October Is The Perfect Month To Work Hard And Play Harder

Jathan Fink
Jathan welcomes October with open arms.
(Photo by Jathan Fink, Jadeworks Entertainment)

Hi Everyone,

I always feel like autumn never officially starts until October, when the temperatures finally drop and the evenings are cool, pumpkins make their appearance everywhere, including my oven, and apples are ripe for harvesting. But it also means that summer fun is over and it is time to settle into a stricter writing routine. Every writer has his or her own strategy. Some are planners, others like to see where their writing takes them, and then some, like myself, plan a loose outline so they know where the story is headed, yet are open to the possibilities. That’s what has been happening to me lately.  Continue reading “October Is The Perfect Month To Work Hard And Play Harder”

September Starts With A Bug And Other Special Events [VIDEOS]

Jathan Fink
Jathan welcomes September with optimism. (Photo by Jathan Fink, Jadeworks Entertainment)

Hi Everyone,

My September started today with a little help from a bug. My wife and I moved into our new place over the weekend after months of living in hotels, something I don’t mind doing if I have to, but which can quickly get old. Hotel living can also leave you utterly exhausted. Think noisy guests that never sleep, unruly children that think it is fun to body slam connecting walls, and barking dogs that must have spotted a squirrel outside the window. So yes, we weren’t getting really good rest, and we’re still catching up. But back to the bug.  Continue reading “September Starts With A Bug And Other Special Events [VIDEOS]”

Embrace The Things That Make You Happy

A magnet that reads 'I like big mutts and I cannot lie.'
Jathan Fink/Jadeworks Entertainment

What speaks to you? For me, sometimes it is quirky little things like the bumper magnet above. My wife and I recently traveled to Portland, Maine on vacation and I encountered this slogan in Cool As A Moose, a fun little store on Fore Street. Being a big dog lover, it was one of those impulse buys that I just had to snag because it made me laugh. My wife just looked at me as though I had lost my mind because I normally don’t go in for bumper stickers and the like, but this one just made me happy. Continue reading “Embrace The Things That Make You Happy”

Answering cats’ cries for help

The Scratching Post
The Scratching Post is a no-kill shelter that saves cats’ lives. (Photo by Jathan Fink)

CINCINNATI — A small girl watched from across the street as the teenage boys stood in a circle. They laughed as they poked and prodded at something that she could not see. Finally, one of the boys stepped aside and the girl spotted the orange bundle of fur, cowered down close to the ground, mewing. Continue reading “Answering cats’ cries for help”