The Magnificent Storm

Outside Our Comfort Zone: Finding the Beauty in What Terrifies Us

Last night, the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania had a magnificent thunderstorm— the kind that shook the house, flashed lots of lightning and sent pounding rain into every open window. As the cacophony abounded, I soaked in the storm (pun intended) from the safety of my bedroom.

My cats and Goffin’s cockatoo did not share my enthusiasm. They did not see beauty and conflict and hope in the booming clouds. The cockatoo, especially.

My older cat, Opie, a 14-year-old tripod who lost a leg to bone cancer six years ago, didn’t care. My buddy cat, Fog, who turns five this autumn, he curled up next to me with uneasy eyes but decided if I were cool with the chaos, so was he.

But the cockatoo, as much as I tried to reassure he, she was not convinced.

Now, apply this to life. We all have a comfort zone and a standard operating procedure. So, what happens when events don’t fall within those parameters? Even if your default is fear, do you find something or someone to comfort you like Fog did? Do you ignore it and go about your business as Opie did?

Can you find beauty and hope in the tumult, as I did?

Something to consider.

Illustration by Joseph Swarctz

DID YOU KNOW…

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This Week

M.Christian’s latest book, Brushes: An Erotic Romance of Artistic Propositions had an early release via ebook and Kindle Unlimited. You can read that here. The official launch date is my birthday, May 20, but I got that mixed up with another book release and set the preorder for the wrong date. The print book will be available May 20.

On Tuesday, Wayne Sherrer will present a talk on the role of African-Americans in the early days of Warren County , N.J., to the Hope Historical Society. The presentation expands on the material in his 2024 book, Phorgotten No More: Glimpses of The African-American Presence in Phillipsburg, N.J. 1777-2021. You can buy a copy of the book at downtown Easton’s Book and Puppet Company.

This Coming Weekend

I posted an illustration of me on the top of this newsletter in celebration of the latest Echo City Capers book, Tuli Finds a Circle. Tuli makes their debut at Phillipsburg Comic Con on Saturday, May 10. This event is a great way to update your collection of Echo City titles and get them signed by Joseph Swarctz and Ralph Greco, Jr. Plus, it’s celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. The entire high school is filled with comic-related items, vendors and artists. Read more about the Comic Con here.

Meanwhile in Workshops

At the end of May, (Saturday, May 31 at 10:30 a.m.) Larry Sceurman and I will be hosting a workshop at Hellertown Library, Storytelling as a First Draft. It’s a free workshop and you can contact the library to reserve your spot. For more information on Hellertown Library events, click here.

Join oral storyteller and author Larry Sceurman and his publisher Angel Ackerman of Parisian Phoenix Publishing for a short, interactive program on how to transform that story you’ve told for years into print. They will discuss deciding on your audience and format, and offer tips for transforming an oral story into formal writing. Even if you don’t think you’re a writer, this is a great way to preserve your personal and family history.

Parisian Phoenix may be heading to the greater Philadelphia area this summer to host a beginner’s memoir workshop. We’ll keep you posted as the details come together, but if you’re in the Philadelphia area and interested in this program, please let me know by responding to this newsletter or, better yet, posting a comment.

DID YOU KNOW…

Our one-hour workshops start at just $50. You can have someone from Parisian Phoenix customize a topic for your group for less than you think. Written communication skills enhance performance in all industries so consider inviting us to your workplace, social event or book club.

How to Resist Amazon and Why

Bookshop.org gave away free ebook copies of Danny Caine’s How to Resist Amazon and Why as part of its celebration of National Independent Bookstore Day. I finished my copy yesterday and will share my thoughts in my next newsletter.

Finally, friends, also in an upcoming newsletter I will share some exciting news. Parisian Phoenix recently received word that we got a grant! I’m a tad superstitious and don’t want to share too much until I talk with all the parties involved and see the money. But the paperwork has been signed!