Hello. This is Barbara.

This time of year, it isn’t uncommon for us to get a little introspective. Thanksgiving is upon us, but more than that, nature is urging us once again to look inside ourselves, take stock of what we’ve accomplished, and put things away that are not longer working.

In this reflection, we are reminded of the experiences that have influenced us and helped us become who we are.

It was with this in mind that I posted a list of three books on Pilgrim Fowl Press for which I am incredibly thankful.

If you would like to read it, you can click here.

Breathe, America. You did good.

Happy Election Week, dear friends.

Today, I’m choosing to not be stressed about the election anymore.

3 days until Election Day! Make a plan – vote – eat a cookie. Simple as that. #govote #govotetn

Pilgrim Fowl Press is releasing the first-ever volume of holiday-themed short stories tomorrow. This collection highlights Halloween with a trio of tales that will spook you to your core.

Annette Williams McCann stepped away from the children’s story genre to give you a tale of dating gone wrong, in XX, Leona. Inspired by the Celtic sluagh (pronounced SLOO-AH) and online dating, this story might have you thinking twice before going on that blind date. The sluagh are evil spirits who collect souls. They often travel by shadows or flocks of ravens. In my story, they team up with another Celtic evil doer, the leannan sidhe, Leona. Leona is an evil muse who preys on creative types. She can magically provide inspiration, but at what cost?

B.A. Burgess shows us that you should always be careful what you wish for in Robocall. We all hate those automated annoyances. But what if you got one that let you make your wildest dreams come true?

Tony Gruenwald’s story follows the characters from his book that released with Pilgrim Fowl Press earlier this year. Tony and the kids have to face off against child-craving hags with magical powers in The Sister Sigil. As with most evil witchy types, they don’t know what they’re in for, especially when you mess with an aspiring sidewalk chalk artist.

(description copy written by Annette Williams McCann)

Four-in-ten Americans who were eligible to vote did not do so in 2016 according to Pew Research Center. None of these people thought their vote was going to make or break the election. We learned the absence of their vote could bring democracy to its knees.

An examination of the 2016 electorate, based on validated voters

The presidential candidates and their vice presidential candidates share political ideals.

If you are unsatisfied with the presidential candidates because they are too old, too white, too rich, too whatever, then use the VPs as a compass.

Listen to their comments on the state of our current affairs. Listen closely to their answers when they are asked questions about issues that are important to you and your neighbors.

Not voting simply means your voice won’t be heard and you will not be counted. Find a compass and vote.

You certainly have the right to not vote, but withholding YOUR vote doesn’t change OUR candidates. It just tells them and your local delegates that you can’t be bothered to vote.

Your vote is always your own, but maybe it is also for those who can’t yet vote like your neighbors or family members.

Maybe, your vote can be bigger than you this time.

I know that my vote felt bigger than me these last few elections, and it feels that way this time too.

You are in charge of you, so do what you think is right for you. Just as I have considered not voting in the past, I hope you consider voting.

Vote your pants on!

Yep. Put on your pants.

I know it’s a pandemic, but let’s put on our pants and vote.

Unrelated – There is one thing you should know about me when it comes to comics: Image and Boom! reign supreme on my Comixology app and in my heart.

Tony sent over a small collect of comics to me via the Comixology app while I waited for my COVID-19 tests (I took two) to come back (negative and negative – I’m a witch).

The collection included Bingo Love – Image publishing, Joe the Barbarian – Vertigo publishing, and We Only Find Them When They’re Dead – Boom! publishing.

The books were in alphabetical order when downloaded, so I started with Bingo Love without reading anything about it. I had no idea what I was reading, but by the cover it looked like a lighthearted love story with a sweet color palette.

Minutes later, I’m crying into my pillow and unable to move on with my life! I woke up this morning, and immediately berated Tony via text for being a terrible (by “terrible” I mean “absolutely wonderful”) friend and comic book nerd.

READ. THIS. COMIC.

How often to do you read anything, comic or novel, two senior women’s love story with one another? You don’t! READ THIS. READ THIS RIGHT NOW.

Seriously, though – The story is wonderfully moving. The characters are so real you almost know them somehow. The writing is on point, and the artwork is lovely.

Be ready to cry, but in a good way… Not in an oh-my-god-why-am-i-watching-cnn-again kind of way, but in a my-heart-is-full-of-all-the-feels-i-need-a-cupcake-and-a-nap kind of way.