🦉 Submissions open for Issue 3, Volume 1: Unknown & Unseen. Submissions close Dec 31, 2022.
January 1, 2022

In the Mediterranean at Midnight

Closing her eyes, Makenzie soaked it all in. These moments, this was what dreams were made of: moonlight walks along the ocean, a gorgeous man with an accent that made her go weak in the knees, a romantic backdrop that belonged in some cheesy romance novel… It was enough to make her giggle. Or maybe it was the wine.
December 31, 2021

Vacation to the Dragons of Io: Part II

Freefall. Icy, enervating, lacerating winds flipped her far away from Clarence. She fell forever, screaming, dying, and then straps dug into her diaphragm, squeezing what breath remained from her lungs. She drew a breath in barely and then another. Jupiter and Io had stopped swapping places. She looked up and saw her parachute had opened.
December 31, 2021

One Year of Roosting: A Look Back on the First Year of the MockingOwl Roost

For me, being a part of MockingOwl Roost is part of a more significant thing that needed to be done within me, raising from the dead my ability to write.
December 30, 2021

Book Review: The City of Dr Moreau

The author tossed well-crafted twists that awakened me from complacency for the characters and set them to spinning out of control, recapturing my vigilance.
December 27, 2021

Tea Review: A Lovely Cuppa Cake

Even with a bit of a cold/flu for most of the month of November, I enjoyed the aroma of the tea as much as the taste. The delectable tea is soft yet cake-y in ways I wouldn’t have thought possible in a green rooibos, gluten-free cake-flavored tea.
December 25, 2021

Christmas Traditions

I grew up in the ’60s.I believed in Santa Claus.We had a real tree every year with tinsel – real tinsel. And putting it up was a family affair. A tradition that continued into adulthood, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
December 25, 2021

Christmas Waltz

Tonight is the night for mystery, and joy I wander alone to the cove of pine trees Bedecked in white sparkling gossamer...
December 24, 2021

Vacation to the Dragons of Io: Part I

Her brother was grinning. Despite her intention to remain jaded, Julia’s rebel breath caught. Here she’d thought their views would be restricted to the portholes pocking the side of the shuttle, but there was far more now to see; not only the vast expanse of stars glinting like diamonds by the thousands but the rim of massive Jupiter. And Io: terraformed.
December 24, 2021

Positivity Corner: Asking Questions Christmas Edition

Sometimes asking questions leads to a Christmas miracle.
December 22, 2021

The Best Platforms for Podcasts

“In November of 2021 the leading platform for podcasts was Spotify. They beat out Apple Podcasts, which was second place.”
December 22, 2021

Running Into Holiday Tradition: Jingle Bell Runs

Jingle bells sound off in one accord. Bright, flashing lights on hats and necklaces fill up the night with the feeling that Santa is waiting right around the corner.
December 20, 2021

Book Review: Claus The Legend of the Fat Man

The legend evolves, like the swirling snow of the Pole, telling a wonderful story of intrigue, loyalty and love. Brilliantly crafted, it drew from the many stories of Santa, weaving science and politics into the mix.
December 18, 2021

Breath Mark

All possibility fills the void as music washes over, Pauses, Breathes...
December 11, 2021

Cormorant

For a time, it seemed the silence was forged in fog, compressing the tides as if a block of wax was warmed and spread out to the horizon.
December 8, 2021

Writing Tip: Create Character Bios

Writing a character biography can be one of the most helpful things to do when writing a book. In fact, those character bios about your primary and secondary characters may very well be the best tool for creating the perfect twists and turns for your plot to keep your readers engag
December 4, 2021

Patient Grasshopper

I notice him perched on my windshield as I drive the boys home from school: His legs like violin bows folded, black drupelet eyes alert, antennae erect. Perfect posture, perfect tranquility.
December 2, 2021

The Land is My Muse: Interview with Author Emily MacKenzie

“I personally adore almost anything fantasy or science fiction, and have a hard time sticking with a book that has no magic unless it’s an alternate world or universe. I think stories with a romantic plot, and even sub-plot, are drastically overdone and cliché, and eagerly search for books that focus less on the fictional idealised notions of love.”
November 30, 2021

NaNoWriMo Day 30: Winning NaNoWriMo

You've done it. You've pushed and pushed, writing thousands of words each week, making it to this day - November 30, 2021. You've written like mad, and today, as you enter that last update, you'll taste that sweet victory of winning NaNoWriMo.
November 29, 2021

NaNoWriMo Day 29: Using Landscape for Inspiration

Whether you're into city living, country living, or that in-between suburbanite, landscape is a huge part of writing. Not only is it critical for helping our readers establish physical aspects of our writing universes, but the landscape can be an inspiration for storytelling.
November 28, 2021

NaNoWriMo Day 28: What Do You Do When You Miss Those Writing Goals?

Last year, I won NaNoWriMo in just a few short days. I met my goal of 50,000 words in less than a week. This year, although I've already won by the time this piece has been published, I've had several days in which I did not meet my writing goals. It's frustrating to miss goals, especially on some special days (like my birthday), but what can you do?