A time to pull up
Muriel writes about her garden harvest which did not make it this year due to other commitments.
On the Subject of Bees
Muriel writes about an older artwork, “Queen Bee” and the subject matter of bees, which has been rekindled this summer for future grid series.
Visit To Monet’s Garden
Muriel blogs about what she learned when visiting Monet’s garden recently.
Editing Song of Jaybird
Muriel shares her editing process writing her historical fiction novel, Song of Jaybird, over the past three and half years. The contributions she has gained from others, has been encouraged to accept her imperfections.
Victorine’s Point of View
Muriel describes her response to Victorine Meruent’s point of view in Maureen Gibbons novel Paris Red. Victorine was a professional model for Manet’s painting Olympia.
To Read or Not to read
Have you ever come across a book you were too afraid to read? Muriel shares her reluctance to read See How Small and what she realized when she did.
Another New Read
Muriel recommends a new book, The Vanishing Half, by author Brit Bennett and shares how she discovered this book.
Have you discovered a new-to-you author?
Muriel shares a new-to-her historical fiction author, Hazel Gaynor in a summer reading blog and invites you to share your comments. Have you read a new-to-you author this summer?
Favorite Childhood Book
Muriel shares her favorite childhood book which impacted her life. Read how she rediscovered Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski.
Is Creativity Genetic?
Muriel invites you to share your thoughts asking the question is creativity in our genes relating to her family genetics.
Part 2: What do you do
Muriel shares her creative process in part with using internet and computer to help her find ways to improve and grow as an artist and writer including trials and tribulations.
Part 1: “What do you do?”
Muriel answers the question, what do you do? Sharing her answer of what has helped to define life as an artist with clarification from Darci Gill’s blog and quoting Rollo May.
Influence of Zora Neale Hurston
Muriel shares how the work of Zora Neale Hurston influenced and shaped her understanding of life within a turpentine camp while writing her historical fiction Song of Jaybird.
The WHY of Song of Jaybird
Muriel writes her “Why” of Song of Jaybird, a historical fiction set in Etna turpentine camp during the turn of the century. Her research began with archival newspapers searching for information learning more about the lives of Black laborers working under debt peonage.
The When of Song of Jaybird
Muriel answers The When of Song of Jaybird as her blog discusses specifics for Herty Cups, Samuel M Clyatt’s peonage case, resin harvesting, phosphate mining and Vagrancy Laws in the early Twentieth century.
The Where for Song of Jaybird
Muriel’s blog answering Where for her southern historical fiction Song of Jaybird. Where was Etna turpentine camp?
The What of Song of Jaybird
The what of Song of Jaybird explains vocabulary words shanti, debt peonage, TOA, resin and rosin, and catface.
The five W’s: Who, What, Where, When, and Why will be answered in my following five blogs introducing Song of Jaybird.
The five W’s: Who, What, Where, When, and Why answered in five blogs introducing Song of Jaybird.
