• Man looking through magnifying glass - TEXT: Cozy mystery writing prompts, Rita Mock-Pike

    Writing Prompts: Cozy Mysteries

    One of my favorite genres is cozy mysteries. They’re great for a low-key read on an airplane or road trip or before turning out the light at night. But writing them can be a little tedious and challenging, because, well, let’s be honest — there are only so many kinds of mysteries to solve.

  • tea cup sitting on table with flowers and a sign reading: Come let us have some tea and talk about happy things - IMAGE TEXT: U.S. Wellness Naturals Rooibos Tea Review - Rita Mock-Pike

    U.S. Wellness Naturals — Loose Leaf Rooibos Tea Review

    When it comes to Rooibos tea, I am exceptionally picky. I have drunk many cups and determined that they were “okay” but not “worthy” of purchasing again. This includes both bagged teas and loose leaf offerings. A couple of years back, I found a rival for my previous favorite Bos Rooibos in the form of my new favorite loose leaf option: U.S. Wellness Naturals Rooibos.

  • I Will Answer yes, prayer essay title card with happily married couple

    I Will Answer Yes

    One evening, readers were challenged to sit back, shut up, and listen. We were led to ask the Lord to speak clearly and listen to Him and trust that what He spoke would encourage and uplift us. As most of us know, keeping back a flood of thoughts in a quiet room can be rather challenging. But I somehow managed to still myself and my own thoughts, and soon found my mind resting in the space quietly.

  • Woman sitting in dentist's chair, mouth wide open, dental tooths in her mouth - TEXT: Dark Humor Flash Fiction, EJ Moran, My Happy Place

    My Happy Place

    As a teenager, my happy place was always Jones Beach, NY. I would arrive early before the toll, just as dawn was breaking. The causeway was empty of other cars, all was quiet on the beach, parking spots were plentiful and you could choose any field you’d like.

  • Hell Town book review

    Hell Town -The Untold Story Of A Serial Killer On Cape Cod: A Book Review

    The most startling portions of Hell Town are true. Let that sink in. I am not easily made nauseous by true crime, but this was brutal. Casey Sherman’s writing style, and description of the events are both brilliant, and nightmare-ish.

Quarterly & Special Issues

  • Poetry Special 2022 cover
  • Introspection issue cover
  • Sleeper of R'Lyeh cover
  • cover image of the MockingOwl Roost, Volume 1, Issue 4: Community
  • giant elephant in forest with a man standing in front of the elephant
🦉 Submissions next open from June 1 to August 31 2024
April 30, 2021
Yellow and red tea pot on yellow background with clear tea cup and tin of Bos rooibos tea
Published by Rita Mock-Pike at April 30, 2021
Categories

Bos Rooibos Tea Review: Like Going Home – Or An Ode to South Africa

When I lifted the lid from the tin, my nostrils instinctively went to the edge and breathed in a sweet, earthy waft. The sachets are sealed into foil packs, but the lingering aroma from their packaging is still there and my heart sang. This is Rooibos, I thought, a smile parting my lips.
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April 9, 2021
Matcha making kit, including matcha jar, matcha bowl, bamboo whisk, scoop, and spoon, and mesh strainer
Published by Rita Mock-Pike at April 9, 2021
Categories

Positivity Corner: My Matcha Ritual

I first heard of Matcha when a friend’s friend from Singapore sent her a bag of the fine, green powder. Amazon was around by now, but things like this weren’t so readily available to Americans – nor did we seem to know to look for it. When I married a man who’s intrigued with all things Japanese, Matcha returned to my awareness, especially when we wound up living across the highway from a Japanese market where Matcha could easily be purchased for a reasonable price.
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2 Read more
March 27, 2021
self-care for chronic illness - candle and tea cup with pillows and soft blankets in an open window
Published by Cyndi Lublink at March 27, 2021
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Self-Care for Chronic Illness

Trust me when I say, we do not wish anyone a moment of what we endure in these bodies. But like most things, you can’t know what this feels like mentally and emotionally, let alone physically, until/unless you walk a day in our chronically ill bodies – forget the shoes.
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9 Read more
March 20, 2021
Postivity Corner - March Into Spring
Published by Cyndi Lublink at March 20, 2021
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Positivity Corner: March Into Spring

I know this last year has been difficult for many staying home, quarantining when necessary. I am an introvert, yet even I am saying, “Where are my people”?! Walking for health – or any other reason – has fallen off almost everyone's radar. Survival is all we've been thinking about – not what makes us healthy and happy.
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4 Read more
February 27, 2021
running shoes and race medal in the grass - race you to the finish, virtual races
Published by Dana Reeves at February 27, 2021
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Race You to the Finish: A Look at Virtual Races

And then, just when everything seemed to be going right in my running world, the bottom somehow imploded on itself. Hello, 2020. Suddenly races and plans and vacations already mapped out came to a screeching halt, along with the part of my life that brought me so much joy. 
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February 26, 2021
book cover Fight Write
Published by Tandy Malinak at February 26, 2021
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The Fight Starts Here: Review of “Fight Write”

Your head has left the story, because the fighting doesn’t jive with reality.  You’ve been left dissatisfied at a pivotal moment, and while you may still go on to enjoy the rest, your subsequent recommendation will forevermore come with a caveat:  “If only...” But what if you are the author?  How do you keep your readers’ heads firmly where they belong – in your story—despite the epic duel that must be fought with weapons you may know nothing about? Enter Fight Write, a recent book by Carla Hoch that dives headfirst into the brawl to save you!
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4 Read more
February 24, 2021
Lightbulb plugging itself into a wall socket - rekindling creativity through healthy lifestyle
Published by Dana Reeves at February 24, 2021
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Rekindling Creativity Through A Healthy Lifestyle

When stress strikes, it affects many things. The weight of the world seems to rest solely on your shoulders while your drive and joy for things you once loved melts into mud, creating this unscientific feeling of “meh.”  So, for those who rely on their creative outlets, whether by trade or hobby, how do you combat the effects of stress when it comes to achieving your creative best? 
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February 21, 2021
Tea set in pink with butterflies - Twinings English Afternoon Tea review
Published by Rita Mock-Pike at February 21, 2021
Categories

For An Elegant Cuppa: Twining’s English Afternoon Tea Review

That first cup told me one important matter had been resolved: this brew is absolutely, one-hundred percent suited to a quiet afternoon cuppa, whether paired with dainty tea sandwiches or a window gazing out on snowy parking lots and dangling icicles.
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4 Read more
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