From the Hollow

April continues to unfold gently—longer days, lighter air, and meals that begin to shift with the season. After the comfort of winter dishes, this is the time of year when I start reaching for recipes that feel a little fresher, a little brighter, and a bit more effortless. These simple chicken salad lettuce wraps are exactly that. Light but satisfying, crisp and creamy all at once, and perfect for those in-between days when you want something nourishing without turning on th

I began writing Eleanor’s Garden during a time when Amazon was piloting a new serial novel platform called Kindle Vella. If you have been following me for awhile, you will be familiar with the time I spent writing there. The platform called for episodic fiction. Other novels that were created during that time were The Witching and The Island . I was experimenting with length of episodes (i.e. chapters) and kept this story short per word count while publishing weekly. This a

March always feels like a month of transition. Winter still lingers in the air, but the light lasts a little longer each evening, and the kitchen starts to lean toward brighter flavors. Lemon and herbs are perfect for this moment—fresh, simple, and just enough to remind us that spring is coming. This week’s recipe (a little late in posting) is a new lucky find. The recipe calls for chicken thighs, but I am not a fan and will always substitute with chicken tenders or chicken b

A Place to Die For  is a psychological suspense novel that blends eerie apartment-building horror with a slow-burning mystery. The story follows Jordan and her fiancé Sam, who move into the historic Glendale co-op in Boston after a devastating personal loss. At first the building feels like a stroke of luck—beautiful, prestigious, and full of old-world charm. But the longer Jordan spends alone in the apartment, the more unsettling things become. The building itself is easily

As the days start to hint at spring, it’s time for something bright, nourishing, and easy on the weeknight hustle. This creamy tomato and spinach chickpea dish is rich, comforting, and packed with flavor, all without the fuss of long cooking. Serve it over rice for a cozy, satisfying meal that’s naturally gluten-free and perfect for meatless nights. This recipe is ideal for busy evenings or for those times you want a little warmth with minimal cleanup. Plus, it pairs beautifu

Each spring, the ancient town of Eleusis, just outside Athens, prepared for a series of ceremonies known as the Lesser Mysteries ( Mikra Mysteria ). Held during the month roughly corresponding to our March, these rites were a precursor to the more famous Greater Mysteries later in the year. While the Lesser Mysteries were less well-known, they were an essential part of the spiritual calendar for initiates of the Eleusinian Mysteries, offering a glimpse into a world of myth, r

Embarking on the path of beginner art collecting can be both exciting and overwhelming. The world of art is vast, filled with diverse styles, mediums, and histories. As someone who has navigated this journey, I understand the importance of starting with a clear mindset and practical knowledge. This post aims to guide you through the essential steps, helping you build a meaningful collection that reflects your taste and values. Understanding Beginner Art Collecting: Where to S

There is something deeply comforting about a meal that roasts slowly while the wind still bites outside. March is that in-between month—winter reluctant to leave, spring not quite brave enough to arrive. This sheet pan sausage, peppers, and potatoes is the kind of rustic, no-fuss dinner that fills the kitchen with warmth and makes the whole house feel alive again. After a quiet February (thank you all for your patience while I recovered ❤️), I wanted to start March with somet

Channelle Desamours’ They Call Her Regret  is a darkly enchanting YA horror novel that blends spine-tingling suspense with the emotional weight of past trauma. The story follows Simone Washington, a high school senior whose love of Halloween parties and horror is both a passion and a coping mechanism for the secrets she hides. When her invitation-only eighteenth birthday bash at Doll’s Head Lake goes horribly wrong with the death of her best friend Kira, Simone is forced to c

If winter in Athens felt long and heavy, the arrival of Anthesteria must have felt like a door flung open. Celebrated in the month of Anthesterion (roughly February–March), Anthesteria was a three-day Athenian festival dedicated to Dionysus, marking the opening of the new wine and, more eerily, the temporary return of the dead. It was joyful, chaotic, sacred, and unsettling all at once. Where Theogamia affirmed cosmic order and lawful union, Anthesteria loosened the knots. It

I went into The Ravine  expecting something sharper—something that leaned harder into the horror it so clearly flirts with. Instead, what I found was a slow-burning psychological suspense novel that hovers right at the edge of darkness without ever quite plunging in. The premise is unsettling: a misty, wooded island; a husband returning to his childhood home; a luminous tradwife influencer neighbor who feels just slightly too polished to be real; and a ravine that may, or may

It’s hard to believe that I was first introduced to the enigmatic Agent Aloysius X. L. Pendergast back in 1995 with the release of Relic. That novel was phenomenal—intelligent, atmospheric, and chilling in all the right ways. I devoured it and subsequently read everything by them while eagerly awaiting the next release. Life, as it tends to do, intervened, and I eventually fell behind. So when I discovered they had written an origin story for one of my all-time favorite liter

Each winter, as the ancient Greek month of Gamelion unfolded, the divine household turned its attention to a marriage that shaped both heaven and earth. This was Theogamia—the sacred wedding of Hera and Zeus, queen and king of the Olympian gods. To modern ears, the idea of gods “celebrating their anniversary” might sound quaint or even ironic, given Zeus’s reputation. But Theogamia was no romantic fairytale. It was a ritual affirmation of cosmic order, social stability, and t

On the modern Gregorian calendar, February 14 is loudly associated with roses, chocolates, and commercialized romance. But long before Valentine cards existed, this date aligned—by coincidence of calendar drift—with Gamelion 26, a day connected in parts of the ancient Greek world with Aphrodite, goddess of love, desire, beauty, and generative power. Rather than grand temple festivals, this observance centered on something quieter and more intimate: libation—the ritual pouring

January ends in contrast. Deep winter roots meet bright citrus. Earth and light sit side by side. This salad leans into that balance—slow-roasted beets, sharp-sweet blood oranges, and a simple dressing that lets both shine. It’s naturally gluten-free, visually striking, and deceptively simple. A reminder that even in the heart of winter, color and freshness still belong on the table. This is a dish for the threshold between months—when the cold remains, but the promise of wha

In the heart of winter, when the land appears dormant and the year feels newly uncertain, the ancient Romans turned their attention not to harvest but to hope. Sementivae, also known as Paganalia, was a rural festival dedicated to the sowing of seeds and the unseen work happening beneath the frozen ground. It was a celebration of beginnings that could not yet be seen. Sementivae was an ancient Roman agricultural festival observed in late January, though the exact date varied

With Seasonal Winter Fruit By late January, something begins to shift. The cold is still present, but the light changes. Days stretch just a little longer. Winter fruit, citrus especially, feels almost luminous against the gray. This is the moment for recipes that lift without rushing, that brighten without breaking the stillness of the season. This gluten-free citrus olive oil cake is exactly that kind of offering. Moist, fragrant, and gently sweet, it leans on olive oil ins

Dead Fake  by Vincent Ralph introduces readers to Bleak Haven—a town with secrets, shadows, and a disturbing relationship with technology. When a mysterious website allows students at Bleak Haven High to view AI-generated “deepfake” videos of their own deaths, it initially feels like just another morbid online trend. That illusion shatters when those fabricated deaths begin to play out in real life. The story follows Ava Wilson, who refuses to participate in the craze. As the

Night Terror  is the second installment in Vincent Ralph’s Bleak Haven series, though chronologically it takes place before Dead Fake . Set in 1987, the novel dives headfirst into the town’s dark past and offers readers a deeper look at the horrors that shaped Bleak Haven long before modern technology entered the picture. The story centers on 17-year-old Noah, a survivor of the town’s most devastating tragedy to date. He works at a bookstore in the local mall—until a robbery

Inspired by Roman New Year Offerings The New Year did not always begin with noise. In ancient Rome, the turning of the year was marked with honey cakes—simple offerings meant to invite sweetness, prosperity, and favor in the months ahead. Honey was believed to soften the path forward, to encourage gentle words, good fortune, and stability. This recipe is inspired by those traditions, adapted for modern kitchens and gluten-free needs. It’s less about indulgence and more about