Breathtaking children I thought. No, not really children but their age was difficult to guess. They wore bikini tops and long flowey hippy skirts. Grains of sand clung to their arms and bangles shimmered and clanged on their wrists. Their long red tresses cascaded down their backs. Sisters it appeared. All alike in willowy stature. The tallest walked to the bar and asked for a glass of water with two lemon slices. Old Dan seemed to be caught up in their intrigue and stumbled to get her request. The other sisters giggled and stole sugar packets from the table.

Water Fairies I thought to myself but shook my head at a silly old woman’s musing. As she finished her water the taller sister reached for a few coins to leave on the table, but Old Dan refused the money and pushed it back into her perfectly formed hand. “It was my pleasure Miss”. She flashed a brilliant and knowing smile as she signaled the others to go. She caught my eye or was it my stunned look of possible recognition? As she floated by she winked at me and lifted up her skirt. In that glaring Florida morning sun I swore I saw not bare feet but a splash of emerald green. A tear slid down my face as I remember a wish I once confided to a water fairy, something about growing old, in a small sea side town.

Author's Note: If you enjoyed this story, please see my upcoming interview with Tina Verduzco on Creativity Portal, to be published in November. For more information about Water and Wine Fairies and Tina's artwork, visit http://www.casadelunasea.com/.

What's Brewing in My Creative Cauldron?

2010-10-14T10:19:00.000-07:00

As summer segues into autumn, I've been enraptured by the sights and smells of the changing seasons. Woodsmoke and rain, falling leaves, thunderstorms, crimson and golden aspen leaves... this is my favorite time of year, I think. Jack-o-lanterns are already peeking out at me from my neighbor's porches, and it's starting to get cold again at night. Time to break out the flannel sheets and cozy up...

I am preparing to participate in National Novel Writing Month in November, and will be giving a talk on Monday about plotting your nanonovel. In other creative news, I'm working on edits for a novella and new interviews for Creativity Portal and Edible San Juan Mountains. I'm writing a few new stories, expanding my professional blogging services to include creativity consultations, and trying to keep up with my blogs!

I recently took a day-trip with my man to check out the fall colors, and I got some great photos. I'll be sharing those with you soon. I'd love to see your best fall photos! Share them with me at stealingplums@yahoo.com - I'll publish my favorites on my Guest Starring page!

Stormy Weather...

New Poetry Page!

2010-09-15T14:48:00.000-07:00

Fabulous news for poetry lovers! I have decided to add a new feature to Stealing Plums. My new Poetry page, Taking Dictation From the Muses, just went live today! I've already posted one poem, "Waxing to Full," and will be adding more content soon.

If you'd like to see your poetry or prose featured on Stealing Plums, or my sister blog, Addictive Fiction, please send queries to me at stealingplums@yahoo.com.

Chaco Canyon Photos and Poetry Now Online at Words and Images by Cynthia

2010-09-09T12:09:00.000-07:00

Chaco Canyon Love Song, a poem originally published in the anthology, Eternal Portraits, is debuting online at Words and Images by Cynthia. It will be accompanied by several photographs taken during a recent expedition to Chaco Canyon, a few hours south of my home in Durango. Words and Images by Cynthia is one of my favorite sources for inspiration online, and is published by writer and photographer Cynthia Staples.

Here's a sneak peek- one of my favorite photos from Chaco Canyon...

Doorways into the Past

Photograph by Molly Anderson-Childers

"Seven Ways to Grow Your Writers' Group" Goes Live!

2010-09-09T09:59:00.000-07:00

Great news, readers! My newest article for Chuck Sambuchino's Guide to Literary Agents blog was published today. This article is the second piece in a short series on writers' groups I'm creating for this blog. It's a fantastic resource for writers, and I highly recommend subscribing to this feed.

My newest article, Seven Ways to Grow Your Writers' Group, outlines seven great strategies for finding new members. The next piece in this series will cover different aspects of making a group critique session a success. These articles are inspired by my experiences as the founder and facilitator of Wild Women Writing.

In Other Creative News...

Chuck Sambuchino, writer and editor for Writer's Digest Books, recently released his newest creation, "How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack." We'll be dishing the dirt about those despicable little devils next month, in an interview for my exclusive Creativity Portal series, "Creating a Fun, Fabulous Career in the Arts." Stay tuned!

New Interview Online Now at Creativity Portal!

2010-08-31T08:38:00.000-07:00

For an in-depth look at the life and career of designer Terri Conrad, please read An Interview with Terri Conrad. It just went live at Creativity Portal today!

Readers who visit the Creativity Portal website before September 7th can enter to win the Terri Conrad Designs Giveaway! Simply email her your answer to this question: "What inspires you, surprises you, and makes your toes wiggle with delight?" You could win one of three fabulous prizes, designed by Terri herself! It's all happening at Creativity Portal.

How to Be Your Own Best Muse

2010-08-30T09:11:00.000-07:00

This weekend, my newest article, How to Be Your Own Best Muse: 101 Ways to Delight and Inspire Yourself, was published on Creativity Portal. This is the second article to treat with this subject; the companion piece was published there last month.

The latest addition to my Multicultural Muses series, it's sure to help you re-charge your creative batteries and feel the juiciness flow...

You can also see some of my freshest new pics of flowers, from a bee's-eye view. Here's a sneak peek!

What's Blooming In Your Neighborhood?

Photograph by Molly Anderson-Childers

Fab Interview Posted on Persist: The Blog!

2010-08-27T15:22:00.000-07:00

I recently connected with the folks at Persist: The Blog, to do an interview. I had a great time working with Emily on this project, and I'm looking forward to publishing some of Peter Clothier's work here, in the future.

Stealing Plums: An Interview with Molly Anderson-Childers is an intimate look at the challenges and rewards of a writer's life. It includes my insights into breaking through creative blocks and feeling inspired every day, and my redefined definition of success. Enjoy! May it be the first of many...

What's Blooming in the Garden of My Dreams?

A Lush, Creative Life!

Photograph by Molly Anderson-Childers

Text off the Page Workshop!

2010-08-27T09:57:00.000-07:00

I was recently invited to attend this workshop- it looks like a fabulous creative kick-start for some new projects. Hope to see you there!

A workshop presented in conjunction with Cities on the Side Exhibition at the Art Library opening Sept 10 with a reception and a poetry reading at 7 PM
Sat., Sept 11 - 9:30-4:30 at the Durango Arts Center
$50. ($45 for DAC members)
Is it writing or is it art? This one-day workshop is for writers and artists interested in working with text off the page. Poet/artists Nance Van Winckel, Renee Rossi and Christy Ferrato challenge the boundaries between writing, music, visual art, installation, and performance art, as they explore the cross-genre application of text. Unique ways to approach this work will be discussed, and there will be several hands-on-activities for participants to explore, investigate and work on their own text off the page creations.
For registration and more information, contact Barb Klema at (970-385-7600) or barbara@barbaratobinklema.com

Got Brew?

2010-08-26T09:55:00.000-07:00

This weekend is rife with foamy, foodie fun! Check out my newest article, Got Brew? for the skinny. My blogs for Edible San Juan Mountains seek to tell the story of local foods, one bite at a time.

This week, I'm reporting on three fabulous events. Grillin' and Chillin' is Ouray's very own microbrew festival. With brews, barbecue, and live tunes, this event promises to be a lot of fun. We're also celebrating Ska Brewing Company's Fifteenth Anniversary Bash and Brewers' Invitational- sure to be a howlin' good time! And the return of the Iron Horse Chef Cooking Competition graces our Durango Farmers' market Saturday morning. See Got Brew? for details!

My personal congratulations to the Ska Brew Crew - lip up, fatty! Here's to fifteen years of great brews and good times! Stop by Ska World Headquarters Saturday afternoon- they'll be unlocking the vault to unveil a special limited-release Anniversary Ale. You won't want to miss it!

Guest Starring...Featuring a New Article by Hank Kellner

2010-08-25T08:45:00.000-07:00

Check out my Guest Starring page for a new article by writer and photographer extraordinaire, Hank Kellner. This piece features some of his fabulous photographs to get your pen moving. Here's a sneak peek at what's in store!

For a daily dose of photographic inspiration, please visit Hank's blog, English Education. It's a wonderful resource for writers, artists, educators, and home-schoolers.

Fabulous New Resource for Writers

2010-08-25T08:08:00.000-07:00

Persist: The Blog is a wonderful resource for writers and creative thinkers in all fields. I was recently contacted by Emily and Peter for an interview about my creative work, and I was glad to oblige. This blog aims to explore the challenges faced by the creative mind in a world of commerce. It's chock-full of interesting interviews, quotes, tidbits, and resources to amp up your creativity.

I'll keep you in the loop and let you know when my interview goes live. Until then, keep creating!

The Power of Inspiration is In Your Hands

Photograph by Molly Anderson-Childers

New Interview with Jennie Nash Takes Creativity Portal By Storm!

2010-08-02T09:42:00.000-07:00

You're in for a treat. Creativity Portal has recently published my Interview with Jennie Nash! It was great to reconnect with Jennie- we had so much fun during our last interview that I just couldn't resist the chance to chat with her again. To view my other contributions and past interviews published on Creativitiy Portal, click here.

Author Jennie Nash released her newest novel, The Threadbare Heart, earlier this summer. It's an intriguing read, and was released in May by Berkley Books. I enjoyed her deft handling of tough emotions, and her characters are a delight. Kudos, Ms. Nash!

New to Guest Starring...An Interview with Photographer Michael A Shapiro

2010-07-30T11:50:00.000-07:00

My newest project for Stealing Plums is an Interview with Michael A Shapiro, photographer extraordinaire. Check out his work online at Michael A Shapiro. There, you'll find his blog, a gallery of amazing photos to inspire your pen, and updates on current projects.

I've posted several of his photos to accompany the interview on my Guest Starring page, but here's a sneak preview of one of my favorites...

Paris, 2003

At La Palette

Photograph by Michael A Shapiro

August is the Cruelest Month...

2010-07-30T10:39:00.000-07:00

My newest blog post for Edible San Juan Mountains, August is the Cruelest Month, just went live this week! It's a preview of some fabulous foodie events coming our way in August- The Mesa Verde Country Food, Wine, and Art Festival in Cortez, and the Mushroom and Wine Festival in Durango. Bon appetit!

First Fruits: Baby Onion from Our Garden

Photograph by Molly Anderson-Childers

"Story of a Selkie Wife" Published on Addictive Fiction!

2010-07-29T09:36:00.000-07:00

Author Jessica Goody was so inspired by one of my Creativity Portal Story-Starters that she penned "Story of a Selkie Wife." When she emailed the tale to me, I knew it was perfect for my Guest Starring page on my Addictive Fiction blog.

It's an enchanting summer read- perfect for a rainy afternoon! For more of Jessica's musings, please visit her blog, Much Magic.

New Work by Hank Kellner!

2010-07-27T11:15:00.000-07:00

Hank Kellner has just submitted the first article in a ten-part series about using photos to inspire writing. This noted author and photographer is a wonderful addition to my Guest Starring page. For a daily dose of inspiration, please visit Hank's blog, English Education.

Looking for some fabulous photos to inspire your summer scribblings? You'll find 99 images to write about in Hank Kellner's book, Write What You See. This book was published by Cottonwood Press, and is available for purchase at Amazon.

How to Be Your Own Best Muse...

2010-07-26T23:10:00.000-07:00

What's blooming at Creativity Portal? A fabulous interview with author Jennie Nash, and a brand new article in my Multicultural Muses series! Join me this month for an inspiring summer read designed to help your creative juices bubble up. Feel like The Muses have gone to Bali and left you behind? Check out my new article, How to Be Your Own Best Muse: 101 Ways to Delight and Inspire Yourself.

For other titles in this series, check out my Multicultural Muses page on Creativity Portal today. Or see my Author page, to view all of my lush, juicy offerings on the Creativity Portal website. If you'd like to be interviewed for my exclusive Creativity Portal series, "Creating a Fun, Fabulous Career in the Arts," you can get in touch via email at stealingplums@yahoo.com.

New Article Posted on English Education!

2010-07-23T11:26:00.000-07:00

Fabulous news... I've just published an inspirational new article, Irises Blooming in the Garden of Dreams! This piece is featured on Hank Kellner's blog, English Education, and is geared towards educators who are looking for new ways to inspire students to write using photographic prompts. I've crafted an article to help teachers get students excited about writing using one of my favorite tools, the writer's notebook. It also includes one of my photos, shown here, to get your pen moving...

Interested in seeing my words or photos on your site? Please send an email to stealingplums@yahoo.com for details.

Thinking About Starting A Writers' Group? Seven Questions to Ask Yourself First...

2010-07-21T11:37:00.000-07:00

I'm a big fan of Chuck Sambuchino's blog, Guide to Literary Agents. I find it to be full of useful information, invaluable industry contacts and fabulous resources for writers.

Another reason I'm a fan? I've been asked to create a short series of articles as a guest blogger! This sizzling summer series will deal with different aspects of facilitating a writers' group. The first article in this series, Seven Questions to Ask Yourself Before Starting a Writers' Group, is an informative read based on my experiences with Wild Women Writing, a group I founded in Durango several years ago.

It's a practical guide to getting started, with some food-for-thought questions to help focus your intent. Always wanted to create a dynamic writers' group in your community? This article is a must-read. Stay tuned! I'll be updating you here when new articles go live.

Plunge Into Poetry Part II Goes Live!

2010-07-16T10:30:00.000-07:00

Penny MacPherson, poet and educator, has contributed a second lesson to her mini-workshop, "Plunge Into Poetry." You can find it here, on my Addictive Fiction blog. Thanks for a fabulous contribution, Penny!

Fabulous July Interviews Posted on Creativity Portal!

2010-07-06T08:40:00.000-07:00

July is a marvelous month for creativity to blossom and bloom. This month, check out my newest interviews at Creativity Portal for a dose of juicy inspiration. Writer and photographer Cynthia Staples gives readers an in-depth look into her creative journey in the latest addition to my exclusive interview series, "Creating a Fun, Fabulous Career in the Arts." My Interview with Cynthia Staples is the perfect summer read! Cynthia has generously agreed to share some of her wonderful photographs with us here. For more inspiration, please visit her blog, Words and Images by Cynthia.

Boy and Bird

Photograph by Cynthia Staples

Egg

Photograph by Cynthia Staples

Dogwood Blooms

Photograph by Cynthia Staples

Make a Wish...

Photograph by Cynthia Staples

This month, I also interviewed Marge, the Muse of Okay-Now-Let's-Get-Started, for my exclusive Creativity Portal series, "Multicultural Muses." For the past ten months, this series has focused on interviews with Jill Badonsky's Nine Modern-Day Muses (and a Bodyguard). It's been an inspiring journey, and I've learned much from my time with them. Check out my Interview with Marge for a little no-nonsense advice on taking your creative work to the next level. To find out more about the Modern-Day Muses and Jill's work as a creative coach, please visit her website, The Muse Is In. Silliness, a-muse-ments, and creative juiciness abound!

A Study in Contrasts

2010-07-05T10:06:00.000-07:00

I'm thrilled to announce that my writing and photograhy are being featured on Hank Kellner's blog, English Education. I recently contributed a photo and essay, A Study in Contrasts, to delight and inspire readers. Enjoy!

Would you like to see my photos, artwork, and writing on your website? Too busy to blog? Need a creative kick in the pants? I'd love to help- let's connect! Send me an email to stealingplums@yahoo.com for more information. I am currently expanding my freelance writing services to include professional blogging; copywriting and editing; ghost-writing; and creativity consultations. I've taken the leap to live my creative dreams, and I'm loving it! Want to learn how to do the same? Get in touch- I can help you along your creative path.

Iris on Fourth Street

Photograph by Molly Anderson-Childers

Plunge Into Poetry Workshop Posted on Addictive Fiction!

2010-07-03T10:56:00.000-07:00

Poets and educators alike will delight in my newest offering at Addictive Fiction. Penny MacPherson, whom I recently interviewed for my Creativity Portal exclusive series, "Creating a Fun, Fabulous Career in the Arts," will be featured on my new Guest Starring... page.

"Plunge Into Poetry," MacPherson's online mini-workshop, is an inspirational offering- hopefully the first of many. To connect with Penny or learn more about her work, please visit Poetry Patch 416.

Wild Rose

Photograph by Molly Anderson-Childers

Guest Blog by Hank Kellner

2010-06-30T11:22:00.000-07:00

Beyond the Window

I cannot see beyond the curtain

That cloaks my window.

But if I could, what would I see?

A field of wheat? A city street?

A cloudless sky? Cars rushing by?

I cannot see beyond the curtain

That cloaks my window

Unless I push aside the flimsy cloth

And look beyond the glass.

-by Elizabeth Guybo

Do you remember a book titled Reflections on a Gift of Watermelon Pickle? First published in 1966, it featured a collection of black and white photos accompanied by poems. Almost immediately, Reflections became popular with teachers of English who found that they could use the photos in the book as a source of inspiration for their high school and junior high school students. Incidentally, the book went through many printings and is still available on the Internet.

Today, many teachers still use photos to encourage not only teenagers, but also adults to create both poetry and prose. Shown here is a poem written by a senior citizen at a workshop I conducted at the Center for Creative Retirement, University of North Carolina, Asheville. Does the photo inspire you? What do you see in the combination of light and shadows? What is the mood of the photo? What might you discover if you could “…see beyond the curtain”?

If you find inspiration in this photo, and if it helps you write either a poem or a paragraph, I’d love to hear from you at hankpix@yahoo.com.

By the way, you’ll find more of my photos posted at Photobucket. Feel free to browse. And do visit my blog at English Education for even more photos and inspiration. Finally, go to the National Writing Project at National Writing Project to read more about using photographs to inspire writing.

Hank Kellner is a Korean War veteran and the author of Write What You See: 99 Photos to Inspire Writing 120p. w/CD. photos. reprods. Web sites. Cottonwood Press, 2009. pap. $24.95. ISBN 978-1-877673-83-2. LC 2008938630. His series of articles on using photos to inspire writing appears at Creativity Portal.

Call for Submissions!

2010-06-26T20:39:00.000-07:00

If you're a writer, artist or photographer, and you'd like to see your work published here on my new page, Guest Starring... please send me an email. You can connect with me at stealingplums@yahoo.com. I'd love to hear from you.

Coming Attractions...
Guest blogs by writer and photographer Cynthia Staples, and photographer and educator Hank Kellner. Please see Guest Starring... for a sampling of their work.

Make a Wish...

2010-06-24T11:24:00.000-07:00

I'm excited about my upcoming interview with Cynthia Staples, writer and photographer extraordinaire! It will be posted soon on Creativity Portal. To whet your appetite, I'm posting another one of her fantastic photos for your visual enjoyment...

May All Your Wishes Come True!

Photograph by Cynthia Staples

News From The Studio...

2010-06-22T13:05:00.000-07:00

The First Annual Four Corners Pride Festival is coming up this weekend, at Durango's own Rotary Park. My post about this fun and fabulous event is now online at Edible San Juan Mountains.

The print edition of Edible San Juan Mountains is hitting the streets- check out my guides to local CSAs and Farmers' Markets. It's a great resource for Southwest Colorado foodies that want to find the best local meat, dairy, produce, eggs, honey, and more!

Life as a freelancer is making me smile, every day. Is there any bigger thrill than seeing your byline on the masthead? Or using words like, "masthead" in everyday conversation? For this writer, life is indeed sweet!

Arco Iris

Photograph by Molly Anderson-Childers

Coming Attractions...

2010-06-22T10:00:00.000-07:00

Stay tuned to The Creativity Portal for my hot new interview with writer and photographer Cynthia Staples. I enjoyed getting to know her, and loved the chance to view her fabulous photographs. She has generously agreed to share some of her images with us here. If you'd like to see more of Cynthia's work, please visit her blog at Words and Images by Cynthia. You can also find more of her amazing photographs online at Photography by Cynthia. Here's a little taste of her work...more to come!

Boy and Bird

Photograph by Cynthia Staples

Egg

Photograph by Cynthia Staples

New article posted on The Pagan Arts

2010-06-18T12:54:00.000-07:00

The Pagan Arts is back from a summer hiatus and going strong! New posts by Alane Brown and astrology by Jon Deer were posted earlier this week. Today, my new article went live, so I wanted to write and share the link with my readers: Honoring the Green Man, Honoring the Earth can now be found online at
The Pagan Arts: Music and Craft for a Magickal Life.

Hope you'll enjoy my latest creative endeavor- I'll share ways to make your studio a more eco-friendly place, and ideas for creating a sacred arts ritual to honor The Green Man.

Belly up to the table, and drink deep. A feast for the soul awaits.

Labyrinth Walk...

Where Will Your Dreams Lead You?

New "Who's Your Daddy?" Post Online at Edible San Juan Mountains!

2010-06-16T07:35:00.000-07:00

Hot news for readers! I cooked up another great guest blog for Edible San Juan Mountains this week. The Sixth Annual "Who's Your Daddy?" Street Festival is a big event in Durango- and this year promises to be better than ever! What's on the menu? Live music, local brews, great food, fun and games for the whole family, arts and crafts, and more!

This event is sponsored by Carver Brewing Company, and is a major fundraiser for the Durango Discovery Museum. Proceeds from this event will be used to fund their children's programs- what a great way to show your support for our community's kids!

Creative Blossoming...

2010-06-09T09:48:00.000-07:00

Summertime is always a season of inspiration and lush passionate energy, and creative projects growing wild under the sun. The weather here has been gorgeous, sunny days and bluebird skies, with flowers coming up everywhere! We have poppies and columbines in our yard, and a rose bush that's just starting to leaf out.

It's hard to motivate myself to do anything serious or deadline-related, so I'm spending a lot of my down time chatting with my girlfriends, making sun-tea, walking the dog, taking pictures of spring blooms in our neighborhood, reading trashy novels, and sipping rum drinks!

I've been working on a few new short stories and novels, and have even ventured into the in-between zone of the novella. Some of them are keepers; others might have to be weeded out but I'll write them anyway and see if they end better than they began, or if I can salvage something good from the wreckage of stiff characters and bad plotlines. If not, into the compost heap it goes, to make rich soil for other projects in the future.

How do I know if my latest effort will be a good story or a bad story, when I begin? I don't. No one can know- the only way to find out is to write it! Write them all down, good and bad. Stories are stories; they must be told. We are merely the conduit from the heart to a listening ear.

Art Exhibition at Carver Brewing Company!

2010-06-03T09:46:00.000-07:00

I'm exhibiting my watercolor and collage locally through June 13th, 2010. What a treat! They are being displayed at Carver Brewing Company at 1022 Main Avenue in Durango, Colorado. To visit their website, please follow this link: Carver Brewing Company. Stop by, see the show, and support a local artist!

Brand New Interview Posted Online at Creativity Portal

2010-06-03T09:40:00.000-07:00

This month, you're in for a treat. I am pleased to announce my Interview with Penny MacPherson is now online at Creativity Portal. I enjoyed getting to know this amazing woman, and I'm sure you will too. Just follow the link to find her story, and some inspiring words about the healing power of creative work.

What Color is Your Inspiration Today?

What's Blooming?

2010-05-19T05:29:00.001-07:00

I've been up all night, stoking the creative fires. Lots of new work...some short stories and novellas, including a foray into erotica. I recently sent out a short erotic story to one of my favorite magazines- I'm hoping to break into this market soon. Wish me luck, readers!

Yummy New "Edible" Posts

2010-05-18T10:33:00.000-07:00

Looking for a sweet way to spend the summer? Check out my newest posts at Edible San Juan Mountains for hot happenings in Telluride, and get the down-low on Durango's American Craft Beer Week. Have you hugged your brewer today?

A Sip of Inspiration

2010-05-17T13:39:00.000-07:00

For a juicy sampling of my latest creative wares, please visit The Pagan Arts, Alane Brown's website. This site is a great resource, offering ritual music and craft for a magickal life. The Pagan Arts now features my newest article, High Summer in the Garden of Dreams. Flutter a little closer...slow down...sip...and be refreshed. May your heart's cup never be empty!

Delicious New Guest Blogs At Edible San Juan Mountains

2010-05-05T17:08:00.000-07:00

I've been invited to become a guest blogger for Edible San Juan Mountains, and will be reporting on local foodie events in our region. Check out my blogs at...Edible San Juan Mountains. Bon appetit!

The First Fruits of Our Garden...

Photograph by Molly Anderson-Childers

Flutterby

2010-04-30T22:17:00.001-07:00

The Empty Well: Keys to Staying Juicy

2010-04-29T06:05:00.000-07:00

Fairy Garden

Photograph by Molly Anderson-Childers

New Article on Creativity Portal- Check it out!

I've just published a brand new article on The Creativity Portal, The Empty Well. This article addresses the importance of taking care of yourself, in order to give your best self to your soul-work. Inspiring and fresh, it also offers ways to stay juicy during a creative drought. Enjoy!

The Green Man: Cherishing the Wild Seed- New Post on The Pagan Arts

2010-04-28T16:50:00.000-07:00

Hello! I've just visited Alane Brown's website and found to my delight that my newest post is posted there, deliciously rendered for your artistic delectation. May it fill your cup...

http://thepaganarts.com/2010/04/28/green-man-meditation-a-guest-post-by-molly-childers/

Inspired by The Green Man

2010-04-27T14:20:00.000-07:00

Portrait of a Lady in Winter: The Green Man’s Tale

And the winter-ladies’ graces

holding hands with certain silence

And mad soliloquies of sudden thunder break and roll, break and roll

Inevitability fades as she listens very closely

To this,

His spun-sugar fantasy

And if she only listens closely he will tell her everything.

Her sweet face smiles and she believes it all

And in its golden castle, her pocket-watch tick-tocks disdainfully

And waiting, ever-waiting as he tells his crazy tale

Again for the audience that is trapped inside his head.

The Green Man listens for the sound of music in an oak-leaf,

New-fallen to the ground,

And singing

Suddenly in the eldritch green witch-light of the coming storm,

He begins to laugh and laugh.

Author's Note: This poem was inspired by The Green Man, who visited me one lonely winter morning and woke me up to spring. For my companion post to this piece, please see my guest blog post, "The Green Man: Cherishing the Wild Seed," soon to come on The Pagan Arts.

2010-04-24T00:47:00.001-07:00

Deep in the Dark, Dark Woods at Night

2010-04-21T06:11:00.000-07:00

Today I am isolating myself from everyone to scribble in my endless notebooks. I am a writer-never doubt it. There are times when I question this path, but I cannot leave it- and in truth, I have no wish to try. I don't think I ever chose it- was there ever a moment when I had a choice? Not that I recall- I simply always knew.

A silver lantern lights my way through the trees. I am looking for a precious treasure hidden by moonilight. I wonder and wander beneath the moon. I smile wild with cold teeth and take a bite out of the sky. It tastes of ink.

Author's Notes: This is an excerpt from my book, "Stealing Plums."

The Pagan Arts Guest Blogs

2010-04-06T23:53:00.000-07:00

I am working with Alane Brown, of The Pagan Arts, as a guest blogger. I will contribute blogs on topics relating to creativity, art, and spirituality. For more information on Pagan art, music, magick, and more, please visit her website at:
http://thepaganarts.com

2010-04-03T12:53:00.001-07:00

An offering to the May Queen...

In hopes that you will bestow sunshine upon us!!!

Think Spring...

2010-03-10T05:48:00.001-08:00

Signs that spring is near...

Green grass emerging from under the snow in my yard

Mud all over my boots when I walk the dog

New ideas blossoming and blooming

Rain instead of snow

I am currently working on a new novel, "The Road to Abomey," and doing some new work for "Stealing Plums" and "The Raven Queen." As the birds return from their southerly migration, it seems that some old stories have come home to roost, as well. "Stealing Plums" is a project I have been working on for years. In the past few weeks, I have added over 100 new pages to this book, and am very proud of myself. My goal this year is to find an agent for this novel and get it on the shelves! To that end, I'm trying to put in an hour of editing/writing on this novel every day. It feels good to be looking at the end of a long, cold winter and moving into spring.

What's blooming in YOUR creative garden?

Happy New Year!!!

2010-01-05T11:03:00.001-08:00

Where did 2009 go? Seems like I was sucked into a holiday whirlwind right before Halloween, and am only just now emerging, battered and broken but triumphant. I have survived another holiday season! Days are getting longer, and I'm grateful for the snow-and-sunshine perfect Durango weather. I can't believe it's been so long since my last post...
Or maybe I can. It's been a wild winter so far. In September, we moved into a lovely little house. In October, I participated in the Ferocious Feelings art show. In November, I lost my job -and we moved again. I also found a new and better job, wrote 95,000+ words of a novel, and participated in National Novel Writing Month. We hosted a roll-your-own sushi party for Thanksgiving- our first party in the new house. It was a lot of fun, and we'll be doing it again soon! In December I finished my Nano Novel just a few days before Christmas-yay!- and started work on a new story I'd put aside during nanomadness. I disappeared into a word-vortex, and am only now stepping back into real time. It's good to be home! More updates soon... for now, I'm heading back to my studio for a little writing session.
Happy New Year!

2009-10-13T07:27:00.000-07:00

Hello All. I will be participating in this gallery show, and bringing four of my unique handmade creative journals to display. I am also planning to do some improv writing for guests and patrons; red hot poetry and flash fiction, random scribblings and more! Hope to see you there!

Lushly, creatively yours,

-Molly Childers

Rita Farin Interview Online at Creativity Portal!

2009-09-05T12:08:00.000-07:00

I recently interviewed Rita Farin, a mighty Creativity Goddess who's studied and travelled the world in pursuit of her creative dreams. The article was published online recently at Creativity Portal, a Writer's Digest Best Website. Visit the link at...
http://www.creativity-portal.com/bc/molly.childers/interviews/rita-farin.html

For a complete listing of my online offerings at Creativity Portal, please click here...

http://www.creativity-portal.com/bc/molly.childers

Thanks for tuning in. More creative marvels and wonders soon to come...

Controlled Chaos...

2009-08-19T21:18:00.000-07:00

We are moving at the end of this month. Things may be a bit hectic (or maybe just completely insane) for the next couple of weeks. We found a beautiful little house in Durango- my days as a commuter will soon be in the past! I'm soon to be close enough to downtown to walk to my job, the library, by favorite bookstore, and the best coffeeshop in town...what more could I ask?
If I'm not posting much for the next couple of weeks, you will know why. Say a prayer to the goddess of chaos for me during this transition!

On the Move!

-Molly

Addictive Fiction!

2009-08-03T08:58:00.000-07:00

This morning I'm sharing some fabulous news. I have been working on a new fiction blog to help me share my juicy stories with the world. Yesterday, I created a template and put it online! I'll be working to build content in the weeks to come, and intend for this blog to be a resource for writers, as well as a forum for my fiction. What's in the works? Lists of my favorite authors, books on writing, and resources; writing contests and challenges; links to other writing sites and blogs; story starters and writing prompts, photos that tell a story; tools for your writing tool-box, and more! Check it out at...

http://www.addictivefiction.blogspot.com

Happy writing!!!
-Molly

A New Vision

2009-08-02T18:56:00.000-07:00

This is a new season for me creatively. I am creating a new vision for this blog and exploding with creative juiciness! Some of my exciting new projects include...

New watercolor painting: Mermaid Sighting #173
The Hitch-Hiker: An Unlikely Love Story. This is my new novel, which originally began life as a short story. I finished it at the beginning of the summer and look forward to sharing it on my upcoming fiction blog.
The True-Life Confession of Ana Isabel Torres...This is another novel I've been working on this summer. A smart, sexy, twenty-first century take on Nabokov's classic, Lolita. It's still in the works, but I'll be sharing excerpts on my new fiction blog soon!
Launching a new fiction blog this summer, with excerpts from Stealing Plums, The Raven Queen, The Hitch-Hiker, The True-Life Confession of Ana Isabel Torres, and other works. Stay tuned here for more news and updates on this exciting project!
Taking this blog in a new direction with fabulous photos to inspire and delight you, brand-new artwork and art-in-progress photos, and musings on creativity, nature, and feeding the wild soul.
Thrilling news! I will be transitioning to a four-day work-week, and reserving Mondays solely for writing, creative work, and business-building activities like professional meetings and writing dates. Yay! My goal is to transition into a full-time writer, artist, and creativity consultant. I'll be sharing my successes, challenges, stumbling blocks and lessons along the way, as I chase my dreams and dance with the Muses.

Lushly Creatively Yours,

Molly

New Interview with Jeff Scarterfield now online!

2009-07-29T09:09:00.000-07:00

Hello readers! My new interview for the Creativity Portal Exclusive Series, "Creating a Fun, Fabulous Career in the Arts" is now online at...
http://www.creativity-portal.com/bc/molly.childers/interviews/jeff-scarterfield.html
Jeff is a cartoonist and art instructor who likes to rock out to Led Zeppelin in the studio. He's also a martial arts devotee who had some interesting words to relate about the similarities between martial arts and visual arts, especially drawing. Check out our fun, fabulous interview today!

-Molly

New Articles- Elements as Muses

2009-07-25T11:45:00.000-07:00

Hello Readers! Just wanted to let you know I've published a new article online at Creativity Portal. This article is part of a series, "Multicultural Muses" which features inspiration from around the world. Lately, I've been exploring the elements as muses- earth, air, water, and fire- and wanted to share a link to my newest article, "Creative Bedrock: Standing on Solid Ground," which focuses on the element of earth. Here's the link...
http://www.creativity-portal.com/bc/molly.childers/mm/creative-bedrock-earth-muse.html

To check out my other offerings online at Creativity Portal, please click the llink below for a guide to all my publications on their site...
http://www.creativity-portal.com/bc/molly.childers

Keep your feet on solid ground. Dig your roots in. Only from a solid foundation can we reach for the sky...
-Molly

Gypsy Journal

2009-05-23T19:01:00.000-07:00

On the previous "Creative License" post, I shared a few photos of the travel-sized Gypsy Journal I created for Beth Warren, the winner of the "My Own True Genius" writing contest. Congratulations, Beth!

In this post, I'd like to talk a little about the journal itself...This beautiful hand-made journal is a one of a kind work of art; and it's the perfect size to fit in Beth's purse or the back pocket of her favorite pair of jeans. No two are alike- they're like snowflakes! -every single one of my creative journals is unique. I hand-collage the cover, and use creative lettering techniques and fun prompts inside to get your creative juices flowing.

For more information about my hand-made creative journals please email stealingplums@yahoo.com or call me to place an order: (970) 759-9993.

Creative License

2009-02-16T11:56:00.000-08:00

Hello all. Today I am pleased to announce that I am helping to promote author Jennie Nash's new release from Berkley Books, The Only True Genius in the Family.
You can find more information online at :
http://www.creativity-portal.com/main/contest/true-genius

Print your own Creative License here and set your Inner Artist free:

http://www.creativity-portal.com/main/contest/true-genius/print-creative-license.html

We created a special Creative License readers can download and print to promote creativity on a grand scale. There's also a live phone conference planned for February 24th- I'll be dishing the dirt with author Jennie Nash about writing, and we'll both field questions from callers about creativity, the true nature of genius, and the writing life.

To help boost her fabulous new book, Nash teamed up with me and the folks at Creativity Portal to create the "My Own True Genius" Writing Contest. The lucky grand prize winner will receive a "Book Club in a Box" and other fabulous prizes, including five signed copies of Jennie Nash's new book, The Only True Genius in the Family; a personalized letter from the author herself; hand-selected chocolate treats; a $25 gift card from Michael's; and a unique, handmade creative journal designed by yours truly. Two more lucky winners will receive signed copies of The Only True Genius in the Family, and all winning entries will be published online to further inspire our readers.

Sound exciting? Check the Creativity Portal website for more details today!

A Meditation on the Dark

2008-03-05T09:20:00.000-08:00

It is long since I sat here to write. The snow has started to melt, and spring is on the way. I can feel her in the warm sunshine, the sticky mud, the calls of birds returning home from the South. In the season of growing light, why do I still persist in chasing the darkness?
It is important, I have found, to keep perspective. Without darkness, light means nothing. There is no contrast, no joy. I seek the dark because I am exquisitely at home there. It is my place of origin...I was born at night in February, in the middle of a howling storm, in the plains country of Montana. Dawn was a happy surprise, no doubt- but darkness came first and it will surely follow after.
Today, readers, if you wish to be inspired, try a 10 minute free write on darkness. Free writing is a fabulous tool for exploring the outer reaches of your mind. When you start, simply write whatever comes to mind and let the words flow. Do not pause to check your spelling, grammar, parts of speech- throw them out the window and keep writing. Do not let your hand stop moving for any reason until the ten minutes are done. Your mind will wander, jump off a cliff, and run hard and fast away from the topic you've chosen...this is normal and natural. Do not resist. Follow the flow and see where it takes you.
The following is an excerpt from my article on Leanan Sidhe, the Dark Faery Muse of Ireland. You can find the complete article archived on the www.creativity-portal.com website under my Multicultural Muses series. It began with a free-write on the dark...

Darkness
A damp green mossy darkness, eyes aflame, luscious smile luring you in. Shining wetly in the foxfire of a lonely March night.
Colors: Twilight blue ascending, stone-grey, mahogany, emerald green, evergreen, the green-black of a lush peat-field. Bluebell-blue, amethyst, opal, jade, and sapphire. Storm-grey, misty white. Deep indigo midnight blue, moonlight. Frogs and toadstools, fairy-rings. Swamp-fire glowing eerie, eldritch, witchy green and leading men astray. All things half-glimpsed, not quite seen, and all the things you thought you saw that were never really there at all. Starlight, uncertainty, faltering steps in the darkness… losing the path, then finding it again with bald relief in new unexpected places. Lose your way, she beckons you deeper, deeper into the woods, deeper still… to a secret sacred place down by the river.
A pool in the moonlight, cold and still, a silver-blue mirror reflecting starlight, moonlight, and your fortune there. .. for those who dare to look!
O that mad blueberry violet glint in her eyes, she knows secrets un-numbered, untold, un-named. Innumerable. Her secrets, her mysteries a blue legion, prancing through the owl-struck night on faeries’ wings.
Will ‘o’ the wisp, o wander…lead me on a wild chase til morning, a-hunting over fen and fog…wander through the wood with me. Lead me down that shadow-path, the hie me safely
home!
Reveal your dark secrets, Moon-lady, Divine. Beloved Muse, take me wandering! Call to me, my heart will answer.
Feed me fat upon moonbeams and silver water… make me smile sadly, knowing too much.
Enchant me! Weave your webs to bind me, know I will always escape to tell my tales, to weave webs of my own…
Dark wanderer, I need you! You are part of me already, though you may know it not. Who conjures who? She needs no wand to cast her spells.
Blue pearls and black-eyed girls… will drive you mad for wanting… leaving you all hollowed out and alone, forlorn, o sweetly forsaken one.

I will always cry out in surprise and joy for the light... but my true home is in the shadows.

Molly Childers
March 5, 2008
Durango, Colorado

Snow Days: Myth Versus Reality

2008-02-15T14:55:00.000-08:00

When I was a kid, snow days were a lovely break from the boring grind of the classroom, worksheets and spelling tests and blah blah blah. When they announced school closures on the news, we kids cheered. My mother wept silently, slipping into the bathroom for a Valium or maybe a toke or two on an illicit joint as she envisioned a whole day trapped inside with us. Dad escaped to work and we played outside all day, pegging the neighbor's kids with snowballs and white-washing each other, building snow-forts and igloos and snowmen with ugly wool hats. It was fabulous and fun. Recently, I had a few snow days.... but somethng just wasn't the same- the thrill had gone out of it somehow...
Now, as an adult, I'm here to tell you it ain't all a winter wonderland.
Here's the breakdown of some statistics regarding and related to our recent snowfall and several cold spells over the past month:
Snowfall: About four feet of the white stuff, total, with drifts up to our windowsills in some places, easily seven or eight feet tall.
Vehicle Casualties: One battered Chevy Nova, which finally gave up the ghost during our first big storm. This means that my husband and I are carpooling in my truck, which is a stressful and expensive propostion with gas at a ridiculous $3.08 per gallon in good old Durango. Our other vehicle will not make it up the raw roads of our subdivision during the winter, so it's parked for the season. We even took it off of our insurance policy to save a little cash... which is great, because extra snow means...
Extra Expenses: About $200 in plowing fees to get our driveway plowed out, miscellaneous expenses for emergency items like batteries, propane, and distilled water for our camping stove, candles, etc. in order to survive while camped out in our house with no electricity, water, or telephone for four days. You might also want to budget for a few hundred to repair your bumper, door, etc., after the inevitable collision with a Texan in a Hummer who has no idea how to drive in the snow but insists on talking non-stop on a cell phone while he attempts to navigate the icy roads. Add in the cost of a broken snow shovel, because this will inevitably happen at the worst possible time and you will need to replace it before the next storm. You'll also want to reserve some funds to go out and get drunk during Durango's annual Snowdown, to get your mind off of the fact that this town is going to the dogs and the realtors. And if you injure yourself while shoveling your porch, well, there goes another couple hundred bucks to the chiropractor, acupuncturist, or doc of your choice.
All of these extra expenses are a real bummer, especially since you were snowed in when you were scheduled to be at work, earning your rent on this overpriced cabin in the woods that looked so seductive when you rented it last summer...so on top of the exorbitant plow driver's fees and a huge candle budget, you're making less money than ever...and in Durango, that's bare bones indeed. In a town where I once competed with a PhD candidate for a lousy $12-an hour job with a local non-profit, it hurts to lose even a day of work. Every dollar counts double in the winter time. Add in another two or three hundred bucks because the wood you cut all summer is almost gone and winter is still here, and maybe here to stay for a few more months. That's a heavy financial hit for some of us lower-income mountain folks. (We're the ones who rent a tiny cabin, rather than building a hemmorhoidal trust-funded trophy home on a ridge line. The ones who serve your drinks and take care of your kids and cook your $18 gourmet burgers.) Ouch.
It can be tough to make a living here, to stay here year-round when most of our wealthier neighbors only visit in the summertime.

But then... there are days like today, when I can sleep in and slop around the house, writing all morning and watching the snow pile up. I can drink ten cups of lemon ginger tea to stay warm and wear my favorite fuzzy socks and have a real snow day. Even taking into account all those expenses and headaches, you also have to factor in...
Perfect bluebird skies: infinite
Puffy little clouds that look like unicorns, maple leaves, dragons, and chubby baby elephants: priceless and lovely treasures of the sky.
Hot-tubbing parties under the stars: yay! Sheer joy and sweet debauchery, cake and champagne in the jacuzzi!
Each snowflake: unique and lovely ice-crystals, each one is a poem, the goddess in a fingerprint...
Our winter neighbors: ravens, magpies, deer, all kinds of other birds, other eccentic locals who keep mostly to themselves but will pull your truck out of a ditch if you get stuck. I prefer them to the summer folks who come to ride the train and leave with nothing of this place inside their bones... Those soft-looking Texans in their cowboy hats who wouldn't know what to do with a snow-shovel if they were buried in a snow-drift...they don't belong here. The raven and the deer are here to stay, and so are we.
The sight of a single wing-tip brushing the snow, silent as a sigh. Tracks of a mole in a white winter feel. Scuffled marks of the pounce, the kill, oddly beautiful.
Endless games of gin rummy, Chinese checkers and Mancala, played with my husband while the snow fell down outside.
Sitting in front of the fire.
Snowshoeing trips into the wild and back out again... coming home and coming home and coming home, building a fire and making dinner...and hoping secretly for another snow day tomorrow. The raven and the deer are here to stay... and so are we.

-February 15th, 2008
Durango, Colorado
Another Snow Day

Seeking the Fire

2008-02-12T08:20:00.000-08:00

I am walking the dark road alone. This is a poem, is a prayer, is a seed, is a path made of moonlight. I wait and watch patiently for a sign; a way to know that I am free. I write this in the hopes that you will read it and find the fire that lies banked within your heart. That you will find your passion, find your hope again, and soar. Everything depends upon this; it is no more and no less than your one and holy purpose on this earth; to find the thing that makes you burn and leap into it, dance with it, sear the pain from your soul and leave there only something sanctified.
I will show you a scar where there was no scar...see the raw bloody lips of a wound, slashed with a cold knife. There it is, dripping all over the floor. Crimson flowers blooming. I will make it shine, I will make it sing...and when I'm done, you will never be sure of exactly what it was you saw... You will only know that it was dark and beautiful.
There is a castle in the air, but none may reach it except in dreams. Whirlwind, spin-drift, and lullaby your way there, floating on a cloud. Tell the mermaids and my angels I am waiting. Tell them I am coming home.

-Molly Childers
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Durango, Colorado