https://www.jaycroft.net/blog daily 1.0 2025-12-09 https://www.jaycroft.net/blog/my-friend-the-author-david-allison monthly 0.5 2025-12-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/1765323023837-E4MM645PK2C51TO71PZ4/unsplash-image-TEYrLTKKMSg.jpg As I Was Saying... - My Friend the Author: David Allison - His latest venture is Clumsy Courage books for children. “Finding a Sport for Hector”, for example, uses humor to teach the importance of perseverance and finding activities that are the right fit for you, as Hector tries out sport after sport. Knowing David’s background, it’s easy to guess which sport is just right for him at the end. https://www.jaycroft.net/blog/putting-an-edge-on-it monthly 0.5 2025-10-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/1760307649900-MD5976IWNW6EQ9Q386F2/IMG_3963-small-small.jpg As I Was Saying... - Putting an edge on it https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/1760307650096-BH1BZZ3GK2BOU17XQUKD/IMG_3967-small-small.jpg As I Was Saying... - Putting an edge on it https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/1760307653096-XFPF0AVK99SV5L215D1Q/IMG_3968-small-small.jpg As I Was Saying... - Putting an edge on it https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/1760307653222-RTKDANC1J7D6HVLWZNHW/IMG_3969-small-small.jpg As I Was Saying... - Putting an edge on it https://www.jaycroft.net/blog/my-friend-the-author-bob-welbaum monthly 0.5 2025-09-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/1758403649163-PUIDWROOKQCYTLZKSG56/unsplash-image-RrhhzitYizg.jpg As I Was Saying... - My Friend the Author: Bob Welbaum - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.jaycroft.net/blog/the-unboxing monthly 0.5 2025-09-12 https://www.jaycroft.net/blog/thirty-years-in-the-making monthly 0.5 2025-08-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/fe06b053-3142-47ae-83e8-a58cabaaed6b/Cover+Proof+Capture.JPG As I Was Saying... - Thirty Years in the Making - It’s a book! I’ve approved the proofs (spoiler alert: they’re awesome) and the first print copies are winging their way to my mailbox in Oro Valley! Lullaby in Red is a visually sumptuous children’s picture book for all ages based on the song of the same name from my first album, Anchored to the Wind. Expanded with new verses and re-recorded at Barrel Cactus Studio in Fountain Hills (yes, a free download of the song is included), this updated story is illustrated by Paige Ozma Ashmore’s fantastical pastels. After looking at what the authors of other children’s books are doing these days, I chose to go with the 8-1/2” X 11” paperback format as the best option to keep the book affordable while preserving the detail of Paige’s artwork. https://www.jaycroft.net/blog/lost-letter-office monthly 0.5 2025-08-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/7a1159a6-14cb-4c88-a82b-5c72dd4b0ff7/Feet.jpg As I Was Saying... - Lost letter office - I saw a meme recently that reminded me of a letter I received long ago, and kept briefly, and discarded. I hadn’t given a thought to it in the decades that have passed between, but like so many memories laid down in the first act of my life it remains crystal clear and detailed, where more recent memories blur into a hum. Back in the 1980s, when Astronomy was still a print magazine that arrived in the mail each month smelling of glossy paper and ink, there was a section in the back where you could advertise for a pen pal. “Seeking correspondence with others interested in discussing observation of deep sky objects” they would say. I took the leap. “Seeking correspondence with others interested in astronomy and the TV show Star Trek.” Two months, three elapsed before my ad appeared in print. Instantly a flood of letters from strangers arrived in the Freeman mailbox. Astronomy fans, sci fi fans, young and old from all corners of the US and Canada. The ones whose sole interest was exchanging lists of deep sky objects soon fell off, my telescope being a wimpy refractor. Others became fast friends, corresponding for years on any topic that took our fancy. And then there was this guy. I don’t recall his name, only that he was in his thirties – not quite ancient in my teenage eyes but old enough to command the wary regard I held adults in at that age. He had once, he told me, been an avid sci fi fan like me. As he grew older he put such foolish things behind him and so, he assured me, would I. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/f44325ae-26ef-4108-9abd-2bf117bad2eb/Shadow-cat-star.jpeg As I Was Saying... - Lost letter office - Boy, do I have news for you about Lullaby in Red! Watch this space over the next fortnight! https://www.jaycroft.net/blog/refining-my-technique monthly 0.5 2025-04-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/de7543b9-cafa-4d44-83ba-d4101720f944/Hook.jpg As I Was Saying... - Refining my technique - Another beginner blacksmithing class at Arizona Metal Arts, another hook! Why are you being so stupid? https://www.jaycroft.net/blog/fresh-prints-amp-posters monthly 0.5 2025-04-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/c2576834-3739-43ae-aca1-da331321289b/b5192d93-ede1-456a-b1a1-dcdd999c2449.png As I Was Saying... - Fresh Prints (& Posters)! - AND! For the first week both new prints are on sale for 20% off! Find them in the Lullaby in Red Collection in the Jaycroft online shop. https://www.jaycroft.net/blog/la-peste monthly 0.5 2025-03-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/1743184539597-PBBIP7MIDYSIAWY69N3I/unsplash-image-iBER-hi4DyU.jpg As I Was Saying... - La Peste https://www.jaycroft.net/blog/new-release-on-smashwords monthly 0.5 2025-03-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/4116c00e-b75e-44f4-9ab6-8071ee0cde33/GP-Cover-photo+-+Working+w+text.JPG As I Was Saying... - New release on Smashwords - New short story on Smashwords! I had some fun with this one. An historical fantasy - or rather a pre-historical fantasy. What might our earliest ancestors, applying their curiosity and intelligence to the world around them, have made of their dreams, illogical and insubstantial? Would it be foolish to act on them, or would that, in their world, make perfect sense? https://www.jaycroft.net/blog/i-made-a-thing monthly 0.5 2025-03-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/8709349c-788c-49ba-ac57-9f2e9058430e/IMG_1672.jpg As I Was Saying... - I made a thing! - Make it stand out Forging a hook at Desert Metal Craft https://www.jaycroft.net/blog/lullaby-in-progress-an-update monthly 0.5 2025-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/6ae4ca1f-3353-448d-8ff4-162507005009/For-Update.jpg As I Was Saying... - Lullaby in Progress: an Update Strawberry tart, Rhubarb scone, Apples on the hillside grown…. https://www.jaycroft.net/blog/introducing-nancoin monthly 0.5 2025-01-28 https://www.jaycroft.net/blog/as-i-was-saying monthly 0.5 2024-11-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/1730911723255-RY2NLHT8Q5O25LYHFY0A/unsplash-image-2C2HU9XzcB8.jpg As I Was Saying... - As I was saying… - Make it stand out Stellar’s Jay perched on a branch with red fruits. https://www.jaycroft.net/contact daily 0.75 2025-08-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/1755957103649-JBQUD14HUGTITK3AWDMF/unsplash-image-SO0alFysHTg.jpg https://www.jaycroft.net/bio daily 0.75 2024-10-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/1722376881.442413-SXAHRDUFIKMYOAQHKTIO/imgg-od3-ae9p4u_r.png https://www.jaycroft.net/home daily 0.75 2024-10-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/1b3a452d-254a-4814-ab7a-63a36fc894b9/IMG_8796.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/1722376881.238204-TBGAZSACPAXIKBZIRXMV/imgg-od3-0i1nyri4.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/1730315983074-RWFFCIY4LGY8UZNJS9TM/unsplash-image-ktPKyUs3Qjs.jpg https://www.jaycroft.net/music daily 0.75 2024-10-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/ffd9009f-d8cc-4a3e-9ef4-49a5369846f2/CD.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/1192fbeb-36de-4bff-954d-2ea9611b3a97/portrait-frangipani.jpg https://www.jaycroft.net/words daily 0.75 2025-09-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/5c6b65c6-12b1-45c5-b99b-57c642ed3588/Thumbnail-SqSp.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/bfa1d138-4eaf-431e-951d-59a0edd6f91c/Goodreads+temp+portrait.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/1757687739682-Q6M4OS4N86WL4S96214O/unsplash-image-eeSdJfLfx1A.jpg https://www.jaycroft.net/shop daily 0.75 2025-08-29 https://www.jaycroft.net/shop/lullaby-in-red monthly 0.5 2025-11-23 https://www.jaycroft.net/shop/p/lullaby-dream-journal-cardinal monthly 0.5 2025-11-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/ae1c1b2d-6f72-440a-9059-ddc7d87a1505/Cardinal+journal+front.jpeg Shop - 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Lullaby Dream Journal - Horseback Rider - Blank book interior.jpeg https://www.jaycroft.net/shop/p/lullaby-in-red-autographed-edition monthly 0.5 2025-12-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/b926b630-81a6-4846-abd9-9b8b55380279/Cover+Proof+Capture.JPG Shop - Lullaby in Red - Autographed edition - Cover Proof Capture.JPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/35832bfa-643e-4f29-828e-94775746ba7a/Interior-bat-reduced-50.jpg Shop - Lullaby in Red - Autographed edition - Interior-bat-reduced-50.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/1ca860e2-d637-41a9-af41-72b38396257e/Interior-shadow-cats.jpeg Shop - Lullaby in Red - Autographed edition - Interior-shadow-cats.jpeg https://www.jaycroft.net/shop/p/cicadas-style-2-10x10-print monthly 0.5 2025-09-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/1757293610480-TBHYU90OLHX8LTW2J853/enhanced-matte-paper-poster-%28in%29-10x10-transparent-68be2c237185b.jpg Shop - Cicadas Style #2 - 10"X10" Print https://www.jaycroft.net/shop/p/ballerina-geckos-10x10-print monthly 0.5 2025-08-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/1755292665762-CUX9T49Q6D7VGEIGA0YY/enhanced-matte-paper-poster-%28in%29-10x10-transparent-689fa3f4ce315.jpg Shop - Ballerina Geckos - 10"X10" Print https://www.jaycroft.net/shop/p/shadow-cats-10x10-print monthly 0.5 2025-08-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/1755290992130-5HXALFET8XGWP69YTJG7/enhanced-matte-paper-poster-%28in%29-10x10-transparent-689f9d6c42513.jpg Shop - Shadow Cats - 10"X10" Print https://www.jaycroft.net/shop/p/cicadas-10x10-print monthly 0.5 2025-04-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/f1d07561-5e42-481d-91c2-5ca111e5a208/enhanced-matte-paper-poster-%28in%29-10x10-front-67f2d7a6b55d2.jpg Shop - Cicadas - 10"X10" Print https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/42d3b0c1-75aa-42a1-aa4b-b4d4b25fcdfb/enhanced-matte-paper-poster-%28in%29-10x10-front-67f2d7a6b553b.jpg Shop - Cicadas - 10"X10" Print https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/010ce0e7-83fb-41be-bb97-8b2f755ef839/b5192d93-ede1-456a-b1a1-dcdd999c2449+%281%29.png Shop - Cicadas - 10"X10" Print https://www.jaycroft.net/shop/p/lullaby-dream-journal-dancing-gecko monthly 0.5 2025-11-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/e33962fc-cd85-4ce7-85b1-442b66a55836/Blank+book+interior.jpeg Shop - Lullaby Dream Journal - Dancing Gecko - Blank book interior.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/8c689252-3460-45a1-8798-4610da6c29a4/Gecko+journal+front.jpeg Shop - Lullaby Dream Journal - Dancing Gecko - Gecko journal front.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67226d5e3b121f2961856ae9/aed27b0b-8736-4c21-9d4a-f5888c8a692d/Journal+backs.jpeg Shop - Lullaby Dream Journal - Dancing Gecko - Journal backs.jpeg