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Writing means different things to me. I'm a storyteller, a book editor, and a songwriter. For me, it's like breathing.

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Weird Word Wednesday

emmenagogue
NOUN

Medicine
A substance that stimulates or increases menstrual flow.
Example sentences
Origin
Early 18th century: from Greek emmēna ‘menses’ + agōgos ‘eliciting’.
Pronunciation

emmenagogue/ɛˈmiːnəɡɒɡ//ɪˈmiːnəɡɒɡ/

Kelley Heckart
Otherworldly tales steeped in myth, magic & romance.

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Weird Word Wednesday

elflock
noun  elf·lock \ˈelf-ˌläk\
Popularity: Bottom 20% of words

 Definition of elflock
:hair matted as if by elves —usually used in plural

First Known Use: 1592

Kelley Heckart
Otherworldly tales steeped in myth, magic & romance.

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Weird Word Wednesday

elenchus
noun  elen·chus \i-ˈleŋ-kəs\
Popularity: Bottom 20% of words

Definition of elenchus
plural elenchiplay \i-ˈleŋ-ˌkī, -(ˌ)kē\
:  refutation; especially :  one in syllogistic form
First Known Use: 1663
Origin and Etymology of elenchus
Latin, from Greek elenchus

Kelley Heckart
Otherworldly tales steeped in myth, magic & romance.



Monday, August 14, 2017

Monday Musings: Book review of Words Will Break Cement: The Passion of Pussy Riot

After reading this book, I am so grateful to live in a country where citizens are free to voice their political views. I think what frightened me the most about this story is that it’s true.

Three young women living in Russia, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova (Nadya), Maria Alyokhina, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, were found guilty of hooliganism and went to prison (one was finally given a suspended sentence) because they spoke out against Putin and his tyranny. One of the most horrific parts in this book described the conditions of these prisons. The “prisons” aren’t fit for animals let alone human beings. Atrocious is the word that pops in my head. Along with living in terrible conditions, inmates are subjected to mistreatment by guards for doing something like complaining about the horrible conditions. For example, if an inmate complained about lack of hot water, all the water would be shut off for all the inmates.

These women showed amazing strength throughout their ordeal. This book takes us from the beginning with backgrounds on the women, their foray into political activism, the emergence of Pussy Riot, their fateful performance that got them arrested, the harrowing trial (another example of human rights violations), and finally their imprisonment.

A quote from Maria’s court statement: “And I am not afraid of you. I am not afraid of lies and fictions and of poorly coded deception in the verdict of this so-called court, because all of you can take away my inner freedom, the only sort that exists in the Russian Federation. But no one can take away my inner freedom.” She closes with this: “I believe that openness and public speech and a hunger for the truth make us all a little bit freer.”

I greatly admire these women for their heroism and strength to fight for better conditions and rights for all. They had the courage to speak out against Putin’s atrocities, and they were successful in encouraging others to do the same. If they had failed, they wouldn’t have scared Putin into having them arrested.


Pussy Riot lives on as an example of feminine power and courage.


Kelley Heckart
Otherworldly tales steeped in myth, magic & romance.

Wednesday, August 09, 2017

Weird Word Wednesday

eleemosynary
adjective  el·ee·mo·sy·nary \ˌe-li-ˈmä-sə-ˌner-ē, -ˈmō-; -ˈmä-zə-\
Popularity: Bottom 50% of words
Examples: eleemosynary in a Sentence

 Definition of eleemosynary
:  of, relating to, or supported by charity

First Known Use: circa 1616

Kelley Heckart
Otherworldly tales steeped in myth, magic & romance.

Wednesday, August 02, 2017

Weird Word Wednesday

eledoisin
noun  el·e·doi·sin \ˌe-lə-ˈdȯi-sən\
Popularity: Bottom 10% of words

Definition of eledoisin
:  a small protein C54H85N13O15S from the salivary glands of several octopuses (genus Eledone) that is a powerful vasodilator and hypotensive agent
First Known Use: 1963
Origin and Etymology of eledoisin
irregular from New Latin Eledone, from Greek eledōnē, a kind of octopus


Kelley Heckart
Otherworldly tales steeped in myth, magic & romance.