J. M. Levinton

Haunted in Pennsylvania

• November 07, 2022
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• 4 Comments

This year I went to Pennsylvania and headed into two bookstores, looking for regional ghost stories. It wasn’t that I couldn’t find any, it was that I had to choose! There were a lot of books. I had no idea the state was so haunted. (Before I go any further, let me say that the enthusiastic service I received at both Cathy’s Half Price Books in Havertown and the Barnes & Noble in Broomall was amazing.)

One of the best reasons for reading about local ghost stories (aside from getting delicious chills) is the history. Philadelphia, for example, is rich with a well-documented past.

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Happy Halloween!

• October 31, 2022
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A couple of weeks ago I ventured across borders and into the spooky state of Pennsylvania. Two bookstores later, I ended up with a bunch of local ghost tales to read. Stay tuned!

And How Was Your Summer?

• September 12, 2022
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• 2 Comments

Mostly, I hibernated. Soaring temperatures and high humidity made for lousy outdoor time. I can tolerate high temps but the sauna-like conditions were not my idea of a good time.

Still, there were compensations. Fresh fruit, especially watermelon, topped my list. I discovered the joys of watermelon bubble tea and slushies. Fruit smoothies using cantaloupe or mango with coconut milk poured into hurricane glasses and garnished with Maraschino cherries and tiny paper umbrellas (yes, I actually bought them) made the mundane vacation-like.

And now, heading into fall, I’m pulling out recipes for stews and soups for the coming months.

Writing has been a struggle but poems have been written so I’m looking into markets (and I find it strange when asked if I’m going to sell it, as if it’s a hobby). My novel sits waiting, and a short story has been promised. Slowly, I’m edging back into what was before the plague times.

Happy 4th of July!

• July 04, 2022
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Photo by Dirkusmaximus

To all who celebrate!

Decluttering to Write

• May 23, 2022
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The clutter got to me. It’s been a weight on my shoulders—and worse, in my mind. So I’ve been tackling it, sorting through “sacred” items that turned out to be not very sacred at all. But it’s been a journey of memories and feelings. I’d like to share one small view to show how radical I got this time around.

There’s a built-in cabinet in my foyer (that’s hallway to people out of New York City) and it became a convenient place to dump things, mostly things that belonged in my utilities closet:

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My Mom and Writing

• May 08, 2022
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As is my tradition, I’m repeating this post:

My Mom and Writing

Springtime at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

• April 11, 2022
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The cherry blossoms and magnolia trees were in bloom. I took many, many pictures but restrained myself from swamping the site. Make sure you see the last picture here, proof that someone has a sense of humor. It also ensures I’ll go back!

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Where Do You Keep Your Books?

• February 14, 2022
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• 1 Comment

Photo by Tim Gage

I’ve always loved magazines about decorating. They inspire and motivate me. But where are the books in those homes? Oh sure, I’ll see a few placed artistically on a coffee table, with a bowl of fruit or yarn stacked on top. And what a pain that would be to get to the book without the bowl tipping and the contents going everywhere.

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Banning Books? Hmmm.

• February 07, 2022
• Blog
• 2 Comments

When I was ten years old, I saw a paperback on the coffee table in the living room and asked my brother if I could read it. He never looked up from his newspaper. “Sure.”

I was halfway through and just about to put it down (because my ten-year-old self found it boring), when my mom came in, saw what I was reading, and blasted my brother for it.

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Happy Holidays!

• December 25, 2021
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Happy Holidays to all who celebrate!