Hello Friends! Thank you for subscribing! Enjoy some of my personal and writing updates, sneak peeks, guests and reviews. ♥

— Jan Goldyn —

November Walk

November sky anticipates

light downy crystal flakes.

Stubbled fields host turkey feasts.

A doe with young ones, her watch keeps.

Acorns fall as chattering squirrels

pack away for the winter world.

On the woods path, the biting air

hurries us along to a fire where

the warmth of friendship blankets our hearts

and holds our spirits in its arms.

— November Update —

Part of reminiscing on the holidays is remembering the family home or homes of our childhoods.

The home of my youth was the center of everything!

Warm summer evenings, carrying buckets of water to the garden. Playing tag at dusk.

Sunday dinners with grandmas, sled riding on winter days.

Egg hunts with grandchildren whom our parents spoiled. Trick-or-treat night when we’d light the old jack-o-lantern candles and our carved pumpkins

But especially on holidays, the home shined. So many pies and cookies, a fresh cut tree, lovely presents, carolers outside because they knew our grandma loved it!

We siblings, our children, nieces and nephews won’t be celebrating at the old family home this year, now that dad has passed. A new young family will make their own memories.

But our home is in our hearts each time we see our children or grandchildren playing tag, sled riding, smiling on Christmas morning. Enjoying turkey on Thanksgiving.

Thank you Mom and Dad for imprinting such joy on our hearts.

Prequel, Julia

My vision for the unveiling of “Julia” had been Spring 2025. I’m now focusing on Summer 2026. My life has just become unexpectedly busy! But I promise to do my best and will update you well in advance!

**********************

I am so excited to be working on my Prequel — Julia. You’ve all given me such super feedback on Coal Town Girls! Those of you who have grown up locally have been sharing your excitement at seeing the landmarks of your youth (or your present!) showcased within its pages.

Now, with Julia, I’m taking a journey further back in time to the people, places, struggles, triumphs and dreams of those who came before Joan and Mary. I can’t wait for you to join me.

November Sneak Peek

-Excerpt from Julia -

After pulling on her stockings and replacing her heels, she walked along the tracks with head down, crossing at Mill Street which, along with Main and Railroad, was lined with slick shiny Model A’s, Roadsters, Studebakers. She was purposely late. She imagined the fanfare she had missed – men in fedoras and women in turban hats stepping out of rumble seats, their talk and laughter chiming on the autumn air in front of the Hotel Klautz.

Julia pulled a handkerchief from her clutch, balanced herself on the side of one of the Studebakers and wiped away the dirt that had gathered on her heels during her railroad trek. The smooth sounds of Fred Waring and his boys spilled out to the hotel’s porch like a call to action.

Jan’s Reading Nook

Throughout history, our ancestors gathered around fires telling and soaking in the magic that is “story.” This primal need continues and has not left us! I love to share thoughts on nuggets of literature I’ve been enjoying and exploring. For me, a main focus has been historical fiction, literary fiction, family sagas. Although all genres have their own jewels.

The Enchanted World

of Fairies and Elves

— The Editors of Time Life Books —

Between the years of 1984 and 1987, Time Life Books published its series of 21 books, “The Enchanted World.”

Each book focused on different aspects of mythology, fairy tales or folklore and included characters such as Wizards, Fairies, Elves, Dwarfs, Giants and Ogres.

Being a lover of all things nature-oriented and mystical, I was immediately drawn to “The Enchanted World of Fairies and Elves” and it’s other-worldly illustrations! I found it on my local Good Will shelf.

One story tells of the elf, Robin Goodfellow, sometimes known as Puck by countryfolk. Indeed, he was the jester of Faerie, a cutup who lured travelers into swamps, pinched lazy house maids and pulled stools from beneath inveterate gossips. He took his pleasure in causing confusion among mortals, whose various follies he never tired of watching

Once, a fairy who bloomed from the myrtle tree and a prince who came upon her were enchanted with each other. They spent many days and nights together. However, when the prince had to journey, he asked the Myrtle Fairy to remain hidden in the myrtle tree, for he had former mistresses whom he did not trust to be unvengeful.

When he returned from his journey, he found only pieces of the fairy’s bones and golden hair by the myrtle tree. But as the days passed and the tree shot tender shoots, his fairy once again appeared. She confided to him that she was confronted by his ex mistresses.

The prince and the Myrtle Fairy soon married and the guilty women were invited to the feast. He asked them what should be done to anyone who injured his princess. They all replied that that person should be thrown into the dungeon.

“As you decree,” said the prince. And so it was done. The prince and Myrtle Fairy continued on in marital bliss.

The characters in “The Enchanted World of Fairies and Elves are presented as being potent and strong at the dawn of time, but magical creatures that grew weaker and eventually disappeared as humans spread and demystified the world, though there was always the promise that the magic would return once again.

Although you and I both know that the magic still exists everywhere!

Coal Town Girls

Coal Town girls was an idea that bubbled up over the years and finally found its way to paper. My mother, Joan, and her best friend, Mary, were often found on our back porch, telling stories of their youth -- the town, the river, the people, the adventures, the sadness's, the joys. 

Each month I’ll try to highlight a tidbit of history from Coal Town Girls!

—-Excerpt from Coal Town Girls—-

“Hey, Joan.” Eugene kicked at something in the dirt.

“Eugene, I was wondering if you could do me a favor?” Joan glanced quickly at Peggy who had been taking a long look at Joan down her perfectly freckled nose.

“Sure. If I can, you know I will,” Eugene said. Joan saw him avert his eyes from Peggy’s gaze.

“Well, you see, Mary and I were hoping to go to a dance tonight in Windber,” Joan said. Charlie’s face popped over the side of the sky-blue car like a jack-in-the-box as Joan tugged on a golden-brown strand of hair that escaped her pony tail.

“Yeah, I guess that’d be okay.” Eugene spat nonchalantly at the ground.

“Yeah, I guess that’d be okay,” Charlie echoed with a grin and hopped into the passenger seat like a relay driver at the Indy 500.

“Come on around in an hour then.” Joan smiled and thought about how she was going to break this news to Mary. Peggy O'Conner shot off down Main Street like a rocket on fire. Eugene ran two hands through his sandy blonde hair and spat at the ground, a smile cornering his lips.