Novelista

True or no, makes for good stories Every now and then, I need to introduce a new “creature” to my fantasy series, The World In-between.  Where do I find them? In the past, I have used European established myths like Griffins ( Hope ) and Frost Giants ( Bow of the Moon ) or I created my own like the Faematask, Night Golems (both in Bow of the Moon ), Fire Walker, and Vindalf (both in Secrets of the Sages ). For this book ( Dreamweaver ), I am tapping into Native American mythologies.  “Native American” and “American Indian” are umbrella terms that encompass the many different cultures of North America.  Unfortunately, much of the histories, mythos, and lore of the peoples of the Americas were destroyed and American archeology is nowhere as extensive as other parts of the world.  With that said, a lot is being preserved and retold within tribal communities and by tribesmen (and tribeswomen) on the internet. Personally, I am interested in learning abo...

The First Thanksgiving has become an American legend, a fairytale of sorts. Pilgrims and Tribesmen gathered around a large table celebrating the fruits of the first harvest. Each brought different foods to share. Yes, it really happened, but the true details have been lost to the ages. Thanksgiving dinner with the Castellano family has all the makings of being legendary. We get a huge turkey from a local farm. Stuffing is made from saved leftover bread. Our cranberry mold has a lightness that dances on your palette. The pumpkin pie harks back to the days before dense, sugary pre-made crust. Of course, there is a pasta course like we have at every big meal. This year, we will blend our pasta with clams and mussels from our New England roots. A colonial style oyster stew will be served in cute covered pumpkin bowls. Brussel sprouts from the garden are sautéed with roasted Italian chestnuts. Our meal will start with a classic Italian-American antipasto salad. We blend our her...