Autumn - Nature's Slow Exhale

 Why we (especially me) love the fall season?

The smell of woodsmoke and crisp leaves — it’s like the world puts on a cozy sweater.

Bold flavors like cinnamon, nutmeg, roasted squash, hot apple cider... everything tastes richer.

Muted light and vivid colors: the golden hour stretches longer, and trees burn in reds and ambers.

Reflection and transition — fall invites contemplation. It's the year's quiet pivot before winter.

Folklore feels: something about bare branches and chilly evenings stirs the gothic in us. Prime season for fables, ghost stories, and eerie symbolism.

New beginnings masquerading as endings — school starts, writing projects bloom, ideas settle into deeper layers.

Seasonal quirks we secretly (or loudly) love:

That sudden urge to read dark fantasy novels or watch slow-burn thrillers.

The thrill of a good costume idea, even if we don’t dress up, we love the concept.

Pumpkins. Everywhere. Not just food, the vibe.

Fall is the time to read dark fantasy stories

https://www.goldenboxbooks.com/what-if-anthology.html

Erika M Szabo

https://authorerikamszabo.com

Erika loves to dance to her own tunes and follow her dreams, introducing her story-writing skills and her books that are based on creative imagination with themes such as magical realism, alternate history, urban fantasy, cozy mystery, sweet romance, and supernatural stories. Her children’s stories are informative and educational, and deliver moral values in a non-preachy way.

Winds of Change by Tricia Drammeh

Today, I was sitting in my living room, coughing like crazy, thinking about what I was going to write about for my blog post here at #OurAuthorGang. It seems like I've been sick, busy, and stressed ever since 2019 took hold. It's cold, snowy, and I feel miserable. I'm ready for spring, but here in New England, we are still in the grips of winter.

As the wind whipped outside, I began thinking about how quickly the weather can change. The wind can bring in a cold front - or a warm front. The wind can bring in a storm, or carry one away. The wind can be destructive or it can be refreshing. 

Do you see the winds of change as a positive thing or as something negative and frightening? We all undergo many changes throughout our lifetime. My mom always says "change is the only constant thing in life." That is so true. 

As someone who is usually resistant to change, I have come to accept that I have no choice in the matter. Things are always changing. I must change too. But, I must also learn to accept. Just like there are seasons that add structure (and variety!) to each year, there are also seasons during our lifetimes that we must accept and embrace. 

I could go on and on, but I think this song says it much better than I can: