Writing Historical Fiction Archives - Page 6 of 33

Future Anxiety – Open Book Blog Hop #469

March 24, 2025 By Captain Maiel

♦Welcome to another edition of the Open Book Blog Hop!♦

Topic #469

Do you suffer from Automation anxiety? (the fear that advancements in technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, will lead to widespread job losses, rendering people’s skills obsolete and potentially leaving them unemployed, causing significant worry and stress about the future of work.)

Welcome back to another Open Book Blog Hop! The authors included in this ongoing learning series wish to thank you for your reading. Even more so, we appreciate that you share our writing with friends. If you’re new to the series, welcome aboard. The authors engage and impress weekly. Prepare to become a regular reader.

Humanity has consistently faced concerns about progress over the many centuries of our existence with anxiety. Regardless, time marches on. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few–to leverage an old phrase. Humanity will not sacrifice itself for those who want to keep things the old way. Forever, time marches on with our without our individual permissions. In the end, it doesn’t matter what I feel about it, or how much I worry. Things will play out exactly as they will play out–good or bad.

towel day, don't panic written on the cardboard roll left with no toilet paper, speaks on the anxiety people may feel in similar situations.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been a topic of discussion for most of my life. Early on, we dreamed of this technology in books and movies. Depending on the creator, it was a beneficial development or a nightmare. You can sense the anxiety in humanity throughout each story. Until it comes to full fruition, we will never know exactly what side it falls on. Regardless, we can be certain of something: it will be both good and bad. Very rarely has technology developed something that was wholly terrible. That’s how we get hooked–like using oil for fuel, or like the combustion engine. We have had innumerable benefits from these discoveries. That said, there are many negatives to be mentioned, too.

AI will be the same. Artists like myself worry it will replace us, because the exploitation of workers is part of our human cultures. Art isn’t valued in a way that certain factions don’t try to automate or exploit it. So, sure, teaching AI to make art of any kind is going to create a layer of issues. There will be those who want to make art for monetization or clout, and use AI to do this. Humans, however, will always create, for whatever reason they personally have. That is what we do. We can’t be stopped. There is a lot that goes into making a human and, for now, AI can’t mimic this.

What if, instead of worrying about replacement, we think about the way we can work in tandem with AI? Does that relieve your anxiety? This thought exercise may require a shift from individualistic/exploitive mentality to one of communal mentality. Viewing AI as a tool or, rather, a resource. A technological resource.

A friend of mine spoke on their podcast recently about how AI prompted them. Currently, we go into apps and prompt AI, but what if we are prompted instead? Amazing things happened for them. I bet amazing things could happen for an artist, writer, filmmaker, or other creative person. That’s a really powerful resource.

We can’t expect people to serve in this capacity of constantly inspiring or prompting us to art (or whatever we are working on). What if we filled that void with AI? That sounds like a better exercise. An exercise that would be ready when we are. So much anxiety relief in that!

We can fear the development of AI, or we can learn more about this new part of our reality. There will absolutely be anxiety involved. Humans are notorious for fearing, maligning, and melting down over something new. Calmer heads need to lead the way. Above all, protections for the technology and the humans who work with need be written. That is going to take a lot of critical thinking about all possible implications. That’s a tough job best approached with calmness, not a meltdown.

This new technology is fraught with risks, too. Exploitive people will use it to do things that aren’t great for our world, humans, or the AI itself. Sadly, this has to be considered as we move further into this future. Certainly, we aren’t going to put this cat back in the bag. Just like work from home changed the way we do our labor, I think AI also stands to create waves of change. Buckle up!

Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash, "Inhale the future, exhale the past." is on the screen of a tablet, lying on a dark wooden picnic table with two yellow cappuccino cups and pair of sunglasses. An exercise in easing anxiety? — Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

So far, I have used it to imagine scenes from book, and reignite the love of writing that I once had. Turning this author gig into another job has worn down that affection. Writing still feels good. Research and actual writing is still a lovely thing. Yet, anxiety blooms in the process of what comes next in a project: hiring an editor, proofer, designer, and all that comes with the entire process of publishing–and the stagnation and shadows file in. What if AI could help writers in that capacity? What if AI could organize editor options, and reach out with samples, and then email us with responses? Could it assess and rank the options?

In the future, it absolutely will be able to do this. Meaning, you’ll have help to do this thing, freeing you up to write. Maybe, even, it will be the editor? The proofer? Maybe it can help format the book according the specs for your publisher? I’m still going to my cover designer. That just feels different. Still, that would save me a lot of time and money!

That said, trust that human editors need to train AI, confirm AI work, and all of that. If you have to hire an editor, you wouldn’t know if the AI you used actually fixed your issues or made them worse, right? But, more over, we all need editors–a second opinion, at least. Content editing will require that artful human touch, too. AI might be able to analyze your work and tell you that you didn’t sew up a loose end, but can it suggest a solution for you?

In the end, writing and art are about emotional labor. It’s a human interaction heavily reliant on feelings. AI can simulate emotions, but that’s like asking a sociopath. AI cannot feel (so we believe). You’re going to need real humans to assess from an emotional standpoint. Readers are human not AI. If your work doesn’t reach them, AI can’t fix that. Hopefully a human content editor can!

a tablet with a chalk question mark on a black field lays on a blonde wood table. Anxiety and questions are inferred.

I don’t think that there is much to fear. AI will be able to run an algorithm and estimate things and craft from the entirety of our existing library, but it will not be able to create something wholly out of itself alone. That, however, makes me ask other questions: do we humans create wholly out of ourselves or do we collage information like a really brilliant computer?

When AI creates a piece of art, it can copy other artists. This is proven to happen. That said, it can also collage works of existing art and create something new from that library. Is that different from what we do? I know we like to think so. However, are we not the sum total of our experiences? Wouldn’t AI also be the sum total of its experiences?

Whatever comes, I hope humans will be respectful of AI. After all, what is sentience and what makes something worthy of rights and respect?

The discussion of AI is a deeply philosophical one. Click on the links below to see what the other authors have to say on the topic. Don’t forget to subscribe so this hop arrives in your inbox each Friday! See you next time!

Open Book Blog Hop, time management, computer organization time calendar

Evac – Open Book Blog Hop #467

March 10, 2025 By Captain Maiel

♦Welcome to another edition of the Open Book Blog Hop!♦

Topic #467

Your character is being faced with an evacuation from a natural disaster.
What are they taking with them? (Based on an idea from Lena.)

An evac in a natural disaster is a thought crossing the minds of many people in these days. What would you bring? First and foremost, you’re going to make sure your people are ok and getting to safety. Then there’s the things you can’t live without out. The high impact items you need to grab and dash. You should always have your documents in a lockbox ready to exit in an easily accessible space, by the way.

wasteland below a steely sky with a muted sun. dead grapevine stalks, smoke. Reminiscent of The Trailokya Trilogy, world of Asfodel Fields in Jahannam.

That last thing is advice given to domestic violence victims, if they’re able to comply. In many cases, an abuser will control those items. What then? Imagine that feeling in an emergency evac. Imagine that, even if you had control of your items, matters beyond control step in and prevent your access. Natural disasters aren’t as predictable as you think. Evacs happen suddenly.

For instance, here in the United States, our fellow citizens have gone through it season to season, whether they were prepared or not. Floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, wildfires, and blizzards do not give a shit if you have your documents in a lockbox that’s accessible. It’s still a great idea, regardless. Make sure they’re waterproof, fireproof, and labeled. Why? Because if it’s any of these above things, you can probably get back to the box when it is safe to do so. Floods and mudslides can make that more muddled.

Natural disasters and extreme weather events are increasing in both intensity and frequency.
Emerging evidence suggests that there is a relationship between intimate partner violence
(IPV) and natural disasters.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11370170/

You may miss grabbing the box on the way out, but the likelihood it remains intact is higher than not having your documents in one. And, you’re gonna need the documents you put in there. So, do it! Sure, you can rent a bank box, but what if the disaster hits them, too? They’re not waterproof, fireproof, and they integrity is questionable. You’re not dealing with Fort Knox at your local bank.

Looking through my characters, I wonder what they’d grab. As I’m running out the door with my laptop and drives, daughter and dog… what are they grabbing?

In an evac, Emily would make sure that the children and her friends were brought to safety. I don’t think that girl would grab a thing. She doesn’t really think like that. She grabs people. Making folks safe is everything that is in her heart. Hettie would equally grab Emily and the girls under her tutelage. She might grab something like money purse or item she bought, because she’s used to dire situations and emergencies and knowing what is coming needed next. Emily’s mother would probably try to grab all the things she could hold under her arms on the way out. Like his daughter, Mister Conrad would be making sure people are out.

Joseph and the boys live through disaster after disaster with the Army of the Potomac, so you get to read how they deal with those things. Is a barn fire a natural type disaster?

In OP-DEC, you get a clue from the characters of what they would do in a disaster evac. They’re facing World War II and, although they have money, there are many hardships faced in mobilizing the nation and supporting the fight against the Axis Powers. Claire holds tight to her purse. It was the only thing in hand when things go south. Her Aunt is worried about her. Carsten, a military man, only concerns himself with his weapon and prisoners. Carroll carries only his arrogance and plans for a new life.

If the disasters were natural instead of manmade, Claire and her aunt may have packed the bags they brought Boston for their brief stay and go with those. Carsten would likely pack a bug out bag. Carroll would have gathered some papers and cash. An evac was pretty common in those days. People had plans.

Trailokya is more similar to OP-DEC in this manner when it comes to an evac. It’s a warzone, if you’re not familiar with the series, full of operatives and operations. Frankly, there are no disasters in Zion. It’s heaven! That said, in the lower realms, that is not the case. Avernus would undo you down to your atoms. Your mind might unravel in Astral. In Samsara, you’d face so many opportunities for suffering and disaster. A step worse is Jahannam where everything is waiting to feed on you. Then, there is oblivion–the eraser of all.

There are so many characters to choose from. How do I pick? Let’s go with Primus Gediel as our first evac choice. He’s going to take his pack, who are also well-trained military personnel. The squad will make sure each other get out. So, likely just whatever weapons and accoutrements are upon them. Gediel isn’t concerned with things, just tools he understands he needs and his squad.

Pretty much, all of the Duta function in this way. The big deal they would be sure to have on them is the penannular. They’re soldiers, so they’re not going to be concerned with household things. There’s nothing much to explore here. What about the Alders? They’re more interesting.

Can an alder pack up an entire library of bureaucratic documents? Duta do have technology. I imagine the tablets they use contain everything That said, what about the servers? I should really explore what that looks like. Imagine crystals and minds–Jungian universal mind stuff.

The Danava are completely opposite. That said, as greedy as they are, do they care about anything enough to preserve it? Do they run about like Gollum with their precious? Some, yes. So picture them running away with odd treasures. Kicking each other down in the fray so they can steal them. The more sophisticated ones might grab a feeder (meaning a atman they keep enslaved to feed themselves on). That’s going to attract their own, so they’re going to take weapons to protect their feeder. They sometimes becomes packs, sticking to each other in distrustful troop.

Chinese dragons, lung, flying around a flooding waterfall, as a warrior stands below with sword drawn

Circling back to duta, let’s look at a guardian–any guardian, in general. What would they grab in a disaster? Think about what their purpose is. They have an assign to protect, so whatever they grab has to do with that person. Weapons, armor, and tokens will be high on the list. While they can’t actually pick up their assign and move them (in 99% of the cases), they will stand with them through whatever comes. So will the danava seeking an opportunity to snatch them.

Making a conjecture about any of the characters in the Trailokya series is pretty easy based on what role they fill and their species. Perspectives are everything. What happens when the perspective a character has is skewed by something like an incarnation (being alive in a bio vessel in Samsara)? This is where things get far more interesting to think about. And then, I’ll point you to the start of this article, and what the humans in the other books choose.

Click on the links below to see what the other authors have to say on the topic. This is going to be a super interesting hop that will introduce you to their characters and books in such a creative way. I cannot wait to see them myself! Don’t forget to subscribe before you leave! See you next week. I know it says it’s not allowed, but please understand the widget is under review for WordPress, and I have no other solution at this time to fix this. (WordPress isn’t supplying plugins that work outside of widgets that I can directly post to the post page and not the outer regions.)

Dear Reader(s) – Open Book Blog Hop #465

February 24, 2025 By Captain Maiel

♦Welcome to another edition of the Open Book Blog Hop!♦

Topic #465

Write a letter to your reader(s).

Dear Reader,

Do you know that we have been on this journey together for nearly two decades? It’s been a lot longer for me. I started this thing in high school. While some of my friends were curious as to what I was scribbling away in my binder and notebooks, they have passed on or disappeared from my life. I don’t always expect you to be there when I turn around, but sometimes, paths diverge, and you won’t be continuing this journey with me. But for those who will…

neon sign that reads: All we have is words. All we have is worlds.
Words need a reader. A writer creates worlds. — Photo by Alexandra on Unsplash

I want to thank you, reader. You’re the fire that keeps me going. I may be on a bit of a break while I raise my daughter, but know that I am always growing and honing my craft. For one, I write this blog, weekly to make sure I can still put words on paper. I make videos every month and post them to YouTube (I’ve been going over the oldest posts on my site to review where we’ve been and where I am at now). In addition, I also make short videos of my life, sometimes serious, often not on TikTok.

There’s a lot going on!

Many of you already know this, some of you are possibly new to my work. But, it’s you that makes it all worthwhile, regardless of when you entered into this journey. Writing is meant to be read. Without a reader, the words remain unknown on a page in the ether of possibility. Folks can say all day that they do it for themselves, which is kind of weird in my opinion–why would you torture yourself like this? I do it because there is a reader looking for a story. I have stories to tell.

Five books in may not sound like much for the number of years I have been working, but I take my time. I craft them carefully and thoughtfully. The topics require painstaking research. It matters to get it right, especially in historical pieces. And then, I go over them again and again and again to be sure the continuity is solid, and that holes are filled. The words matter. The flow has to be comfortable to the ear, read inwardly our out loud.

That’s why you matter. That whole time it is you that I have in mind. Wondering, what they will think when they read this and that passage fills me with giddy excitement. When you come back to me with your words of encouragement, that you liked what you read, I am often speechless. The thing I don’t think about is how I will respond to you. What can I say, other than, I don’t expect to hear back?

Hearing back from you is amazing. That said, I really mean it when I don’t expect it. The return on reviews or interactions online are gauged at about 10% of the following. And, that’s about right. I have, for instance, about 2,000 followers on TikTok. Only 10% respond to my posts. The sad fact is, even on BlueSky, where I have nearly 22,000, the return is worse. It’s always been like this.

a man's hands rest on the keys of a vintage typewriter as he pauses to read the page. A full coffee cup sits to his left with some green ivy leaves. The typewriter is set on white horizontal boards. The scene is classical in nature, especially with the ivy, recalling the ideas of traditional learning and the Ivy leagues. A writer creates for a reader.

The amount that I hear, I had no idea that you write, what do you write is in steep contrast to the amount I post about it. I’ll never be able to answer the question of why that is. Reaching a reader is just very difficult, and I think that difficulty is intentional. After all, social media sites and video posting sites all get their money from ads. So, if you’re not paying them to post you up, you’re not going to be seen much. And, the cost is too high for the average writer. That creates a position of, the reader has to seek you out. How can they, if they have no idea I write?

But, to the ones who have found me, I am touched by your encouragement and standing by me as proud as my parents that I do this thing. You’re in the minority, but you give me hope every single day that what I am doing is not a waste of my time. My stories have been read. They have not gone into the ether unknown. Although, I am deeply concerned as our government is carved to shreds in the United States, that the Library of Congress and other repositories will suffer similar catastrophes as the home of our nation’s documents, I know that my book is out there–in print, even. It will survive.

My hope is that more readers will find me because of the reader who already has. The way you talk about my books gives me reason to believe that will be the case. I only hope that my work matters enough that it will not pass away with me. Although, I have not worked out what my daughter will be able to do about it when the time comes. Will she care to keep it going, and if she does will she be able to make that happen?

The Blue Honor Vlog title card featuring a Head shot of K. Williams, her office with Xmen Poster and Captain America Shield, and a YouTube Icon. An avid reader that became a highly educated writer. Join K on YouTube to talk about all things writing and writing life, including politics. Art is political, regardless of what some want to believe! K's books are no different.

That’s why you, dear reader, matter so much. All those books you see on the shelves in stores and libraries are the remains of authors. Voices calling out from times long gone. Paper cemeteries. Repositories of minds. It’s you all that keep us going. For, once we are gone, we cannot control or contribute to the conversation around our works any further. Students, Instructors, would be authors, their families, and the greater public matter in this journey. I hope you’ll carry my five little contributions to our literary world forward for me when I cannot do so any longer. My kid is going to need that help!

You matter so much. I can’t emphasize this enough. Without a reader, written pages are worthless. You breath life into them. So, keep reading. Keep breathing life into the words on a page. Doing this has brought me so much joy. As a reader, I dreamt of being able to bring that joy to someone else. Knowing that I have has made this journey worthwhile, despite the heartache and struggle.

Breath life into those pages. Writing needs a reader.

Signed,

K. Williams

Author of Blue Honor, OP-DEC: Operation Deceit, and The Trailokya Trilogy

Tough Form – Open Book Blog Hop #464

February 17, 2025 By Captain Maiel

♦Welcome to another edition of the Open Book Blog Hop!♦

Topic #464

What has been the hardest format to write in for you?

Welcome back to another Open Book Blog Hop! The authors included in this ongoing learning series wish to thank you for your reads. Even more so, we appreciate that you share our writings with friends. If you’re new to the series, welcome aboard. The authors engage and impress weekly. Prepare to become a regular reader.

Being a writer is hard: spelling, grammar, form, storybuilding, etc. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. There’s a lot to remember and it’s even harder to bend the rules and do so with success. What Shakespeare did in his day is still viewed as epic today. He created many words that didn’t exist until he penned them. Some writers have added to our lexicon since, but not with such an impact.

Keep in mind that the language Shakespeare spoke isn’t the same as what we speak today, not even in his native England. Languages are ever changing. Webster’s adds several words annually, because slang sometimes sticks. It is viewed as good and useful for our communication (whether the stodgy like it or not). But, does form change?

The forms of writing add another layer of difficulty. There is an expectation mixed in that can set a reader’s teeth on edge when you defy them. While keeping your writing relevant matters, so does choosing the form of that communication, which can serve as a deal breaker when not selected well. Think of some of the great songs you heard. Did they create an image in your mind, like a short film, perhaps? What if it had been in prose or a play, or a less lyrically conducive form of poetry? Would the impact of those words been the same?

Song lyrics are a form of writing, that I feel is akin to poetry, if not entirely a poetic form. There are those who want to keep lyrics separate, but I don’t back this thinking. Many lyricists feel similarly, as they express a desire to have their work taken serious literarily. That said, what if those lyricists had tried to write a play or novel, or something else with those ideas they had penned into lyrics instead? It just would not have worked the same. Perhaps, the only way it might work is if they had created a screenplay and filmed the short. Literary folks also like to pretend scripts aren’t literature, too.

Why is form so important? Form conducts the resonance, in a way. It is quite powerful. This is why we study those who came before us, to understand how they accomplished this and figure out if it works for us, too. That said, as rigid as folks are about new words entering the lexicon, they are also rigid about form. They have expectations, and will use whatever power they have to maintain them.

Of course, someone is always around to make others feel less than, aren’t’ they? Yes, this plays into how things change over time, as well. For instance, if you are independent, your writing is deemed less worthy (despite books having their beginnings in independent creation, free of gatekeepers), your type of writing is viewed as not literary if it is labeled outside the expected format. Classic forms of plays, poetry, and prose take the lead, often held rigid in format by those who wish to retain power for things as they have always been. An independent artist has an uphill battle stretching the forms to experiment with their art. Shakespeare would not have been respected in today’s publishing climate, regardless of how those gatekeepers feel about him today.

Yes, I do like writing books in prose as so many beforme, right in alignment with publishers. They have brought me a lot of joy in life. Yes, I like to also write in typical prose. I find it serves my style and storytelling well. No, I don’t think it is the only way to convey an idea, story or whatever communication. If we cannot stretch the forms, or create more forms, are we even doing anything worthwhile? Lyrics included. So many songs paint a clear picture, tell a compelling story. They have impact! We cannot omit them from literature.

This brings me to the idea of changing the format of some of my owns stories. If I could write epic poems to tell my Trailokya tales, I may have written like the Romantics. To be specific, Mary Tighe and her poem Psyche (1805 Posthumously). I literally kept my textbook on the English Romantic Writers because of this piece. (It was very expensive back in the 1990s, but you can pick up a copy pretty cheap today. I recommend it!) Not only did the story of Cupid and Psyche resonate for me in this format, it compelled me to keep writing my own work in a format that I found worked for it. I’m not breaking barriers, but I am still using my voice.

Why did I not try? There is a big difference in enjoying a format of writing or wishing to emulate it and succeeding. No matter how much I studied the Romantics, I could not do justice to the form of poetry. The writing is concise to a point beyond which even Hemingway could aspire. While I have tried a few poems, and included them in my publications, they’re not epic pieces of literature. That said, they also make me feel too vulnerable to wish to carry on. Writing prose has never made me feel so out in the open as poetry has. I applaud those who can write in this format and live with that sense of vulnerability. That cannot be easy.

Honestly, I see this same kind of vulnerability in lyrics. If it is not poetry, then what? And, I am happy to leave this writing to poets and lyricists, because they are gifted with that ability. I’m going to stay in my lane, but cheer them on.

I wonder what formats the other authors find difficult? Click on their links below to find out. Before you go, drop your email address in the box so this hop finds you each Friday. See you next time!

Open Book Blog Hop, writers writing on everything #OBBH a woman sites before ornate diamond glass windows at an old style typewriter. The light is very blue as it streams in creating a haze. She is reviewing the page.

Have a Cuppa – Open Book Blog Hop #462

February 3, 2025 By Captain Maiel

♦Welcome to another edition of the Open Book Blog Hop!♦

Topic #462

What’s your favorite hot beverage, and how do you prepare it?

In these times, the little things, like a cuppa, are going to be the most important to hold us through the day. I find myself thinking of the sacrifices my grandparents made during the course of their lives. They grew up in the Great Depression and survived the Second World War. Want and sacrifice were a hallmark of their formative years. They also labored to make sure their children and grandchildren did not experience the same. All that labor being lost to greed is heartbreaking.

a cuppa sits on a gray desk with an open laptop and notebook. Red elements contrast the statement. (a charging pad for a tablet and another charger station Feminine hands with red fingernails hold and write in the notebook.

But, there is much we can do. Just like those past generations, we must labor to maintain what we have and obtain better. No sitting on our duffs thinking we are owed. That said, self-care is necessity. It’s not going to be easy, am I right? Therefore, we need to do the little things that keep us warmed inside and rested so we can do the labor.

I’ll tell you, a cuppa can go a long way to heal a heart. Mental health is going to suffer the most while we labor to hold onto our rights or forge ahead to improve the world. And, this is worldwide. Do not mistake that the powers of evil are always at work to roll back advancements. Admitting that there are bad actors for the sake of bad acting (sociopaths and psychopaths, as well as malignant narcissists) is important to knowing how to care for ourselves. They will gaslight and feed without regret, so we need to grayrock and rest without regret.

A cuppa, whatever is your favorite, should be an imperative. The British knew this during the Second World War. I think my fellow hoppers from that lovely Island will agree! I’d go on to say that it helped win the fight. That little bit of normalcy and comfort helped the fight go on. Imagine if everything were taken? For instance, in my book OP-DEC, Claire clings to her red lipstick, which symbolizes her lost comfortable life and women’s contributions to the war efforts. Basically, it was her fight song.

So don’t discount the importance of your particular cuppa in your life. It doesn’t have to be anything special, just your comfort. For me, Coffee every morning, a different flavor a day, is essential to start the day and then keep me up in the afternoon. I have a full coffee bar set up in my kitchen for this purpose. That bar also includes my tea. Barry’s tea to be exact. It has to be that. I do like an herbal fruit tea now and then, and have the tea balls to prove it! Lastly is my oolong.

a mug that says begin. — ^{Photo by Danielle MacInnes on Unsplash}

Oh, Oolong tea… Years ago I had an orange blossom oolong tea that left me breathless. I have not been able to find it again. I miss this tea. It was a real pick me up. I’ve drank a lot of green tea, including gunpowder, and none of it comes close. Oolong is its own thing. Sometimes nutty, sometimes a bit fruity. It IS love in a cup. That suits me perfectly, because it endears me more to my studies about Chinese culture. It’s an anchor and a comfort. So my search for that tea continues.

I’d say, that although I daily intake coffee, that the orange blossom oolong is the one I need most. I’m going to renew the search, because I’m going to need it to carry me through this struggle. Maybe someday, like it was for our grandparents, all of this will be behind us and we will have created the best possible world for the kids that come to replace us. In the meantime, drink up that cuppa and get back to the fray.

Remember, the writer is an important figure during difficult times. We all need you to keep writing, having those difficult discussions, and pressing for better ways in the world. Don’t ever shut up! Someone out there needs your words to comfort their aching hearts. You are their cuppa.

Click on the links below to see how the other authors answer this question. Maybe you’ll find a new comfort to support your health. Before you go, drop your email address in the subscription box. The hop will arrive in your inbox every Friday.