Considering my lifelong obsession with omens and bright, shiny objects (I may have been a raven in a past life, or maybe a magpie), I now find myself residing in the Treasure State (Montana), where I go about looking only at the ground and filling my pockets with rocks every day, Yes, I have turned into one of those weirdo rockhounds, and it’s as if it was my true calling. And I have been inspired to do something with this alignment by diving headlong into the magical world of gemstones and the science behind amulets, omens, and good luck charms. Yes, good luck charms. (Have I lost my mind? Yes. Read on.) I know what some of you are thinking, but I swear to you, it is not all woo-woo! There is brain science behind the colors and compounds and symbols with which we adorn our bodies and homes; the trinkets and charms we carry in our pockets and hang in our our windows and doorways and cars; the encounters that send chills up our spines or remind us of the people and animals we love. If you care to join me, I started a new site, A Tree Grows in a Stone, where you can subscribe to weekly stories and articles. You can also subscribe on Substack, where I will be offering free content plus a paid tier with member-only perks, such as an Agate of the Month Club. Lastly, you can now buy dendritic moss agates and petrified wood from the Yellowstone River at my Etsy Store. I’m just getting started, so it’s not terribly exciting yet, but I currently offer polished and raw stones in their natural shapes/forms.
If you’ve been following me for all these years and you’re wondering where I’m at with my photography, here’s an update: My photography has taken a temporary backseat while I focus on completing my novel, which is taking me FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER. Seriously, I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I decided I wanted to become a novelist. What on earth was I thinking?? Forget writing a dissertation that was over 400 pages, writing a novel has been the hardest project I have ever grabbed by the horns. And it is not so much a bull as it is a grizzly bear who wants to eat me. As in, tear me to shreds and stomp on my remains.
I’m convinced all novelists are nutjobs. If you ever meet a novelist who doesn’t come off as coocoobananas, be suspicious. Personally, I am losing my marbles and no longer bothering to try and hide it. I’ve been working on my draft for about five years (six?? seven?? I lost track a while back…) and still have a long way to go. I hear from other authors that five to ten years is a fairly ordinary timeline for a first-time author, especially given that I work a fulltime day job that happens to require long hours of typing. I’m trying to be patient with myself, but I’m on my fourth-ish or eighth-ish draft and my manuscript is a mess. It looks nothing like my other drafts. I’ve changed the genre, plot, and theme. I’ve deleted characters and then added them back again. I’ve offed my protagonist only to bring her back from death. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever complete this thing. But then I read about authors who worked for a decade or more on their first books and eventually met with success when publishing them. And perhaps I’ve needed to spend all of this time with my little eleven-year-old protagonist, following her through her world, discovering the adventures that are truly hers.
Thanks for checking in!
P.S. My original Instagram feed was deleted due to nudity. I reopened it recently but I’m sticking with animals instead of boobies. I realize for some of you this may be disappointing. Sorry. You can still find me at @j_e_n_n_y_r_i_c_e.
P.P.S. You can also follow me on my personal Substack, which I promise to actually start using: thespinonjenny.
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