Stories create the bond that draws us together
I have long been a proponent of the power of story. For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved stories and used them in my capacity as a teacher, a public speaker, and now as a writer. I believe stories create the bond that draws us together as families, as communities—as the whole human […]
Steeped in spies and spycraft
Between research for my new thriller, an assignment from an editor to write a spy romance, and homework for a spy fiction class I’m taking, I am absolutely steeped in spies and spycraft. As you might imagine, it’s interesting study material. I just finished reading Madame Fourcade’s Secret War, a non-fiction book about The Alliance, […]
My Memorial Day walk through the Valley of Death
I live in a small village in Bavaria. It’s peaceful and beautiful here, and I love it. Not far from my house, however, are dark reminders of a turbulent and troubling past. Flossenbürg concentration camp is a twenty-minute drive away. Memorial Day 2021, my husband and I visited the camp but there was so much […]
Maypole celebration alive and well in Bavaria
On April 30th, my husband and I decided to go out to dinner to celebrate my birthday. We arrived in Grafenwoehr a bit too early and none of the restaurants were open yet, so we strolled down to the town square for an ice cream appetizer. And that’s when we learned that the Maypole celebration […]
Nonverbal Communication: Actions speak louder than words
I invite you to consider something that maybe you haven’t thought about a lot, yet which has great impact in your life. It is this: People who are able to effectively perceive and interpret nonverbal communication—and manage the nonverbal signals they transmit to others—will achieve greater success in life and more enjoyment from personal connections […]
Hypnosis and the modern reader
I’m in the throes of researching my next novel and I’m learning some fascinating things about hypnosis. Did you know, for instance, that the process of entering a hypnotic state is very much like what happens when we get absorbed in reading a really good book? Let me share some of what I’ve discovered about […]
Cryptic crosswords are the cream of the puzzle crop
Anyone well-acquainted with me knows that I am never far from a puzzle book or app. I love solving puzzles and I truly believe it helps keep my brain young and agile. I adore all sorts of puzzles–Double Trouble, Rows Garden, Marching Bands, Cryptograms, Laddergrams, Flower Power, Logic Problems, and the list goes on. But […]
Music class and Magic Eye: How one pop art phenom makes a point
If you’re old enough to remember the Magic Eye craze of the 90’s, you can probably recall standing among a curious crowd and staring at a framed mass of vivid dots and swirls in an effort to summon the underlying 3-D image. I remember how tickled I was the first time I achieved this feat, […]
My mysterious rendezvous with Murder Ink
Years ago, at a Friends of the Library sale, I came across a thick book entitled, Murder Ink: The Mystery Reader’s Companion, by Dilys Winn. Of course, it became mine in a matter of seconds and I’ve spent fun times and magical moments with the book ever since. Murder Ink is not really the kind […]
My Memorial Day at a Concentration Camp
For Memorial Day, I took off work to spend the day with my husband, exploring the beautiful countryside and points of interest. We started out in the morning by hiking up to another ruined castle, but decided an appropriate way to spend the afternoon would be to visit the concentration camp at Flossenbürg. What a […]
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Hi! I'm Joslyn Chase and I've set off on an adventure to capture and share my stories and use the power of Story to enrich my life, and yours. Join me! Learn More...
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