Welcome to Reflecting Runes!

Thanks for visiting. Whether you're a teen or an adult, avid reader or writer, teacher or parent, I hope this blog will give you something to reflect upon and offer you inspiration in a world of writing, music, and culture.

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Why Reflecting Runes?

Transformation Through Writing

We are reflected in our writing and our writing is a reflection of us. As wielders of the mighty pen, we have the power to sculpt and transform words.

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Music Mondays

Music transforms us, empowers us, and relates to aspects of our own lives. When we come to understand a musical work, we receive the message and grasp the creator's intention. That is pure enjoyment.

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Wandering Wednesdays

Diversity and The Mainstream Culture

Like nomads, we travel freely, moving unconsciously, turning idly, discovering the world in front of us. Packing empathy and tolerance, we become culture wanderers, meandering between societies. Are we all that different?

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FAQ Fridays

My Writing Life

People often ask me questions about my writing projects, and what I’m currently working on. I’m very “hush, hush” about it all. So I'm going to ask, "What would you like to know about me and my writing life?" The answers to your questions will be revealed every other Friday of each month.

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Deadlines: Do Writers Really Need Them?

Posted on 18. May, 2012 by Blessy in Deadlines, FAQ Fridays, Writing Life

I love deadlines. I love having that little voice inside my head, telling me "you must get this done by this date."  When I was a graduate student at Vermont College of Fine Arts, I learned the importance of establishing monthly deadlines.

The pressure of having to complete a project within a short time frame can be intimidating. If I have to rush, I feel as if I won't get my best ideas and writing out. Often, I think it won't be good enough. Yes, deadlines are restrictive, however, they keep us moving forward to reach our goal by keeping us focused, helping us plow through tough scenes, and increasing productivity. 

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A Gift: One Child's Connection to Music

Posted on 14. May, 2012 by Blessy in Children, Classical, Love Theme, Music Mondays, Piano, Romeo & Juliet

The Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet is an instrumental composition arranged for Franco Zeffirelli's film William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet (1968) by an American composer and conductor named Henry Mancini. Soon it became an instant hit in the United States. I first heard the musical piece in high school, and remembered how much it moved me. 

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Changing The Way Children Read

Posted on 09. May, 2012 by Blessy in Children, Culture, Current Issues, Stories, US Mainstream, Wandering Wednesdays, Young Adult

After learning about Maurice Sendak's passing yesterday, it made me think about how much he changed the way children read. (May he rest in peace.)

In the past, children's and young adult stories were always simple, without much chaos, and safe. Perhaps a little too perfect. Books of our youth have evolved since the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and even in the early 2000s. Today, books for children, tweens, and young adults stand out more because authors have broken away from the traditional storyline to give readers a deeper look into the real world.

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Mixed emotions: What's in Your Bag?

Posted on 04. May, 2012 by Blessy in Emotions, FAQ Fridays, Writing Journey, Writing Life

Friends and family often ask me, “How is your writing coming along? Are you finished with your novel? What's your novel about? When will you publish it?

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Norah Jones: "After the Fall"

Posted on 30. Apr, 2012 by Blessy in Jazz, Music Mondays, New Album, Norah Jones, Popular Music

Born in New York, Norah Jones is the daughter of Indian sitarist, Ravi Shankar. She is also the half-sister of sitarist, Anoushka Shankar. Norah Jones spent most of her childhood with her mother near Dallas, Texas. Growing up, she sang in church choirs and took piano lessons. 

Ten years after her debut, Come Away With Me, Norah Jones comes out with her new album, Little Broken Hearts, on Tuesday, May 1. It isn't as jazzy as her previous albums, but you'll hear a more pop-sonic vibe throughout.

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Fantasy Genre: Not Just For Boys

Posted on 25. Apr, 2012 by Blessy in Fantasy, Fiction, Gender, US Mainstream, Wandering Wednesdays, Young Adult

Is the fantasy genre intended just for boys? What about girls? Why is there an implication that girls don't read fantasy or won't enjoy movies with fantasy elements? It's true science fiction and fantasy are not the most female-friendly of genres. The prototypical reader is often male. How did this stigma come about?

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Debut Author Jennifer Shaw Wolf on BREAKING BEAUTIFUL

Posted on 20. Apr, 2012 by Blessy in Breaking Beautiful, Debut Author, FAQ Fridays, Interview, Jennifer Shaw Wolf, Writing Life

Jennifer Shaw Wolf is the debut author of the young adult novel, BREAKING BEAUTIFUL (Walker Books for Young Readers, 2012). The following synopsis from Goodreads:

Allie lost everything the night her boyfriend, Trip, died in a horrible car accident—including her memory of the event. As their small town mourns his death, Allie is afraid to remember because doing so means delving into what she’s kept hidden for so long: the horrible reality of their abusive relationship. When the police reopen the investigation, it casts suspicion on Allie and her best friend, Blake, especially as their budding romance raises eyebrows around town. Allie knows she must tell the truth. Can she reach deep enough to remember that night so she can finally break free? Debut writer Jennifer Shaw Wolf takes readers on an emotional ride through the murky waters of love, shame, and, ultimately, forgiveness.

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The Motown Sound: Barrett Strong's "Money (That's What I Want)"

Posted on 16. Apr, 2012 by Blessy in 1960s, Early R&B, Motown, Music Mondays, Pop Rock, Soul

What kind of music makes you stop and listen? What kind of music sweeps you off your feet? What kind of music perfectly blends together soul and pop?

It's The Music of Motown!

The songs of Motown first hit the airwaves and received plenty of radioplay in the 1960s. Motown played an important role in breaking down racial barriers within popular music and crossing bridges to achieve success.

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A Short Blog Break

Posted on 09. Apr, 2012 by Blessy in Blog Vacation, Random, Spring

I'll be on break this week, which means a short vacation from the blog, too. I leave you with a picture of my neighborhood where spring is unveiled in blooms.

 

A New Kind of Storytelling

Posted on 04. Apr, 2012 by Blessy in Culture, Digital Animation, India, Stories, Technology, Wandering Wednesdays

How do we instill and enable creativity in children with modern technology? How can we create stories in a digital format that will capture the interest of a child? How can we show children how to use technology in order to tell their own stories?  

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