Plant VII: Motherlode

(Scene: Plant and Linda are sitting in morning sunlight on Linda’s back porch. In a birdhouse, a bird is feeding its young.) Plant: What is it like to have a mother? Linda: You never give me any warning about when you’re going to start talking. You just start. P: Does that bother you? L: You... Read More

Fiction

May 2, 2023

Shining a Positive Light on the Community

Local, serial entrepreneur Von Wellington, has an array of interests including art, photography, cars, and his community. It was the love for cars that lead Wellington to open River District Auto Spa (RDASpa). “It originated in 2016. RDASpa wanted to provide a unique old-school hand wash for patrons to help better serve and maintain their... Read More

Cover Features

April 26, 2023

Choosing Your Sentences: Simple, Compound, or Complex?

Consider this: if you know what you want to write regarding a particular feeling, thought, or event, how do you put it on paper to make it most clear and meaningful? Of course, the words you choose are critical; you must choose them carefully. But the question remains: how do you best use them to... Read More

Writers' Page

April 20, 2023

Burgundy; The Color and the Region

When we hear the word Burgundy here in the US, most will think of a deep shade of red. Sometimes confused with maroon, it has a red-purplish hue, whereas maroon has, as I understand, a reddish-brown hue. But in the wine world, Burgundy refers to the French wine region in central eastern France. Red Burgundy... Read More

The Wine Spot

April 18, 2023

Movies You Missed: A Mighty Wind

A Mighty Wind (7/10 Rating) Released April 16, 2003 For rent/purchase on all major platforms. Genre: Comedy, Music PG-13: Sex-Related Humor 1h 31m This is the fourth film from Christopher Guest, following This Is Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman, and Best in Show. If you are familiar with those films, you will certainly recognize most... Read More

Movies You Missed

April 15, 2023

Old Demolished House

The other day I was driving down Danville’s Central Boulevard, when I suddenly saw something different, actually, it was something different from what it used to be. What once was an old house was now a newly formed pile of rubble (same house, different “shape”). Thinking it might be something interesting about which to write,... Read More

Essays

April 13, 2023

Inside the Method of Acting with Connor McAllister

Even at fifteen, Connor McAllister has lived in more places than many people. He added, “I’ve lived in four states, including Washington, Minnesota, New York and now Virginia.” He has an older sister and two younger sisters. “Sadly, no brothers.” Along with his sisters, an array of animals keeps McAllister busy. “My house is like... Read More

Action

April 11, 2023

Piedmont Arts: Curating for the Community

Located in the heart of Martinsville’s Arts and Cultural District, Piedmont Arts was founded in 1961. Today, the museum offers performing arts, from concerts to plays to children’s performances, and art classes of all mediums for all ages. Lauren Ellis, Programs and Public Relations Coordinator, added, “Piedmont Arts is dedicated to inspiring and engaging the... Read More

Features

April 7, 2023

Plant VI: Not Dead to the World

(Scene: Plant and Linda are talking in the late morning. Linda is still struggling conceptually with conversing with a sentient plant.) Plant (cheerily): Good morning. You are up later than usual. Linda (yawning): I was dead to the world. P: My cousin plant died and came back as a carnation. L:… What? P: Cuz was... Read More

Fiction

April 4, 2023

The Art of Planting Something Beautiful

Spring brings out the green thumbs. And gardens are in bloom. In Growing with the Seasons: A Sharing of Insights Into the Creative Aspects of Organic Gardening, Alfred Austin wrote, “The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the... Read More