Historical Setting: Monkwearmouth, 794 C.E. It is the dark hour before dawn. We are five people waiting for the tide to turn in a shelter shed. The three who just arrived are arguing. The nuns are midwives advising the man on the needs of his brother’s family as they prepare for a new baby. TheContinue reading “#77.1 Tuesday, February 3, 2026”
Category Archives: Historical Fiction
#76.13 Thursday, January 29, 2026
Historical Setting: Monkwearmouth, 794 C.E. It’s been nearly all night that we’ve sat here in the quiet darkness, except for the gentle sounds of a horse waiting for his master to return and our few words. I asked her to imagine a wishful story. She has an imagination and she has words that could tellContinue reading “#76.13 Thursday, January 29, 2026”
#76.12 Weds., January 28, 2026
Historical Setting: Monkwearmouth, 794 C.E. We sit here in the dark mostly in silence — the dark is cold — the silence is raw. What can I say? There are no words of goodness or even hope. Much as I wish it, I can’t repair another’s grief. She explains it again too easily. “IContinue reading “#76.12 Weds., January 28, 2026”
#76.11 Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Historical Setting: Monkwearmouth, 794 C.E. The young woman has a dress and an apron and a cowl, all the things she needs to appear presentable to other people who could meet her with either judgment or compassion. Only heaven knows her nakedness, though earth is still touched by her unshod feet. She recognized my selfishContinue reading “#76.11 Tuesday, January 27, 2026”
#76.10 Thursday, January 22, 2026
Historical Setting: Monkwearmouth, 794 C.E. The young girl, along with Cloothar and I, have found shelter from the cold wind in a stable shed at the harbor on the sea gate of the Tyne. Cloothar has tailored a dress for the girl — the dress I traded for my cloak. And now he is inContinue reading “#76.10 Thursday, January 22, 2026”
#76.9 Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Historical Setting: Monkwearmouth, 794 C.E. The young woman wrapped in my cloak, follows me along the river bank toward the sea to the mooring harbor where I’ve noticed Cloothar’s merchant’s boat is moored. “Friend Cloothar!” He is in his boat, folding and sorting his wares, preparing to travel up river at high tide. HeContinue reading “#76.9 Wednesday, January 21, 2026”
#76.8 Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Historical Setting: Monkwearmouth, 794 C.E. The young woman who was rescued from intentional drowning on Christmas, then chained in the tower as demon possessed, then escaped, and found by me on this river bank contemplating grief, is talking with me about perspective. The tiny specs of human existence on the opposite bank of the DonContinue reading “#76.8 Tuesday, January 20, 2026”
#76.7 Thursday, January 15, 2026
Historical Setting: Monkwearmouth, 794 C.E. The relentless intensity of grief that owns this mother’s spirit allows a breath for my mundane questions about the circumstances of her life. I am trying to understand her options. She says, “Everything is made of words. In a castle even the words are rich. For the castleContinue reading “#76.7 Thursday, January 15, 2026”
#76.6 Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Historical Setting: Monkwearmouth, 794 C.E. What to do with this grieving mother is the issue. I could take her back to the nuns if they could listen without judging. Maybe they would receive her with pity, unless their own fear of a writhing demon overrules their holy compassion. Obligations to care for strangers are alwaysContinue reading “#76.6 Wednesday, January 14, 2026”
#76.5 Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Historical Setting: Monkwearmouth, 794 C.E. The Christmas story leaves Rachel grieving for her child. There are lots of bits of the Christmas story. When the nuns read the whole of it from the gospel of Matthew, told and told again by the followers of Jesus escaping Romans in Judah it calls for pondering, not justContinue reading “#76.5 Tuesday, January 13, 2026”
Lazarus Ink 