In my book, Wandering Time, Zoe believes that travel to alternate realities or parallel universes happens by magic, her mother, with her psychology background, thinks it’s a shared delusion because Granny Rae has Alzheimer’s disease. But Granny Rae looks for an explanation in modern physics theories about parallel universes. This is a concept which has … More Parallel universes?

When I started writing, I had the idea that it was correct to use two spaces after a period. However, after submitting my first manuscript for editorial advice, I learned that one space is preferred. I just saw this interesting blog on Slate, called Space Invaders. It discusses the issue with lots of links, including … More Two spaces after a period?

As someone who has spent most of my working life in the field of health care for women (primarily as a midwife) I was upset to learn of this recent study. It found that 99% of pregnant women in the U.S. test positive for multiple chemicals, including some that are now banned and known to … More Health issues

A four week series for adults (Saturday mornings) called Connect with Nature sponsored by the Natural History Museum of Santa Cruz begins January 29. It sounds fascinating and I intend to go to at least three of the events. Take a look at the web site. And if you haven’t seen the Bones exhibit, don’t … More Connect with Nature

Greg Archer, an editor for the Santa Cruz Good Times recently published a book about food, Shut Up, Skinny Bitches. In an interview in today’s Good Times he has some advice for writers who are trying to get published: If you are writing fiction, believe in your story. If you have a great story to … More Surviving rejections

This is for Louise, who asked me to blog about new treatments for migraine, involving injections, and for any of you who also suffer from migraine headaches. One recently approved treatment uses injections of Botox, the botulinum toxin used to remove facial wrinkles. It’s a poison which paralyzes muscles and has been approved by the … More New Migraine Treatments

One of the winter attractions in Santa Cruz is the eucalyptus grove at Natural Bridges State Park, where Monarch butterflies overwinter. This past week I took out-of-town visitors to see the Monarchs. We were lucky in that it was a rare (for this winter) sunny day, and the butterflies were active and flying. However, there … More Monarch butterflies at Natural Bridges

Whether you light the menorah, celebrate the solstice, or hang up a stocking and sing carols by the lighted tree (we do all three) or celebrate some other winter holiday, I wish you blessings in this dark time of the year. There are many traditions, but it seems almost everyone has some way of bringing … More Winter Holidays

Speaking of the Natural History Museum, I just got word of an adult learning series that will take place on four Saturdays in January and February. It sounds great! Take a look.

I want to put in a plug for the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History , for those of you in Santa Cruz or visiting here. It’s a tiny museum, but amazingly full. The current exhibit is called: Bones:An Inside Look at Nature. It shows how bones are adapted for the various ways of life … More Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History