TESSA STOCKTON, Novelist
  • Home
  • Books
  • Bio
  • Blogette
       Speculative Fiction


​

Falling Leaves Spotlight

11/18/2019

0 Comments

 
PicturePhoto by Markus Spiske/Pixabay
I’m a seasonal woman. I love seasons. Winter maybe a little less, as I’m not a fan of driving on ice and snow. Thank goodness I live in an area where winter is fairly short and temperate. By the title of this post you may have guessed my favorite season: autumn.

Leaves are falling in abundance, although it seems the trees shouldn’t have much left at this stage but they still do. When yesterday darkened, I glanced out the window and witnessed a flash of burnt orange, gold and crimson leaves lift off a tree as the wind carried them away in a flurry. I thought about the symbolism of that, an allegory, a spotlight on shedding dying or dead things in circumstances. In my own life.


I love transitions, too, sometimes even the difficult ones. It’s the feeling of having to move forward through something that I appreciate. The shedding season is here in its full-blown glory. I doubt I’ll hunker down and go dormant this winter; it’s against my nature, even though something about that idea is soothing to the soul. But I will expect a sort of newness after the passing of this winter. A kind of renewal in gearing up for spring. I wonder what that renewal will actually look like; and the other side of it? I guess I won’t know until I get there. In the meantime, I’m going to enjoy the glinting beauty of scattering leaves while I can, and grab another cup of clove-flavored coffee helping to make the necessary shedding process a little more comfortable.

0 Comments

Great White Heron

7/27/2019

4 Comments

 
On an early morning walk this week, a great white heron flew in front of me. I felt the flush of wind from its powerful wingspan—it was that close. I might be misidentifying this magnificent creature, but I do know it was not a color-morphed junior—the thing was gigantic and entirely white, no black legs or darkened bill. I suppose I should have been startled by its sudden presence, but I stood in awe as it glided across my path at eye level and then soared skyward. I could have been envious of the bird for its freedom and fearless flight. Instead, I wondered curiously what the view was like up there over the treelined marsh in this Sweetwater valley of Tennessee.
 
I grew up mostly (or mostly grew up, haha) on Fidalgo Island in Washington State. I used to hike to a couple special spots just to watch the heron(s) in complete harmony with earth, water, and sky. I’d sit for hours as one would move in stately silence, fish with purposeful patience, pass from complete focused stillness to the majesty of commanding aviation in a blink. Strong birds. Confident loners, I somehow took comfort in watching them. Never before have I seen a white one, though, so this unexpected recent encounter was extra special.
 
There’s an inclination I have to read symbolism in everything, see a spiritual sign beyond the physical, spot an allegory. Probably stems from my Judeo-Christian background, and this nature is quite strong in me. My sister/BFF says that I walk between two worlds. Because it’s true, my mind and heart were heavy and I was seeking God that morning. Though my feet were firmly plodding forward on the path, my cognizance was somewhere else completely. So now I ask what, exactly, is the Lord saying to me? Herons in Hebrew culture represent long-suffering, wisdom, and protection, are forbidden to be hunted or eaten. Early Christians believed herons shed red tears when under stress and their emblem came to represent Jesus’ agony of sweating blood in the Garden of Gethsemane. Yet somehow there seems to be more here, something else I’m not perceiving.
 
“The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”—Romans 8:26
 
Or maybe there wasn’t meaning in that encounter at all. Maybe that moment was just meaningful in that the heron was neat to look at and nothing else hinges there. Maybe I read too much into things. Except, as the week continues to churn, images of the white heron paint my mind in pure flashes and I’m inspired and hope-filled and utter thanks to the Lord. Regardless and always, God is sensitive, compassionate, merciful, and good. I trust him. And I certainly appreciate that he created that standout heron.
 
Now back to my chips-n-salsa which I also appreciate. You see? Two worlds, lol.
4 Comments

Peel Me Like an Onion

1/16/2019

0 Comments

 
God peels me like an onion, one layer at a time. He does this in his great mercy. For if he chopped right through, the tear-invoking transparency would prove too painful, pungent, messy. He examines an outer peel and then another deeper, bringing each to my awareness in its own time. Carefully measured, scored, then added to his percolating soup of life, enhancing its savor, adapting my palate to become more like his palate. God is a mystery and deals with me in peculiar ways.
0 Comments

Flipping

2/23/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
​Wouldn’t it be neat whenever we sense a need for renovation to do a flip? I’m not speaking in terms of real estate. Sometimes I think I’d like to trade any bad, static experiences in life for good, seeking a fresh perspective. A few words sweep into my mind for how to get there. “…be transformed by the renewing of your mind,” (Romans 12:2) and, “…in all things God works for the good of those who love him,” (Romans 8:28). The motivation of flipping negatives for positives rather than flipping out holds a more promising outcome, for sure. On the other hand, the ability to appreciate the good things is oft times amplified by having encountered the bad. Yin and yang, as many would say.  #iamonlyhuman

Picture
0 Comments

UNO

11/5/2012

0 Comments

 
My kind of tango these days. Maybe I need to write a breakup, or another dance of decision anyway.
0 Comments

Ah, those warm fuzzies!

11/1/2011

0 Comments

 
An imagined sentiment between Carlos and Genevieve--characters in my novel, The Unforgivable . . .
0 Comments
    Picture
    TESSA STOCKTON, AUTHOR - Pressing through life, love, a few things that matter, and a lot of things that don't.


    ​LATEST RELEASES:
    ​

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    --------
    ​For Tessa's new
    ​book alerts:

    SUBSCRIBE
    FOLLOW ON AMAZON

    --------

    VIEW BLOGGER PROFILE
    Goodreads: Book reviews, recommendations, and discussion

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Acfw Bookclub
    Africa
    Aging
    Allegorical
    Angst Fiction
    An Hour In Heaven
    Animals
    Anna Bolena Opera
    Anna Netrebko
    Annie Lennox
    Answered Prayer
    Argentina
    Author Interview
    Ballet West
    Barber's Adagio For Strings
    Biblical Worldview
    Blogging
    Bluegrass Underground
    Book Giveaway
    Book Tours
    Branding
    Breaking Pointe
    Bruce Judisch
    Choices
    Choreography
    College-age Characters
    Compassion
    Contemporary Romance
    Contests
    Contract
    Conviction
    Creativity
    Culture
    Cumberland Caverns
    Dance
    Dark
    Dark Horse
    Death & Life
    Debate
    Deep Sorrow
    Definitions
    Dirty War
    Disappointment
    Discipleship
    E Books
    E-books
    Empathy
    Enovella
    Equine
    E Readers
    E-readers
    Estratasphere
    Expression
    Fairy Tales
    Faith
    Fantasy
    Fantasy Romance
    Fear
    Fiction
    Films
    First Nations
    Flamenco
    Forgiveness
    For Maria
    Friends
    Georg Mertens
    Giants
    Globus
    Goddess Fish Book Promotions
    Gogol Bordello
    Grace
    Grief
    Guitar
    Gustaw Szelski
    Gypsy Music
    Hanna Senesh
    Hanukkah
    Heart Seeing
    Heart Seeing
    Hesitation
    Hidden Children
    Hiking
    Historical Fiction
    Hoodoo
    Horses
    Hummingbird And The Flower
    Hunger Games
    Hype Vs. Humanity
    Icfw
    Impatience
    Influential Literature
    Influential Music
    Inspirational
    Integrity
    Internet
    Introspection
    Introvert
    Invitation To Dance
    Irrational Love
    Irritations
    Jacque's Whistle Stop Cafe
    Jenolan Caves
    J.R.R. Tolkien
    Katia
    K. Dawn Byrd
    Leo Tolstoy
    Lessons From The Open Road
    Life
    Losses And Gains
    Losses And Gains
    Love
    Lya Luft
    Maasai
    Many Tribes
    Marguerite Duras
    Marketing
    Meekness
    Mermaids
    Mermen
    Midweek Slump
    Mini Vacations
    Miracles
    Missionaries
    Missions
    Motorcycles
    Muse
    Musicals
    National Dance Day
    Native Americans
    Nature
    Nephilim
    New Release
    Night Owl Reviews
    Nostalgia
    Novella
    One Church
    Opera
    Outdoors
    Palace Of Mirrors
    Paranormal
    Personality Types
    Perspective
    Pets
    Pirate
    Poetry
    Politics
    Promo
    Publicists
    Publicity
    Publishing
    Pump Up Your Book
    RED
    Regret
    Religion
    Reminiscing
    Remorse
    Rerelease
    Reviews
    Richard Smallwood
    Richard Twiss
    Risk
    Romance
    Romance Genre
    Romantic Mystery
    Sailor Envy
    Sandy Hook Tragedy
    Sanity
    Sea God's Siren
    Secrets
    Shattered Identity
    Smuggled Mutation
    Soul Mate Publishing
    Speculation
    Speculative
    Spiritual Affirmation
    Steven D. Scheibe
    Storms
    Supernatural
    Suspense/Thriller
    Sytycd
    The Brother's Keep Series
    The Civil Wars
    The Met
    The Paganini Duo
    The Phantom
    The Secret Of The Love Letters
    The South
    The Unforgivable
    The Unspeakable
    Total Praise
    Trails
    Tree Lord's Oracle
    Trials
    Unruly Guides
    Vampire
    Versatile
    Violence In Literature
    Violin
    Wade Robson
    Waiting
    Wandering
    Wbir
    Whiter Shade Of Pale
    Wiconi International
    Wild Mustang
    Wind's Aria
    Wings Epress
    Wip
    Wisdom
    Writers
    Writing
    Wwii

    Archives

    December 2019
    November 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    July 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011

"For news to be good it has to invade bad spaces."—Matt Chandler
​
CONTACT

COPYRIGHT © 2019 TESSA STOCKTON. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
  • Books
  • Bio
  • Blogette