Few women are more infamous than the Countess Elizabeth Bathory, a famous noble from the Kingdom of Hungary who lived from the mid-16th century to the early 17th century. Labelled the most […]
An All Hallows’ Eve Tale of Crime and Horror
Suzanne Heagy
Suzanne Heagy is a writer, teacher, and editor. Her first novel, Love Lets Us Down (2015), was recognized as a finalist in the 18th annual Foreword Reviews’ INDIEFAB Book of the Year Awards. Her story, “Eden on a Hill” was a finalist in the 2020 West Virginia Fiction Competition. Her work has appeared in Pleiades, Untamed Ink, Dos Passos Review, Poetry Southeast, and other literary journals. Suzanne has served as fiction editor of Kestrel, the art and literary journal at Fairmont State University, since 2008.
The Wild Side of Every Zodiac Sign
Some zodiac signs are famous for kicking up their heels, while others have more sedate reputations. Virgos, for one, are often regarded as rigid or uptight, but is that stereotype really fair? […]
Pets Are Our Link to Paradise
No matter how sad and fragmented the world seems to be, people still love their pets. We depend on our animals as much as they depend on us for comfort, connection, and […]
The Summer Vacation of My Dreams
I’ve always been a fan of summer vacation. Lazy, hazy days of freedom are my jam. Give me an early sunrise, swimming pools, walking shoes or sandals, outdoor concerts, ice cold tonic […]
Comings and Goings in “Sometimes the Light”: A Book Review
Campbell, Rick, Sometimes the Light. Charlotte, NC: Main Street Rag Publishing Company, 2022. If you’re a fan of travel narratives, I recommend the essays in Sometimes the Light by Rick Campbell, a […]
Literary Anti-heroes: Underground Man and Me
Underground Man might be the most miserable character ever to appear in literature. He’s the kind of character you love to hate and hate to love. He’s a spiteful clown, a thorn […]
Literary Foremothers: Emily Dickinson and Me
So many writers have responded to the poems and person of Emily Dickinson that it seems extravagant, even self-indulgent, to add another word. Adrienne Rich, in her eloquent essay, “Vesuvius at Home: […]
Replacement Silverware and the Chuck Norris Effect
I acquired my all-time favorite silverware inadvertently. I was looking for Christmas gifts in T.J. Maxx and perusing the home wares aisles. This was back in 1995, and I was shopping for […]
How to Have a Merry Family Christmas
Getting together with family for the holidays is something many of us look forward to with mixed emotions. There’s the excitement of knowing you’ll see loved ones, and the reality of ongoing […]
Giving Thanks for the Modern Medical Miracle of DBS
One thing people might not know about Parkinson’s is how difficult it is to diagnose. The early symptoms of Parkinson’s—shakiness, muscle stiffness, impaired balance, and depression—are common to myriad illnesses and begin […]
The Gloria Sirens 