Author Archives: Mary Fran Says

About Mary Fran Says

I am an artist, crafter, designer and writer. I enjoy working with mixed media-- applying visual and tactile manipulations to telling a story. Not a lot of market for that, though, :), so I'm focusing on short story submissions and novel completions. Yes, plural. Lots of beginnings, too many ideas, not enough focus.

Happy Holiday?

Posted on May 30, 2022 by Mary Fran Says

We heard the parade this morning as it marched by a couple of blocks from our house. I used to LOVE a parade. I haven’t been in many, many years. We decided to leash up the dogs and head over…unfortunately, … Continue reading →

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3 Sentence Review: The Girl Beneath the Sea

Posted on May 23, 2022 by Mary Fran Says

The Girl Beneath the Sea is an action/thriller, not one of the supernatural/sci-fi stories that I usually read, and it took me a while to stop waiting for something mystical to happen. This Sloan McPherson chick can hold her breath … Continue reading →

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Next Level Basic

Posted on May 16, 2022 by Mary Fran Says

I was cool with being basic. Now I’m cooler being Next Level Basic. Next Level Basic, #NLB, is a best seller by Stassi Schroeder, an author, reality TV star, and podcaster. Being Next Level Basic is about having fun and … Continue reading →

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Pareidolia

Posted on May 9, 2022 by Mary Fran Says

Seeing familiar objects or patterns in otherwise random or unrelated objects is called Pareidolia. Etymologically speaking, the word derives from the Greek words pará, “beside, alongside, instead [of]” and eídōlon “image, form, shape”. Pareidolia is something most of us experience but few … Continue reading →

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Forensics Camp

Posted on May 2, 2022 by Mary Fran Says

Some friends and I recently attended a four week Forensics Camp through the Rock Valley College Continuing Education program. They sucked me in by appealing to my authorial sense of wonder. As in, I wondered how I could work these … Continue reading →

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3 Sentence Review: Hail Mary

Posted on April 25, 2022 by Mary Fran Says

This novel is hard on the science, heavy on the fiction, so don’t get too caught up in the specifics, okay, and if you choose to read it, do so on audio–you will be glad you did. It was not … Continue reading →

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Holiday Weird

Posted on April 18, 2022 by Mary Fran Says

As I’m sure you know, I am an observer, a watcher, a witness to the weird. I had an experience last week that surely qualifies. Wednesday.Start our day, fridge works fine. Later, the fridge is being weird. The screen says … Continue reading →

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Contemporary Relevance

Posted on April 11, 2022 by Mary Fran Says

Contemporary Relevance…the idea that a word, phrase, or cultural reference is no longer broadly understood. This subject has come up a lot lately. For instance, we were watching a show where they said, Kumbaya. With origins dating back to 1926, … Continue reading →

Posted in It's all about me, It's all about You, Writing | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Goodle Mondle Mornindle

Posted on April 4, 2022 by Mary Fran Says

That’s right! I’m jumping on the bandwagon! I believe my blogs should be part of your morning routine. Alas, only weekly, but there’re plenty to pick from if you’d like to make Blogdle-ing a daily event. I am an original … Continue reading →

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3 Sentence Review: Later

Posted on March 28, 2022 by Mary Fran Says

The first ending of Later, a pretty good “I-see-dead-people” ghost story by Stephen King, was satisfying. The second ending of this easy to read genre mash-up was expected. The third ending was disconcerting, gratuitous, and unnecessary. Full Title : LaterAuthor: … Continue reading →

Posted in Let's talk about Books! | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments