Debby Detering Wordcraft

Panama and Beyond

At my mother’s estate sale, an elderly gentleman with interest in local history purchased a box of newspaper clippings, twenty-some years of local history that we were about to toss into the recycling barrel. A few hours later, as we stuffed the last few mementos in our van, that gentleman—bless him!—returned with a manila envelope of “some papers you might want.” That envelope included a journal mailed from my grandfather, William Richard Hobby, to his cousin Mabel Louise Potter in 1914. He wrote that journal aboard the S. S. San Juan, a steamship from Panama to San Francisco.

Coming Soon

Life Piles Up

08.29.2019 by Debby Detering // Leave a Comment

June 15, 2019

This is the home we planned, built, decorated, finished (almost–I don’t think one every truly finishes). We’ll spend the rest of our lives here.

Spoiler: Every home we have ever owned, we have thought we would live there until God calls us to one that will never fade away.

June 22, 2019

We’d see more of our grandchildren before they are all grown up and out of the nest.
Skus would see his brothers more often–while there are still four.
If we combined assets with the daughter and family there, we’d all have more of what we want in houses than if we bought separately.
Now we’re living outside city limits with no public transportation available. What happens when we both give up driving?
Skus settled it: “We have to move while we still can.” Because if we wait too long, someone else will have to do it for us.

August 26, 2019

Our joint offer was accepted on a home with an accessible daylight basement suite for us, main floor with a lovely kitchen and suitable living space, upper floor with bedrooms for the two generations following us.

Therefore…

I’m sorting stuff, stuff, and stuff. Packing boxes. Finding out what children and grandchildren want, either now or later. Trying to let people know I have two books DONE, Three Tales and Panama and Beyond. Hoping to finish the first draft of the next book (a novel this time) before we move, while I’m living near a good editor. Learning to care for a cat with thyroid trouble and very thankful she’ll take her fish-flavored medication mixed with food. Setting aside furniture we won’t need to sell locally. Collecting, copying, sending financial information necessary for the joint mortgage. Totally NOT thankful for August heat.

Tahir Shah would Recognize Aunt Tabby

05.30.2019 by Debby Detering // Leave a Comment

In Arabian Nights, a Caravan of Moroccan Dreams

[My father] would be … leaning forward cupped in a grand leather chair, fingertips pressed together, sunlight streaming in through French doors behind. “Clear your minds,” he would say. “Close your eyes. Listen to the sound of my voice.”

Tahir Shah‘s search for the story in his heart draws him into memories of his father’s tales and encounters with Moroccan storytellers. The tale travels from story to story between glimpses of Moroccan culture, Shah’s daughter’s fifth birthday party, an inspirational meeting at the grave of a stamp-collecting friend, and a recurrent dream of a flying carpet ride.

The book cover of In Arabian Nights by Tahir Shah. The author searches for the story in his heart, in Morocco. — Tahir Shah’s book, a storyteller’s search
for the story in his heart.

A Father’s Story Time

Then the voice began, soft as silk, precise, calm…”Once upon a time…” Within a moment it had pulled us in, taken over, and we were lost in its realm. That was it. My father never told us how the stories worked. He didn’t reveal the layers, the nuggets of information, the fragments of truth and fantasy. He didn’t need to—because, given the right conditions, the stories activated, sowing themselves.
Tahir Shah, In Arabian Nights

Aunt Tabby in the Storyteller’s Tradition

“Sit with me on the sofa,” Aunt Tabby directed. She put her arm around Shimshek.

“Now close your eyes and see,” Aunt Tabby began. Shimshek closed her eyes. She was no longer on a sofa in a city apartment or in Turkey. She was far away, on a path beside a lake…

I am flattered to discover that my fictitious Aunt Tabby is similar to Tahir Shan’s masterful story-telling father.

Scribblomania–A Word for Writers

05.14.2019 by Debby Detering // Leave a Comment

Scribblomania was a “word of the day” from the Oxford English Disctionary.

It’s a good word for three reasons:

It’s a good condition when a writer wants to produce a book.
It’s hard to spell wrong: scribblomania, scribblemania, and scribbleomania are acceptable alternate spellings and it’s not likely anyone will notice it’s misspelled if you use a fourth alternative.
If someone tries to interrupt, you could, with a scowl. a growl, and an emphasis on mania, encourage that person to leave you alone.

Definition: Intense enthusiasm or mania for writing.

Debby Detering Wordcraft

Panama and Beyond

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