Today’s Germanism in the English language is probably most interesting for all of those among you who have a sweet tooth. A Mozartkugel (pronounce: Mo-tsart-koogle, meaning Mozart ball) is made from chocolate, pistachio, marzipan, and nougat. But this is where the similarity between Mozartkugeln (plural!) ends. Because it has become a generic name for ball-shaped […]
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In the Book Nook with … Sarah Ickes
Author Sarah Ickes was born and raised in the Keystone State, Pennsylvania. The social media and website manager also owns a small business, https://www.sarahickesart.com/, and designs her own book covers. Sarah started writing in elementary school, where a few of her works were published in national collections. Her first novel, The Serpent’s Star, came out […]
Let’s Talk! – Tater Tots for Lunch
Are you ready to switch off your screens and ponder or discuss another writing/conversation prompt during dinner tonight? You want to know about my thoughts on it? Here’s my take: Funny. It IS lunchtime as I’m pondering this. Imagining the flavor and texture of tater tots makes my mouth water. I love potatoes in any […]
Across the Fence: Verschlimmbessern
I bet you stumbled while you were trying to read this German word. Actually, it’s a Germanism in the English language. And even longer words like these (which is not even long for any Germans) are actually easy to read if you simply take time and take every letter or letter combination by itself. Verschlimmbessern […]
In the Book Nook with … Mary Boone
Author Mary Boone grew up in Iowa and now lives in Tacoma’s North Slope neighborhood. She has hung out backstage with a boy band, DNA-tested salmon, and baked dozens of cricket cookies – all in the interest of research for her books and magazine articles. The newspaper reporter turned author has written more than 70 […]
Let’s Talk! – Ground Cinnamon Sprinkled Over Sugared Toast
Are you ready to switch off your screens and ponder or discuss another writing/conversation prompt during dinner tonight? You want to know about my thoughts on it? Here’s my take: Breakfasts in most countries seem to be sweet. I grew up on open jam sandwiches and cocoa as a little one. I hated both. I […]
Across the Fence: Vorlage
Every once in a while, literature plays into Germanisms in the English language, such as the term Vorlage (pronounce: ‘for-laa-gah, meaning original model/template). In fact, there is the claim (and I think, rightfully so) that no author ever writes anything without including a Vorlage in one way or another. There are archetypes we use that […]
In the Book Nook with … Michael Magee
Author Michael Magee, a retired English teacher, artist, and playwright, lives in Tacoma, Washington. He has been writing for 60 years, starting when he was 20. His first book, Cinders of My Better Angels, was published in 2011 by MoonPath Press. Michael has been a member of the writers’ group Poet’s Table for about 20 […]
Let’s Talk! – A Damsel Not in Distress
Are you ready to switch off your screens and ponder or discuss another writing/conversation prompt during dinner tonight? You want to know about my thoughts on it? Here’s my take: We all know the archetype of a damsel in distress, don’t we? We grow up with stories stuffed with them. Basically, all fairy-tale princesses in […]