Karen McKibbin
Karen McKibbin
Karen McKibbin
Blog
What inspires my writing and catches my eye in everyday life...
A dishevelled blackbird has taken up residence in my garden.
Blackbirds are renowned for their sleek, ink-black plumage. This bird’s feathers are grubby and matted. Sticking out at odd angles, they look as if they’ve been plucked from his body and randomly glued back on again. We’ve named him Boris.
Two blackbirds seen together bring good luck, according to folklore. That should have ...
The story begins in the north coast of Ireland in 795 AD, a time that saw the first 'heathen' raids on Irish monasteries.
My cast of characters include a mother and her young daughter, an Irish monk and a Viking family. An interesting mix, to say the least.
The characters, and their voices, have begun to take shape and I’ve really enjoyed putting pen to paper on this one!
‘The scissor sharpening man is in today,’ said Heidi, my hairdresser. There was a feverish look of excitement in her eyes as she scooped up her scissors and dashed out the door - she didn’t want to miss her turn with him. I ordered a coffee … and waited.
Ten minutes later she returned with a huge smile on her face, cradling the precious scissors in her hands. She held them up to the light ...
Today is Divorce Monday I tell my husband.
‘What does that mean?’ he asks, eyeing me warily.
I explain that the first working Monday following the Christmas break is when most parting couples begin divorce proceedings. He needn’t worry. I have no hidden agenda. It’s just an article in the paper that’s caught my eye.
But it obviously gets him thinking. ‘Why do you suppose we’ve ...
It’s lashing down with rain when I spot a man with an orange flag striding across the field behind my house. A black Labrador is loping alongside him, occasionally nose-diving into the long grass for a root around. The man takes on the air of someone slightly mad as he begins violently thrashing the ground with his flag. I eventually lose sight of him as he heads off towards a large copse of trees ...
A firepit sounded like a great idea.
At the end of a long summer’s day, as the air begins to cool, we could still be outdoors. We’d have the glow of our fire and a canopy of stars to keep us company. In the Autumn, we’d wrap up warm and cosy up next to the flames. We could toast marshmallows. I’ve never toasted a marshmallow in my life but I love the idea of it.
‘Is it meant to do ...
I was about to enter the park near my house when I spotted the dog. Taut and muscular: the type that looks as if it is permanently primed for a fight.
The dog’s female owner was giving chase, trying to grab hold of its neck with one hand and waving a lead in the other. The dog suddenly stopped and locked its eyes on me. Oh crap! What do I do now?
I stood very, very still. Good decision. ...