by Marian Exall | Aug 7, 2026 | Musings
I have been preoccupied with war lately. Front of mind: the on-again, off-again senseless hostilities with Iran, and the interminable deadly stalemate in Ukraine. (VOTE, people, VOTE: it’s the least you can do!) Other conflicts continuing in Gaza, Lebanon,... 
by Marian Exall | Mar 6, 2026 | Musings
I enjoy the annual NYCMidnight short story competition. Writers are assigned a genre, a subject and a character, and have 2,500 words and a week to craft their effort. Only once have I been assigned a genre I’m comfortable with—historical fiction—but... 
by Marian Exall | Feb 2, 2026 | Musings
Sisu is the Finnish word for grit, resilience, and determination in facing difficulty. According to a Seattle Times story in January, the concept has its origins in Finland’s resistance to the Soviet Union during the Second World War. It continues today in a... 
by Marian Exall | Sep 24, 2025 | Musings
My sixth novel, Loners, will be published on October 13. Whaaat?! How did that happen?! I remember the thrill of holding my first book baby, A Slippery Slope, in 2012: “Now I can die happy!” I’d self-published the mystery, and when I say... 
by Marian Exall | Aug 15, 2025 | Musings
Romance with a side of eye-roll. For several years, along with thousands of other writers worldwide, I have entered the NYC Midnight short story competition. I love the challenge of writing 2,500 words in a randomly-assigned genre within a week. Stretching outside my...
