The medina is the beating heart of the old city of Marrakech, with narrow winding streets that propel you past cave-like shops filled with everything…
Sharita Russell
Mistletoe – weed or wonder?
Everyone knows the old adage about kissing under the mistletoe, but how did that originate? Well, we can thank the Romans for that (yes,…
The Loneliest Post Office in the World
Living in the tropics, I’ve forgotten what it is like to experience really cold weather. The internet became my trusty go-to for information about…
Rabbits, Eggs, and a Goddess.
Chocolate eggs and rabbits on supermarket shelves announce Easter to us in a modern world. But how are rabbits and eggs related to a religious…
Celebrating the Ides of March
Beware the Ides of March? The Ides of March correlates to the 15th. But why is it so notable? Shakespeare coined this particular phrase, for…
The true origin of Christmas???
I came across a marvellous piece of research recently, for a short story I was writing, about the shamans of Siberia. I learned that like…
Mysteries of Samhain
In Original Sinner, the story takes place over the course of one night—the first night of the festival of Samhain. There is a certain irony…
The Tree of Life and Knowledge
I always wondered why God placed a tree with luscious fruit in the Garden if it wasn’t to be eaten. The standard answer is that…
Plagues and Pandemics
In my novel, Original Sinner, Eve recounts her experiences during the Siege of Caffa and the outbreak of plague. It was certainly thought-provoking to research…