History remembers Cleopatra VII as the legendary queen who captivated Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, but what if the greatest love of her life was someone history never recorded? The autumn winds of 48 BC swept across Alexandria's harbor as Queen Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator stood on her palace balcony, watching Roman ships approach in … Continue reading The Carpenter’s Heart: The Untold Story of Cleopatra’s Secret Lover
Love
The Gift No One Gave
Welcome back to Blogmas 2025! If you're just joining us, Blogmas is my annual December tradition of posting holiday-themed content every single day from now through Christmas Day. It's ambitious, occasionally exhausting, and somehow I keep doing it year after year. This year, I've enlisted AI to provide daily writing prompts to keep things interesting. … Continue reading The Gift No One Gave
The Healer’s Daughter
The fever had taken hold of Thomas three days ago, and Elisabeth knew with the certainty that comes from watching too many neighbors buried that her little brother was dying. She knelt beside his small form on the rough-hewn bed, pressing a damp cloth to his burning forehead. At eight years old, Thomas had always … Continue reading The Healer’s Daughter
Question of the Week #454
If your teenage son died in a freak accident, and you wanted another child, would you rather clone an identical twin of your dead son or try to have another child naturally? This week's question from Gregory Stock's The Book of Questions ventures into territory that feels almost too sacred to explore—the devastating loss of … Continue reading Question of the Week #454
Question of the Week #426
This week's question comes from Gregory Stock's thought-provoking book, The Book of Questions. It's one that cuts to the heart of how we view love, commitment, and marriage: If you were relatively happily married, had no kids, and met someone you knew would always bring you passionate, intoxicating love, would you leave your spouse? What … Continue reading Question of the Week #426
Blooming Truths
Lily Thornton stared at her reflection in the mirror, gently touching the delicate jasmine flower sprouting from her left cheek. Its white petals contrasted starkly against her olive skin, a constant reminder of the little white lie she'd told her mother yesterday about finishing her chores. At twenty-five, Lily was used to the occasional bloom, … Continue reading Blooming Truths
Blogmas the Twentieth
It's that time of year again—when the air is crisp, the eggnog is flowing, and every other song on the radio is about finding love under the mistletoe. From the classic crooning of Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You" to the bittersweet tale of Wham!'s "Last Christmas," pop culture has a way … Continue reading Blogmas the Twentieth
Incandescent Love
Chicago, 1935 The marquee lights of the Tivoli Theatre glimmered in the rainy night as Evelyn hurried inside, her heels clicking on the wet pavement. She felt a thrill run through her as she entered the sumptuous lobby, all red velvet and gleaming brass. At 25, Evelyn still got a little starry-eyed at the cinema, … Continue reading Incandescent Love
The Carpenter’s Heart
The hammer struck true, driving the nail deep into the oak plank with a satisfying thunk. Sawdust swirled in the morning light that streamed through the workshop windows as Jed Wilson reached for another nail from his worn leather belt. At 44, his hands were strong and callused from decades spent crafting furniture that was … Continue reading The Carpenter’s Heart
Eros
The Primordial Archer In the most ancient Greek sources, Eros was no mere cherub... he was one of the primordial gods involved in the creation of the cosmos itself. The pre-Socratic philosopher Parmenides depicted Eros as the very first deity to emerge into existence. Hesiod's Theogony listed him as the fourth god after Chaos, Earth, … Continue reading Eros
The Confusing Middle 