Crann na beatha Stories and Poetry

A programing note to start off: I tried just offering audio files to accompany these weekly articles and after retrospect, I decided to go back to videos again. You have the choice, once again, of watching me or just reading the article. If you truly just want to listen to an audio post, you can find the audio podcast on most major podcast platforms and also on my website at www.crann-na-beatha.com. Thank you for indulging me once again.FáilteWelcome to The Village Oak TreeI am your host, Terrance Ó Domhnaill.Thank you for joining me.I have so much going on this month, I’m having trouble keeping up, so I’m going to make this a short one this week, sort of.Lately, I’ve been picking up more and more IT gig work from this company I’ve been working for, for the last five years. They want me to take care of corporate computer refreshes and network printer installs out the wazoo lately and I can’t seem to get ahead on my own work. The worst part is, like all gig work, the pay sucks and there’s no benefits. How many of you can relate?This week, I want to touch on a point again about something near and dear to my heart. I know I’ve said this a few times before that I’m married to a foreign born wife, who has a daughter living in another state, also foreign born and these days, I’m constantly worried for their safety.So, gather round, sit you down somewhere comfortable for a bit and let’s talk about what Trump’s latest anti-immigrant foreign policies might mean for people like us.I watched a MS Now news story last Sunday about a Chinese asylum seeker that hit home for me and it got me thinking about all of this again. I’m also including this story from Zeteo that they published last Sunday to add to this.Trump and Stephen Miller want to come after everyone they don’t like, period, full stop. They’ve never tried to hide this but in the last week, they’ve decided to ramp things up even more.In the wake of the killing and wounding of those two national guard soldiers a couple of weeks ago, Trump and company have decided that immigration services will now be tasked with “reviewing” all green card holders and naturalized citizenship grantees from nineteen countries that Trump and Miller have decided that are national security risks or high risk.They even pulled out a couple of people from the que at a naturalization ceremony in Boston last week because they were originally from one of the countries on Trump’s new list. They were told to just go home. Their swearing in ceremony canceled indefinitely as they do a deeper dive on their records. Now, they’re worried about being deported.In accordance with The Office of Homeland Security Statistics, there are approximately 12.8 million legal Permanent residents with valid green cards living in the U.S. Many of whom have been living here for decades. According to the Migrant Policy Institute, there are nearly 25 million naturalized citizens living in the U.S. Both classes of immigrants constituting nearly 10 percent of the U.S. population now in 2025. Do the Project 2025 founders truly think they will remain in power long enough to deport 10 percent of the American population at some point in the future? Anyone with half a brain knows they can’t possibly do this by the end of 2028, so what’s their plan?Back in 2011, I was single and dating a French Canadian widow for a time, who has been living in the U.S. under a green card for decades. Her kids, adults, were born in the U.S. We were both living in a border town in north eastern Maine and she has extensive family living across the border in New Brunswick, Canada. I would take her to visit her family members now and again during the year we dated and I never had any issues crossing back and forth across the border at either the Limestone, Maine crossing or at the Madawaska, Maine crossing. The point I’m making here, is that there are a lot of Canadians living in the U.S. with just green cards from Maine to Washington State. What if Trump decides on a whim that he doesn’t like Canadians and wants them all deported, regardless of immigration status? This is what he’s saying he wants to do to the Somalians, Haitians, Afghans and all of these people from the 19 countries he’s just decided he doesn’t like.Think about that for a minute. This means that valid Permanent Resident Aliens with green cards are no longer safe, especially if they’re from one of these nineteen countries. As we all know, this list will expand at the whim of Der Führer. Rubio has been revoking green cards since last January, so this is nothing real new, but it is an expansion, something those of us who’ve been paying attention, have said would be coming.We’re there now.On top of all of that, there is the story I mentioned at the beginning of today’s show. That story about the Chinese immigrant who came to the U.S. to apply for sanctuary, or asylum as they call it. CBP arrested him at his last immigration check in meeting a couple of months ago and they also too

This venture is an experiment to see if anyone likes these kinds of stories. I have more, if there’s an interest. If you don’t like stories like this, let it go and I’ll be back with my regular podcast next Wednesday for those who would rather I talk and write about what’s going on in the world. If you do like it, let me know.FáilteWelcome to The Village Oak TreeI am your seanchaí, Terrance Ó Domhnaill.Thank you for joining me.Today, I'm going to start reading a short story I wrote a couple of years ago. I will break it down into short bits so the written portion fits on your mobiles and give it to you over the next couple of weekends. If people tell me they like this sort of thing now and again, I'll do it again sometime. I have a few other stories I've written, plus some of the olde ones that I can bring to the village oak tree to tell.So, gather round, sit you down somewhere comfortable for a bit and let me tell you the story of Sean Murphy and The Púka of Log na Coille.Sean Murphy, Big Murph as his mates called him in the local pub, was a big man, both in size and temperament, he always had been. And he knew it too. He never had a problem pushing himself around the town trying to be the big man and being well liked by all of his neighbors and mates.He was a noted hiker and loved to hike up on Log na Coille or Lug Mountain as the tourists called it, from where he lived in the little town of Cnoc an Aragain (Knocknarrigan). He would go up for hours at a time looking for lost treasures left by the tourists and the legend of Sidhe treasure whenever he had free time. Truth be told, he was more interested in finding the Sidhe treasure that was supposed to be on this mountain, according to the old stories.Tourists rarely left anything of real value but he would always take a small bag because, as he would tell his mates over a pint, “You never know what you might find up there someday”. He knew the towns people thought he was a bit touched in the head over his obsession with finding any Sidhe treasure but he wasn’t afraid of anyone and he would tell them so after he’d downed a pint or two. No one dared to come right out and say it to his face as he would threaten them with a thrashing if they did.Despite the snickering and remarks behind his back, he continued his trips up the mountain to see what he could find. When he was younger, he would brag to any and all about how he was going to find the Sidhe gold someday and show them all he was right. As he never found anything through the years, he eventually stopped talking about it in the pub. He knew everyone was making fun of him but he just knew it was only a matter of time. He told himself he mustn’t give up the quest.By now, he was starting to get a little on in years and his little shop was doing well enough for him to get by comfortably these days. The fever to find a rich hoard of Sidhe gold wasn’t as strong as it was in his more adventurous younger days. Nowadays, he continued to scavenge the tourist trails, looking for lost items like the occasional gold bracelet or other small treasures, all lost by the many tourists who climbed the trail around the mountain. What little he found, he would take to the local lost and found in the town and if no one claimed it within a certain time, he’d pawn it off and drink the money up at the pub.He usually went up the mountain late in the afternoons on the weekends, after most of the tourists had left the park. Lug mountain was not a place to be wandering the trails after dark though. There were the usual dangers of the fog and rain at the top and in the valleys around. Then, there were all of the legends of the Fae who were supposed to be out and about in the more rugged areas off the marked trails.This is where Big Murph liked to go after he had scavenged the tourist trails. Especially if he didn’t find anything of value around the tourist trails. He had lived in Cnoc an Aragain all of his life and he knew all of the stories. He also knew that despite the legends, the mountain could be dangerous all on its own. There were rocky cliffs and hard walking off the trails where a man could make a wrong turn or trip on a rock and it would be over before anyone could find him.On this particular Saturday, he waited until late afternoon, as he was wont to do, before setting out on the main trail from town. He’d been this way so many times since his youth, he could hike it blindfolded. Not that he would. Despite his familiarity, there were too many things that could happen without warning, such as the weather, and it didn’t pay to take chances or take anything for granted.While he walked up the familiar trail, he would tip his hat to the tourists. It paid to be nice as they provided the town a nice revenue stream from their tourism. His little shop being one of the beneficiaries of that money. Sean Murphy’s shop sold metal trinkets that he made himself out in a little shop in the back of his store. There were little metal bra

FáilteWelcome back to another episode of Crann na beatha Stories and PoetryI am Terrance Ó Domhnaill, your village scéalaí, returning again this week after my holiday with more stories and poems from authors around the world.This week, I have three stories and two poemsI continue with The Grave Diggers of Orpheus chapter 10, another short scary story from the same author, an scary Irish story from a Medium writer, and two poems. I will be reading one of my own scary poems this week as this is the last show before Samhain and finish up with a nice thought provoking, meditative poem from Bulgaria.Some notes about future changes to this show. I had talked before about making some changes regarding this show starting in November and I decided to stretch things out a bit. I will continue the current schedule and title until next July but I will be uploading the shows under The Village Oak Tree heading on rss.com starting in November. The same for my Substack page. By next July, everything will be under that heading and Crann na beatha Stories and Poetry as a separate show will cease. I figured it would be better for everyone if I changed things up slowly rather than doing anything abrupt.So gather round once more and let me read to you under the shade of the Crann na beatha, the tree of life. To offer a glimpse into what I did last week while on holiday, I will give you a couple of details.My wife and I went up to Brooklyn, New York so my wife could celebrate our youngest grandson’s first birthday. Sounds simple enough, right?Our difficulty lies in that we drove our RV motorhome. I hate hotels. I managed to find an RV campsite somewhat close to Brooklyn, in Jersey City, New Jersey. The campground had high ratings in our guidebook and their website touted the closeness to the Statue of Liberty, plus upscale camping facilities and so on.It turned out to be just the opposite. The campground was run down and shabby looking, run by some folks who needed to find some investors. The electrical system was a mess with me fighting with it to keep things on. We kept tripping breakers when we needed something besides just lights. The place was just an old converted downtown parking lot next to the dock yards. Miles from the Statue of Liberty. You could see it from the docks but it was at least five miles off. I did manage to get a couple of pictures with my large zoom lens.My son in-law told me that the reason the place was so expensive, was that Jersey City is considered a high rent district. Given the high rises surrounding us, I could believe it but my issue was the deception by the campground. The place looked nothing like the pictures on their website. Needless to say, we will never stay there again.Otherwise, the visit with children and grandchildren was great. They went to the restaurant to eat and enjoy the party and I stayed behind at my son in-law’s house to dog sit and get a little work done on my book. Everybody was happy.We like to travel in our RV whenever we can. My wife loves to visit national and state parks to enjoy nature, or as much as one can from an RV park. We have visited some parks where there were no hookups per say and had a great time. We have also discovered RV parks that sucked and marked them off our list of returns someday.My wife wants me to take her back to Key West, Florida someday so she can watch the sunrise and sunset from the same camping spot. We didn’t get to do that last time we went a couple years ago.Next year, we are going out west to make a loop through all of the more famous national parks, such as Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Bryson Canyon, the Grand Canyon and so forth. I will take lots of pictures to share.In the meantime, I will keep reading stories and poems throughout the cold weather months much like my ancestors did in ancient times. We don’t have a meeting hall with a big fireplace to sit around drinking mead while the seanchaí tells the old stories these days but I do try to bring something close to that here.That’s it for this week. I appreciate everyone who drops by to listen to the stories and poems, and read a little bit about my adventures now and again. Sláinte As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. "May your path rise up to meet you and the sun warm your bonnet as you walk down the lane to the pub. May your travels bring you to a quiet place where the ocean meets the sky and the birds greet you with a kind word or two." Slán go fóill - goodbye for now.Stories and Poems for the week:The Arianrhod TreasureA mantle of feminine powerAuthor, D. Denise DianatyThe HungerTerrance Ó DomhnaillA New DayComes with the dawnMariana BusarovaCrann na beatha-The Tree of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Thanks for reading Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If

This is just a quick post to let everyone know that I did not have the time to record any stories and poems this week as I am going on holiday for the weekend. My schedule was so busy, I was unable to manage the time to record something earlier in the week.I will be back on schedule next week with the stories I had saved up for this week. Thank you for understanding. SláinteT. Ó Domhnaill - Gaelic Seanchaí This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit todomhnaill.substack.com/subscribe

FáilteWelcome back to another episode of Crann na beatha Short Stories and PoetryI am Terrance Ó Domhnaill, your village scéalaí, returning again this week with more stories and poems from authors around the world.This week, I have three science fiction stories and a poem about the children of PalestineI continue with the two serialized space faring stories this week from Substack writers, with a scary science fiction story and the poem I just mentioned. This episode may be a bit shorter than usual as I had a time trying to find enough decent stories to fill the half hour. Next week, I will start bringing seasonal stories and poetry as I can find them as we get closer to Samhain.So gather round once more and let me read to you under the shade of the crann na beatha, the tree of life. Click play above to listen to the stories and poem.I am struggling a bit to find enough stories and poems again to fill the half hour these days. Today was a good example. I came in just under the thirty minute mark. I do have a couple of stories and poems set for next week, plus the two serialized stories I have been reading. I have tried very hard not to offer two stories from the same writer but I will be making an exception next week, since we are coming up on Samhain.This is the time of year when all of us write spooky stories and poetry and I am no exception. I have one of my own scary poems I dusted off and tweaked a little bit for next week. I rarely read any of my own work because this show is supposed to be for other writers whom I find that write such excellent material. I will let the audience judge whether I am making a mistake or not.All of which brings me back to the future of this podcast. I will scrounge up enough stories to maintain my current schedule until the end of this month. Then, I will be combining my podcasts back into one. The Village Oak Tree.I will still read stories and poetry on a regular basis but only when I have found enough stories and poems to make up a thirty minute show. So, it might be once a week, or I might skip a week to give me time to gather up enough stories.I will create a audio and video broadcast with these details as we get closer to the end of the month and post it in all of my media platforms and social media accounts.It is time to get back to work on my book writing and I can’t do that if I am spending my work week producing podcasts. I have decided after a year, to prioritize my goals. I have had fun doing these shows but it is time to turn back to writing the stories that are bouncing around in my head.Especially since I am not charging for these podcasts, like some people on the podcast circuit seem to think I should be doing. I am content to keep my Substack page the way it is for now. If someone wants to be generous and offer a little support, there are many ways to do so. The obvious way is to be a paid subscriber here but this is probably the only time anyone has ever seen me say so here. I am not one to go around hat in hand, just so you know.I do mention my donations opportunities for my efforts on my podcast web page at rss.com and on my website at www.crann-na-beatha.com for anyone with some spare change or so in each podcast as a commercial break.Enough about that. I leave you the readers of these small newsletters with my thank you for all of the support you have to offer. Even if it’s just a bit of a read now and again. Sláinte As a Seanchaí, I hope you will allow me to continue delighting you with a story or a poem here under the Crann na beatha. Maybe they will bring you a smile and take you away from your troubles for a time. As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. "Let the devil take the low road and you take the high road. Ne’re the two of you ever meet at the pub when you arrive there" Slán go fóill - goodbye for now.T. Ó Domnhaill - Gaelic SeanchaíI near forgot to add in the links to the stories and poem. Here they are a day late. Sorry.Don’t ReadIt’s life-threateningNevena PascalevaWhispers of Innocence:The of Children Palestine… A PoemCreative CapricornThanks for reading Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life! This post is public so feel free to share it.Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit todomhnaill.substack.com/subscribe

Cead FáilteWelcome back to another episode of Crann na beatha Short Stories and PoetryI am Terrance Ó Domhnaill, your village scéalaí, returning again this week with more stories and poems from authors around the world.This week, I have three stories and a lovely poem from my friend in BulgariaI am starting a new space opera series today, along with the ongoing story The Gravediggers of Orpheus. My last story is a short story about loneliness, and the poem is about sadness.So gather round once more and let me read to you under the shade of the crann na beatha, the tree of life. Click the play button above to listen to this week’s selections if you want to hear the audio podcast.I wish once again to thank the writers that allow me to read their stories and poems to the world. I can’t thank them enough as without them, this little show wouldn’t be possible.I will also add that this podcast is growing in listeners as more and more people seem to be looking for a little time out from all of the chaos going on. Not only on Substack but through my hosting platform at rss.com, where this show is distributed all over the world. I don’t have many listeners outside of the U.S. but there are a handful so I have hopes that maybe I can reach more people around the world with these stories and poems.I am sure that some of this is due to the language barrier and I wish there was a way for me to set up a translator for this podcast audiobook so it could be broadcast in multiple languages around the world. I did set up Google Translate on my website at www.crann-na-beatha.com so that people around the world can read what I have there. I tested it myself when I set it up and it reverted the website to Gaeilge just fine, and back to English again with no troubles at all. There are many more available languages in the translator tool than I can relate here but you get the idea. I put the link dead center of the Home page so you can hardly miss it. I’m afraid that it only translates the written words though and not the audio in the podcast episodes. That is something I wish I could set up. I wonder if there is an app for that? Does Substack have an option for these posts to be translated into other languages? If so, how does a body check that in the settings? Wouldn’t it be grand if I could record this podcast and have it translated to the majority of the world’s primary languages? Languages such as French, German, Russian, Spanish, Dutch, Chinese, Japanese, Malaysian, Hindi, Arabic, Farsi and so many others to be able to name here.Could you imagine the impact our writings and podcasts would have if more people around the world could read and listen to our words in their native languages?Sure and I am dreaming big, weighty thoughts here but it’s worth thinking about. I would love to think I can use this podcast to bring the world’s peoples a little closer together for a brief spell every week. God’s know we could all use a time out now and again from all of the world’s troubles. I will leave everyone who reads this with this thought. Do you think the world would be a better place to live in if we all could move past our differences in language, cultures, the colors of our skin and so on? Imagine a place where there were no more wars and abject poverty to the point of starvation? A world of smiling people all eager to help one another out in trying times? We can dream can’t we.Go raibh maith agat. Thank you for reading this and listening to the show (hopefully). I hope you enjoyed the variety of stories and poems again this week. If you like the show, please share it with anyone you care to. I offer it for free so everyone that can find it will have an opportunity to listen to the stories and poems, for which I will add links to at the bottom here.As a Seanchaí, I hope you will allow me to continue delighting you with a story or a poem here under the Crann na beatha. Maybe they will bring you a smile and take you away from your troubles for a time. As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. "May your days bring you peace and contentment and your hearths be welcoming to all who visit your home." Slán go fóill - goodbye for now.T. Ó Domhnaill - Gaelic SeanchaíThe Gravediggers of Orpheus [8]Kathrine ElaineYou Have to Love Yourself TooA short story inspired by one of my favorite quotes from “Once Upon a Time”Sara FellersSilver in the Fleeting GlowA spiral of sadnessMariana BusarovaThanks for reading Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life! This post is public so feel free to share it.Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit todomhnaill.substack.com/subscribe

Cead FáilteWelcome back to another episode of Crann na beatha Short Stories and PoetryI am Terrance Ó Domhnaill, your village scéalaí, returning again this week with more stories and poems from authors around the world.This week, I have two stories and three poems for everyoneMy first fiction story is from a new writer I found. Then, another episode of The gravediggers of Orpheus. The three poems I bring are written to make one think. The last two are about the war in Palestine and are a bit harsh. One is from an Australian woman who rages against imperialism on her Substack page, and my last one is from another activist who lives in the north of Ireland. I will do my best to record this poem in her own voice as she posted a video of herself reading this poem on her Substack page. Her voice is so much better than mine when it comes to this kind of poem. I will add their page links in the newsletters later today.So gather round once more and let me read to you under the shade of the crann na beatha, the tree of life. Click the play button above to listen to this special show.I will say that when I recorded Ramona McCloskey’s own reading of her poem, it turned out better than I expected. Her special Palestine poem is the very last one for the day. I hope anyone reading this takes some time to listen to her in the show.That is the theme for today’s show, sort of. The first story is a bit of an activist kind of story if you read between the lines a bit, and the last two poems were definitely pro-Palestine poems. Although Caitlin Johnstone’s poem is more of a rage against the imperialists that are allowing all of this carnage to happen in the first place.I subscribe to both of these people’s Substack pages and get their articles in my email box. I also subscribe to a lot of other people as well, both on Substack and Medium. I try to support all those I can, as I can, as funds allow.I also subscribe to Jessica Wildfire, wherever she goes on the internet as well. But she doesn’t publish anything I would use for this show. I just wanted to giver her a shout out as she is struggling a bit now trying to find a stable platform to host her website. People like her need all the help they can get in these trying times.I will say this again. This is what this podcast and newsletter are all about. To support all of those who write and are struggling to make ends meet from week to week. Some of you are doing okay financially and that is good too. I still want to do what I can to support writers struggling to make themselves stand out from the crowd. The very large crowd of world-wide online writers and poets.This will continue for as long as I can. Maybe under a different name, sort of, soon but the stories and poems will still be there for all to hear on a weekly or semi-weekly basis.If I do slow down a bit, I will probably lose my air spot on WAA Radio but that is okay. They aren’t paying me anything anyway. That’s what happens when you agree to work for a non-profit. You do so out of the kindness of your heart, or so they tell me.Who knows, they may censor me anyway after the reading of these two poems today. No great loss if they do. This podcast airs in a time slot that only appeals to people working the evening or graveyard shift anyway. I have been told that it is mostly the trucking industry that listens to their radio show and we know that a majority of truck drivers are very conservative as a rule.I am anticipating an email from the station manager next week regarding my selections for this week’s show telling me that people called in complaining about these poems. I have an answer for him if he does.I am looking for more stories and poetry that support the Palestinians and to raise a voice to stop the genocide in Gaza, the West Bank, and now, maybe Lebanon. If any of you have anything you wish to offer, I will be glad to read them for you here.Feck the Americans and their corporate censors if they don’t like it.That’s another thing you may start seeing a little more of as I become more angry at the world we find ourselves in. My Irish idioms are starting to bleed through a little bit more with my temper. Please excuse me. I am starting to lose my patience with these ijits that call themselves world leaders and elected politicians. This applies to all of the countries everywhere, including Ireland.I read another newsletter from Sinn Féin this week talking about how they have lost a generation of young professionals who have left Ireland for Australia and Canada as there are no houses or apartments available or affordable in Ireland anymore. Notice I did not say the United States. No one but the uninformed poor want to come to America anymore.In the U.S., Canada, and Australia, affordable and available housing is a big issue as well. I won’t even mention the UK as they are in a category all to themselves.But I digress. This is how angry I have become as I watch the world start to go up in flames everywhere.If you w

Cead FáilteWelcome back to another episode of Crann na beatha Short Stories and PoetryI am Terrance Ó Domhnaill, your village scéalaí, returning again this week with more stories and poems from authors around the world.This week, I have three stories for everyoneWe continue with part 2 of that Bulgarian tale about a girl and dragons. Then, another episode of The gravediggers of Orpheus, and a scary techno thriller called The Suff, which apparently is a urban legend on Substack these days with other writers posting stories about this character.So gather round once more and let me read to you under the shade of the crann na beatha, the tree of life.I am starting to enter into a new phase leading up to the New Year at the end of October. I finally made up my mind on how I want to change things up to help me manage my time better throughout the work week.I will be combining this podcast with my other one, The Village Oak Tree, starting on November first in line with the Celtic new year. I had determined a few months ago that what I have been doing every week wasn’t sustainable for me over the long run and I needed to think about the best way to manage all of this.I came to the conclusion this week that drawing down a little was the only thing I could do it and still maintain the relationships I have with the writers and WAA Radio.My plan is to put everything under one umbrella, The Village Oak Tree, and see how things work out. If it is still too much, such as keeping me from doing the other things I have on my to do list, I will slow it down even more but that remains to be seen.I do enjoy reading the stories and poems for everyone. That is the easy part, the reading. Then I have to edit and that is the bulk of the work that takes up nearly a whole day to create the final podcast, get it posted, then write the newsletters and post to social media.I still like to create news commentary and interview people as well but I think that part of my media company will slow way down. Reading stories and poems will become my primary podcast material.My intent is to free up more of my time to finish writing my books. I didn’t know how much was involved in writing books until I ventured down that path last year. That adventure has cost me a lot of money (And I am still spending) to get a book published, with a good cover design, proof reading (Something I just found out I need) and marketing, which in itself is a big expense and leg work.Who knew back in early 2023, when I decided to self-publish my story, Fugitives in a New United States, that it would cost me so much in time and money way beyond just setting my story on digital paper.They say that you learn your lessons on the first go around and it gets better going forward. I certainly hope so. I have contacted an indie publishing company this week that I hope will be good to work with. I have heard so many horror stories from other authors about their efforts to publish their books that I am very leery now. I don’t want to get taken advantage of, like Danielle Orsino did, whom I interviewed a couple of weeks ago.I have had a LinkedIn account for many years because of my former vocations. When I started writing, I redid my profile to reflect my new writing career. Here lately, I have been inundated with young people from the U.S., and central — west Africa trying to get me to ‘hire’ them to digitally market my book.I obviously politely said no thank you. I understand that this kind of work is a good work from home gig, if you can get the clients, but I am not going to put my trust in anyone I don’t know or can not verify on the internet. Especially when we are talking about several hundred dollars for dubious services.I am also dubious about someone who tries to low-ball me for services as that might be a sign that they are not who they say they are. I am looking at someone right now that looks a little fishy to proof read my book.That is something I am learning about LinkedIn of late. It used to be website for professional people to network on. A search for reputable companies that may be hiring and so on. Now, I think it may have gone to the dogs. It seems to be full of possible scammers these days. I have never been flooded with so many people sending me messages wanting me to hire them to work on my book and they with nothing but a profile on LinkedIn.This all started when I had a reader leave a review on Amazon last month stating that there are lots of grammar and spelling errors that distracted from the story. So, now I am looking for a professional proof reader to scrub the manuscript for me so I can make any corrections and resubmit to my book distributors.I worked so hard with Suzy Jacobson Cherry when she offered her expertise in editing this book in the beginning. Now, I feel bad that I have to scrub it again just to make sure. Sorry Suzy, if you read this.Are there any professional proof readers on Medium or Substack who might be interested in proof reading

Cead FáilteWelcome back to another episode of Crann na beatha Short Stories and PoetryI am Terrance Ó Domhnaill, your village scéalaí, returning again this week with more stories and poems from authors around the world.This week, I have three stories and two poems.My first story is part 1 of a Bulgarian tale about a young girl and dragons. I will read part 2 next week. My second story is a take from old Scottish Gael stories about Brownies. Then the third is from Africa. A story about a parrot and his love. The poems I picked out are about war and death and a dark poem about Autumn from a Substack writer.So gather round once more and let me read to you under the shade of the crann na beatha, the tree of life.The days grow shorter as the harvest season comes to another year end. The days grow cooler now as we head into Autumn. For some, this brings on the changing fall colors of the trees and setting the heat for the cooler nights ahead. When I lived way up north, I would already be burning wood to warm the house up at night by this time of year.I am traveling a bit more now and trying to keep up with my work week, so to speak. I keep telling myself that I am supposed to be retired. My plan after the turn of the new year is to spend less time with podcasting and more time with traveling and writing.I will still put forth this podcast/audiobook every week to promote the writers I find as they can surely use the exposure.I have stopped considering my own fortunes as it has become obvious after this summer that my little blog articles and newsletters will only reach a handful of people around the world. I am now content with that. Which is why I am slowing down a bit.I am not a professional blog writer and I don’t have the time to write something at least once a day like so many others. If I want to say something that is on my mind at the time, I will post something. Otherwise, I am moving on to other things like marketing my current book, writing other books, and traveling more during the spring and fall.There would be a lot of people who would miss this half hour story time as well so I at least need to continue that for as long as I can. This podcast is broadcast all over the world using my podcast platform at rss.com and the amount of listeners outside of these platforms are pretty substantial.If you have ever listened to the show, you would know that I introduce every story and poem with the name of the piece, the author and the publication, if known, at the start of each reading. This is how all of the writers I select to read get world-wide attention.That is all I have to say today. I will return again next week with more stories for everyone. I have three stories set to go for next week. Part 2 of Dragon’s Wings, another chapter of the space opera I have been reading by a Substack writer and another science fiction story by another Substack writer.Here are the links to this weeks selections:Dragon’s Wings — Part 1Unbearable fearsMariana BusarovaBrownies and CreamWhen a minor annoyance takes a surprising turn to something more, folklore and a mother’s worry work to even the scoreArpad NagyWhat did the Parrot’s Lover do to help It?Ignatious C AI, Whom Time Abandoned~ it’s all too familiar, you see ~Farida HaqueGo raibh maith agat. Thank you for your timeAs I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. “May the warm winds of summer still warm you a bit, and the cold rain stay off your shoulders as you prepare for Samhain.” Go sit you by the warmth of the fire to rid you of the chill and listen to the my stories as the days grow shorter. Slán go fóill — goodbye for now.T. Ó Domhnaill — Gaelic SeanchaiThanks for reading Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life! This post is public so feel free to share it.Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit todomhnaill.substack.com/subscribe

Cead FáilteWelcome back to another episode of Crann na beatha Short Stories and PoetryI am Terrance Ó Domhnaill, your village scéalaí, returning again this week with more stories and poems from authors around the world.Today, I have four stories and a poem for everyone.I will start off with a short western, then a futuristic story, a sad romantic story, the last story is the first chapter about a young adult getting a start on a new life, and lastly, a poem that will resonate with a lot of people.So gather round once more and let me read to you under the shade of the crann na beatha, the tree of life.I want to thank those few readers who are still with me as I get close to my two year anniversary for this podcast/audiobook. Hard to believe it has been nearly two years since I started reading Medium stories and poems for the world in a podcast. I didn’t start the YouTube uploads until last November, I think, but my first upload to rss.com was on November 15th, 2022.At first, it was just my own stories and blog articles I had written, then it was the news stories but by August of 2023, I was reading other peoples stories and I don’t think I have taken a week off since I started reading other peoples stories last year.Not that I haven’t taken any small vacations here and there but I always made sure I had an episode in the can, so to speak, before I left on holiday.Which is what I will be doing next week. Another miniature holiday early next week on reservations we made a year ago. That is how popular this particular place is. You have to make reservations a year in advance if you want to go camping there.We will be back in time for me to create another show next Friday, don’t worry. I will be taking a extended vacation next spring though. For that, I might have to skip a week or so as we plan to be gone for at least a month.With the literary world of online publishing the way it is, I am sure few will miss me while I am gone. Maybe I will post a travel log of our adventures as we travel around the country. I think that will depend on the availability of the internet during our trip.I continue to mix things up with both Medium and Substack writers and plan to continue as I like the diversity. I have found one Substack writer living outside the United States who writes stories of all sorts. From romance to science fiction. I will also pick out one or two others as they come across my feeds.As always, I have my medium writers that I can sort through for stories and poetry. Keep writing everybody as we head into our third year together soon.With that, let me give you this week’s selections to read while you listen.The Price of GoldA short western storyAmalia CotovanMiss Anne’s Book NookEvery story has a lesson for the characters to learn. And sometimes, the reader, too.Sara FellersCastles in the SkyGather them in rhymesMariana BusarovaThat is all for this week. I am glad you joined me once again as we continue on this journey together. As always, feel free to reach out with any suggestions and I will see what I can do. I couldn’t do this without any of you. Until next week, SláinteGo raibh maith agat. I hope you enjoyed the variety of stories and poems again this week. If you like the show, please clap, subscribe and reply as this goes a long way towards reaching more listeners around the world.As a Seanchaí, I hope you will allow me to continue delighting you with a story or a poem here under the Crann na beatha, The Tree of Life. Maybe they will bring you a smile and take you away from your troubles for a time.As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. “May the wind be at your back and the sun kiss your cheeks as you travel about your business over the next week until we meet again.” Slán go fóill — goodbye for now.T. Ó Domhnaill — Gaelic SeanchaíThanks for reading Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life! This post is public so feel free to share it.Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit todomhnaill.substack.com/subscribe

Cead FáilteWelcome back to another episode of Crann na beatha Short Stories and PoetryI am Terrance Ó Domhnaill, your village scéalaí, returning again this week with more stories and poems from authors around the world.I have three more stories this week for this half hour show.I am beginning with the continuation of the serialized space operas from my Substack writers, The Guardians, and The Gravediggers of Orpheus. The third story is a fable from Africa. A wonderful story about a hippo published by a Medium writer.So gather round once more and let me read to you under the shade of the crann na beatha, the tree of life. Click the play button to listen to the stories.This will be another short newsletter as I have family visiting and I am spending some much needed time with my children and grandchildren this week.This week, I don’t have any poetry as I only had room for these three wonderful stories. This will be the last Guardian chapter though as the subsequent chapters are all about war and the gruesome details of such. I have to try my best to keep this podcast at PG or a G rating as I can. I pre-recorded this podcast last weekend before my family arrived as I knew things would be a little chaotic with young children running around.I do have other stories lined up for next week and my personal schedule will return to normal after this weekend.I love my kids and grandkids but I will be a little glad to get things back to some semblance of normal next week.Please enjoy these fine writers by listening to the podcast above and, if you want, hit the links below to read along as you wish.The Legend of the Magic Water LiliesA fableJojo TeckinaThat’s all I have this week. I will be back again next week with more stories and poems for everyone. SláinteT. Ó Domhnaill - Gaelic SeanchaíThanks for reading Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life! This post is public so feel free to share it.Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit todomhnaill.substack.com/subscribe

Cead FáilteWelcome to another episode of Crann na beatha Short Stories and PoetryI am Terrance Ó Domhnaill, your village scéalaí, returning again this week with more stories and poems from authors around the world.I have three stories and two poems this week.First up are the continuation of two space operas from Substack writers that I began a couple of weeks ago. The third is also a futuristic space story from a Medium writer and two poems. One about about gardens from a new writer and an poem about dreams and time.So gather round once more and let me read to you under the shade of the crann na beatha, The Tree of Life. Click play above to listen to this week’s stories and poems.As I mention in the show, and you will see here at the bottom where I will post the links to this week’s selections again, I am reading more stories from Substack writers now. I have a couple of writers I have found that offer serialized space operas and other stories that are pretty entertaining.I don’t know whether you will be able to read their stories without subscribing but Substack offers a different style of paywall system that is author managed, not the platform. Which is why I offer my podcasts on my Substack page free for the first thirty days.In other news, I will be entertaining my grandchildren over the next week so I may be a little slower at responding to messages here. I will still post a new show for next Friday though. I plan to work on it before they arrive this weekend and post it next Friday as usual.I promised my family that I would not slave away in my studio office while they are here so I need to get as much as I can completed ahead of time to stay out of trouble.I also want to thank all who read these little newsletters and listen to the shows. I am very appreciative of everyone around the world who take the time to listen to the stories and poems I find every week. I couldn’t do it without the excellent writers. I like to think we are a bit of a remote team as it were.Hollywood can’t make movies without their story writers and neither can I. Please show your appreciation for these writers linked below, if you read their work. I know they appreciate all who visit with them through their stories and poetry.The Last GardenerOn a lost planet, a survival pod isn’t enough🌬️MitchBlooming HeartOn the Edge of the HorizonA single minute slowly trickled throughMariana BusarovaThat is all for this week. I hope you will return again for more stories and poetry next week. SláinteGo raibh maith agat. Thank you. I enjoy being your scéalaí and visiting your digital village every week. I hope I am offering everyone enough variety to bring you back week after week. Please let me know what you think by clapping, highlighting and responding as you please as this goes a long way towards the selections I offer every week.As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. “May your path rise up to meet you and the sun warm your bonnet as you walk down the lane. May you enjoy your relations and friends as much as you can for life is too short without them.” Slán go fóill — goodbye for now.T. Ó Domhanaill — Gaelic SeanchaíThanks for reading Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life! This post is public so feel free to share it.Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit todomhnaill.substack.com/subscribe

Cead FáilteWelcome back to another episode of Crann na beatha Short Stories and PoetryI am Terrance Ó Domhnaill, your village scéalaí, returning again this week with more stories and poems from authors around the world.I have three stories and a poem for you this week. The second story is a bit lengthy but worth your patience. First up is a short romantic horror story about the effects of utter loneliness. The second is a fictional coming of age story, the third is a dystopian story of a failed world and last, a poem written in tribute to Gaza and the Palestinians.So gather round once more and let me read to you under the shade of the crann na beatha, the tree of life. Click play above to listen to this week’s episode.I have come to the conclusion that not many people read these newsletters so I will keep them short from now on.I have a variety of stories for you and a poem at the end that is dedicated to all of the dead Palestinians of Gaza. I also added my own dedication at the end of the poem.My third and last story is also an activist type of story about a dying world and the anger that is misplaced due to misinformation. There is a lesson for us all in this story.The first two are more for entertainment but I guess there could be a lesson learned from the first story as well. I will let the audience decide that one.Here are the links to this week’s stories and poem.When the Wave ComesA coming-of-age story from another world.Richard DeeDestroyersThe truth will inherit the earthZivah AvrahamWhen The Ravens DropFarida HaqueThis is all I have for you this week. Go raibh maith agat. Thank you for your support. I will be back again next week with more stories from Substack and Medium.com writers. SláinteSlán go fóill - goodbye for now T. Ó Domhnaill - Gaelic SeanchaíThanks for reading Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life! This post is public so feel free to share it.Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit todomhnaill.substack.com/subscribe

Cead FáilteA thousand welcomes to Crann na beatha Short Stories and Poetry for August 9th, 2024I am Terrance Ó Domhnaill, your village scéalaí, back again this week with more stories and poems from authors around the world.I have just have two short stories for you this week. Only two because they are a bit longer than the ones I normally read and I am still working to keep this podcast around the half hour range.First is a wonderful young adult story about a young man’s struggle with taking care of dragons. This is a continuation of previous stories from this writer that I have read here before. Then, my second story is a scary one that I think everyone will like.So gather round once more and let me read to you under the shade of the crann na beatha, the tree of life. (click play above to listen to the show)On the first story, I edited out a couple of swear words as it was easy to do so without ruining the storyline. It is lengthy and a bit of a tear jerker, happy ending, fantasy story that seems to appeal to some young girls. Even some boys, if they like dragon stories. I made sure this story is rated G for everyone.My second story, although it does not have any bad language in it, deals with some pretty scary themes and a bit of graphic violence so that one I am rating PG-13, especially with all of the additional sound effects I added. I loaded this one right up with as much as I could with my meager editing talents. I hope it gives everyone a bit of a chill.These stories were so long that I could only select two this week in order to keep the show close to the half hour margin. It comes in at about 37 minutes with my intro, advert between stories and my closing message. That isn’t too bad.I am getting this newsletter out a bit late on this Friday night as it took me all afternoon and then some to edit everything to make it presentable. I hope all who listen and read this appreciate my efforts.In other news, I updated my website, www.crann-na-beatha.com, just a wee bit once again last week. I added in a Stripe payment feature to my online book store in case anyone does not like or have access to Paypal. I also spruced up the webpage where the book store is mounted to make it a little easier for visitors to browse the store and maybe buy a book. I have some on the shelf just waiting for a new home. I even do autographs on request.Also, just to let everyone know, I have Google translate front and center on the home page so any visitors from anywhere in the world can change the website language to one they can read. I tested it by changing it to Irish and it works great. To add to that, I do believe my book, Fugitives in a New United States, can be ordered for languages other than Yankee English from book retailers in other countries, if that helps. This website meets all U.S. and EU GDPR privacy requirements so it is safe.On a personal note, my wife hit me up tonight during our nightly walk to help her find a dark, clear sky tomorrow night to watch a meteor shower. That might be interesting. I am all about taking time off from the world to watch some meteors in the summer night sky. I just hope we get to see them.That is all I have for you this week. Here are the story selections I picked out to read to the world.It All Comes DownA storm and a copper flower.Violet LivelyThe Prophet’s InquisitionA light against heresy most foulLukas UngerGo raibh maith agat. Thank you for your continued support. I wish I could find a way to reach out to more people around the world with this as I think stories and poetry bring much joy and peace to all peoples everywhere. The best way is for everyone who reads these newsletters and listens to the shows, to share this with everyone they know. Maybe I can bring a little peace to someone, somewhere that needs a little quiet time in between the bombs and bullets.As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. “May your path rise up to meet you and the sun warm your bonnet as you walk down the lane to the pub. May your friends and relations bring you a pint after you retell these stories and poems I give you here.” Slán go fóill — goodbye for now.T. Ó Domhnaill — Gaelic SeanchaíThanks for reading Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life! This post is public so feel free to share it.Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit todomhnaill.substack.com/subscribe

Cead FáilteA thousand welcomes to Crann na beatha Short Stories and Poetry for August 2nd, 2024I am Terrance Ó Domhnaill, your village scéalaí, back again this week with more stories and poems from authors around the world.I have three stories and two poems for you this week. I am starting a new fantasy series, along with the science fiction series I started a couple of weeks ago. Both are from Substack writers. I will be bringing more stories from Substack writers going forward as I find them. I also have a short story from a Medium writer and two poems from Medium poets.So gather round once more and let me read to you under the shade of the Crann na beatha, the tree of life.Click the play button above on the podcast to listen to this week’s podcast.I am not going to make a lengthy newsletter today as it is very hot outside, with thunderstorms brewing and I don’t have a lot to write about concerning the literary world today. Although I did clean off my book shelf this week of books I had read.I had a few that I though the authors were going to write another novel for but alas, they are not. So, off they will go to the local library soon.I am reading more and more Substack stories now as I said I would. I have two serialized fictions starting up in the podcast. I started one a couple of weeks ago and I have a new one this week.If you are a fan of futuristic fantasy or Marvel heroes, you will like this one. I personally have read up to chapter four, although I started all of you on chapter one today. I am also reading a couple of others as well. Unfortunately, they are not within the standards I have set for this show due to language or sexuality, so I can’t read them for my audience.There is one though that I am reading that I may include at a later date. Another adventure tale with heroes, monsters and romance. There is a heroine and her hero, who go around fighting off bad guys, while dodging her parents who want her to marry someone of their choosing. Typical medieval stuff but it is a good story.I am feeling a little better about continuing this audio podcast now that I have found more writers that allow me to read their work. Not to dismiss Medium writers but I needed more stories and poems to keep things going.As always, the call is still out for good short stories and poetry for me to read on this show. You can reply to his newsletter anytime as I publish every week or, you may reach out to me through the contact page on my website. It is perfectly safe as my website meets all of the U.S. and E.U. privacy and consent regulations.Here are this week’s selections. Bear in mind that the first two are from Substack writers.Whatever’s Coming Is Always NextA short storyMaisie ArcherThe Love of the MermaidIt is deep and forgivingMariana BusarovaClean Your Mind, Body, Life, Home, Mother EarthCleanse, Purify, SanctifyThat’s all I have for everyone this week. I thank you for joining me here and I hope everyone will come back again next week for more. I have two lengthy stories for you next week from Medium writers and a poem or two, once I find something. SláinteGo raibh maith agat. I hope you enjoyed the variety of stories and poems again this week. If you like the show, please like, subscribe and reply on whatever podcast app you listen to as this goes a long way towards reaching more listeners around the world.As a Seanchaí, I hope you will allow me to continue delighting you with a story or a poem here under the Crann na beatha. Maybe they will bring you a smile and take you away from your troubles for a time.As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. “May your path rise up to meet you and the sun warm your bonnet as you walk down the lane to the pub. May your friends and relations bring you a pint after you retell these stories and poems I give you here.” Slán go fóill — goodbye for now.T. Ó Domhnaill — Gaelic SeanchaíThank you for reading Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life. This post is public so feel free to share it.Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit todomhnaill.substack.com/subscribe

Cead FáilteA thousand welcomes to Crann na beatha Short Stories and Poetry for July 26th, 2024I am Terrance Ó Domhnaill, your village scéalaí, back again this week with more stories and poems from authors around the world.I have three short stories and three poems for you. To start, I have found some short stories about dragons that I will be reading in the next couple of weeks, starting today. I have a different kind of ghost story and I am starting a new serialized space story from a writer on Substack that I started last week. Then I have a selection of poems for you to cap it all off.So gather round once more and let me read to you under the shade of the crann na beatha, the tree of life. Click play above to listen to the show.My program is a little short of thirty minutes this week, despite my having six selections for everyone. I am starting to run short of good, readable stories these days.I am able to find a few but it is taking more time out of my week to scrounge around to find them. I have started selecting more stories from Substack writers now but even they are requiring a lot of read time to vet them for readability and language. Some writers seem to think that foul language needs to be written in to emphasize parts of the stories. I respect that but I can’t read them to any audiences that may have minor children listening.I also have to look at length. It takes a lot of work to read a fifteen minute or more story or chapter, then add in all of the appropriate sound effects.I am having doubts about the long term sustainability of this podcast because of this shortage. It is cutting into time I need for other things. If I had a helper to find and review the stories and poems for me every week, I might consider continuing. As it is, since this is not a paywalled podcast, I don’t know of anyone in their right minds who would work with me for free.I do it because I love to tell stories and I am okay with just working for the odd donation now and again. But I can’t ask anyone else to be that generous with their time. Especially with the economy as it is. Everyone is working every side hustle they can to make a couple extra dollars these day.My plan is to take it until Samhain, which is the end of my calendar year. Then close it so I can get back to writing my books this winter. I am very far behind on my current book. It is about halfway finished so I need to complete the draft and find an editor.This particular book is a military anthology full of soldier and sailor adventure stories dating back to the 1970’s and into the 21st century. They are all fictional stories, some based on my own personal exploits through the years. I am not divulging which ones. I hope to have it on the shelves by next spring.Then, it will be book two of my Fugitives in a New United States series after that. As you can see, I am ambitious about writing books so I need to find the time to sit down and start writing again. I can’t do it if I am spending the majority of my week producing podcasts.I will still produce The Village Oak Tree as it gives me an outlet for my activism and right to peaceful protest, while we still have it. I just won’t be as active with it as I have been. Once a week will be enough. No more strange guests that give me the shivers.Here are this week’s selections:Conversations with a DragonThe princess doesn’t need saving…Cathryn MooreThe Real Ghosts of the TowerWhat will Lotta discover after the death of her best friend?Sara FellersInnocentThis world lies in piecesMariana BusarovaThe Window— poemWaqas AhmadThat is all I have to offer this week for this newsletter. We live in strange times and things don’t look to be getting any better. I do have some stories and poems picked out for next week and I am working on finding more, as always. I wish everyone luck in the coming week ahead as we navigate through these dark times. I will be back again next week. SláinteGo raibh maith agat. Thank you for your support. I hope you enjoyed the variety of stories and poems again this week. If you like the video, please like, subscribe and reply as this goes a long way towards reaching more listeners around the world.As a Seanchaí, I hope you will allow me to continue delighting you with a story or a poem here under the Crann na beatha. Maybe they will bring you a smile and take you away from your troubles for a time.As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. “May your path rise up to meet you and the sun warm your bonnet as you walk down the lane to the pub. May your friends and relations bring you a pint after you retell these stories and poems I give you here.” Slán go fóill — goodbye for now.T. Ó Domhnaill — Gaelic SeanchaíThank you for reading Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life. This post is public so feel free to share it.Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free

Cead FáilteA thousand welcomes to Crann na beatha Short Stories and Poetry for July 19th, 2024I am your village scéalaí back again this week with more stories and poems from authors around the world.I have four short stories and one poem for you this week. There is the last chapter of From Beyond the Water Wall, a short scary story, two science fiction shorts and a poem about a star who wants to go home.So gather round once more under the shade of the crann na beatha, the tree of life and let me read them to you, with a little added flare. Select the play button above to listen to this week’s selections.The only other news I have to share with everyone this week is that I have found more science fiction writers on Substack now. Which I will start reading some of their stories starting in August.I have read one or two so far this year but I will be be bringing more as the word has gotten out that I am looking for stories. I have read a handful of the stories they have submitted and these folks are very talented. I will let the audience make the final judgement but, from someone who has been reading science fiction for decades, these young folks rival some of the old masters of old.I will still read stories and poetry from Medium writers to offer the variety that everyone craves. Medium writers are just as talented as any one else. It just seems that the money is in blog articles these days so fictional stories have become a little harder to find. I know I never made a dime off of my fictional stories on Medium. Not that these weekly newsletters generate any bonuses either. If I wrote for money, I would have given up a long time ago.I am also finding out that marketing a self-published fictional novel is very hard. The retail book industry apparently has a code against putting these books on their shelves for people to pick up and thumb through. And then, there are the marketing scammersI ran into one such company this week. They hit me up on my Linked In page and said they were a book marketing company. They advertised that they could help me use social media to sell my book.During the meeting, this shaggy looking man with a dark, blurred background on Zoom tried to convince me that his company had contracts with small, independent book store owners across the country who would, for a large monthly fee, set up delivery of my books to these sellers and I would make money.My instincts sent off an alarm bell when he started screen sharing with me these ugly looking spreadsheets with all of these book sellers listed. It looked so unprofessional that I said I would think about and left the meeting without offering any commitment.When I Googled this company afterwards, it was obvious that they were just another fly-by-night company out to fleece unsuspecting people. Meanwhile, I am still trying to figure out the best way to market my book to book stores.I have a meeting with someone a lot more professional next week to see what he has to offer. I am already advertising on my website, my social media accounts (although I am not a frequent poster so that may be a problem), and my online writing accounts here on Medium and Substack.I am open for ideas if anyone cares to offer any.Here are this week’s stories and the poem I selected to read for everyone.From Beyond the Water WallChapter 25/25 — Beyond the Water WallDon WoodbyCape Cod 1942Horror fictionV. PlutStar-4488 (Sol)No landing on TerraUlf WolfHer Orbs, AvertedMemories of Teddy BearDavid PahorA Dead Star With a Fragile HeartStitched by unseen handsH.R. ParkerThat’s all I have for everyone again this week. It’s been a quiet week in the literary world. It seems that the events of the outside world have taken over everything, everywhere nowadays. It’s times like this that I want to hide away with a good book and let the world slide on by for a while. I thank all of you once again for joining me here and I will be back next week with more. SláinteGo raibh maith agat. If you like the show, please like, subscribe and reply as this goes a long way towards reaching more listeners around the world.As a Seanchaí, I hope you will allow me to continue delighting you with a story or a poem here under the Crann na beatha. Maybe they will bring you a smile and take you away from your troubles for a time.As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. “May your path rise up to meet you and the sun warm your bonnet as you walk down the lane to the pub. May your friends and relations bring you a pint after you retell these stories and poems I give you here.” Slán go fóill — goodbye for now.T. Ó Domhnaill — Gaelic SeanchaíThank you for reading Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life. This post is public so feel free to share it.Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this w

Cead FáilteA thousand welcomes to Crann na beatha Short Stories and Poetry for July 12th, 2024I am Terrance Ó Domhnaill, your village scéalaí, back again this week with more stories and poems from online authors.I just have four short stories and five poems this week. We have chapter twenty four of the ongoing story From Beyond the Water Wall, a short story about bureaucracy in the animal kingdom, another short addition to the elementals, a very short story about two human predators, and Zen poems to help ease the stress of everyone’s life a little.So gather round once more and let me read them to you under the shade of the crann na beatha, the tree of life. (Click play above to listen to the stories and poems)I more than made up for the lack of poetry last week with this week’s selections. I found some new writers this week, one of them from Substack. I saved hers for last as her poem is deep and dark.As with every story or poem I strive to strike the right balance with the appropriate sound effects. I will let the listeners be the judge on whether I am doing a good job. Let me know what you think.I didn’t have any technical glitches this week and I am so grateful that everything worked smoothly for once regarding my sound editing program. I took a little victory dance around my studio when it all worked as it is was supposed to today.I did run into a different kind of IT problem yesterday that is still unresolved. The Italian company that is hosting my website and custom domain name decided to roll out a major update with a minor changelog that I missed a couple of weeks ago.In my current application version, I had (had being the key word) an online store set up for my book sales and the blog, along with other pages. With their new update, my old application version no longer allows me to have more than one hundred posts in my blog and no more online store.I went to add a copy of my The Village Oak Tree newsletter for this week and it wouldn’t let me. I wrote a note to their customer support and they kindly informed me about the changelog and the new changes.After another inquiry regarding a prorate for the now mandatory upgrade (I had just renewed my annual license a couple of months ago), they were kind enough to grant me a license gratis for the Pro version, good until my old license expires next spring.Now this is an example of European customer service that you rarely see in the United States.Meanwhile, they are in Italy which is in a vastly different time zone. So, my custom domain name is still attached to my old version, hopefully only until Monday when they come back to work. I left a couple of messages so I hope someone sees them on Monday, their time.What this means for the uninitiated is that I will have to update the old blog and the new one until they finally get things moved around next week. More work for me in the short term. I checked this morning and my website at www.crann-na-beatha.com is still up and running like normal, in case anyone wishes to visit.I think the bookstore is still there in case someone wishes to buy a physical book directly from me. At least I could order one still when I checked, I think. I just couldn’t update the bookstore behind the scenes anymore. This feature will be available again once I have my custom domain name transferred over.Now that I have bored you all to death with my IT issues, I can add a little bit of good personal news. I finally had a visit from my prodigal youngest son this week whom I haven’t seen or talked to in ten years. He will be turning twenty five later this month so this is a big deal for both of us.He and his girlfriend came to visit for a couple of days and we talked for hours trying to catch up on those missing ten years. One thing I observed first hand rather than reading about it in the news and blog articles though, is just how badly America’s young people are having it in today’s U.S. economy.My wayward son told me how hard it is to find a decent job anymore, no matter your education level. There are some places in the country that are still livable within his means but they are becoming harder and harder to find.He just happens to live in an another boom region where the climate migrants from California invaded with their cash offers for every available piece of real estate, driving the prices beyond what the young local people can afford. This phenomenon is happening all over the United States. I saw these California climate migrants flooding into Texas when we left back in 2020. I imagine this is going on in a lot of other places as well.Myself and other writers have been saying this for a while now and it looks pretty bad for the U.S. on a whole. Sometimes things like this are right under your nose and you still don’t pay attention. How many readers are living somewhere where there has been a very noticeable uptick in California license plates on the local streets and roads in the last couple of years?How many readers are n

Cead FáilteA thousand welcomes to Crann na beatha Short Stories and Poetry for July 5th, 2024I am Terrance Ó Domhnaill, your village scéalaí, back again this week with more stories and poems from online authors.I just have three short stories this week. I have chapter twenty three of the ongoing story From Beyond the Water Wall, a short story of medieval revenge from a Substack writer, and a story about desperation and the fulfillment of a dream, sort of.So gather round once more and let me read them to you under the shade of the crann na beatha, the tree of life.Click play above to listen to this week’s episode.I am having trouble with uploading this week’s show to YouTube. It took a couple of hours for a 5 Gb file. It seems that global warming is having an effect on the world-wide internet system more and more these days. I can tell when things are hot outside as my network seems to take forever to upload files outside of my own personal domain share folders. On these extraordinary warm days, uploading files to YouTube takes a long while, as in hours. Kind of reminds me of the old days with phone lines and 5600 Kbd routers.I suppose we should learn to accept these new parameters now. They are a sign of the times. U.S. infrastructure is breaking down more and more all the time. The private corporations don’t want to spend their own money to fix or upgrade anything anymore so they sit on it waiting for the Feds to ‘subsidize’ the needed upgrades while they rake in millions from subscribers.I don’t want to get off on another rant on why I don’t like the American government or corporations who are bleeding everyone dry like vampires. This newsletter is supposed to help us transcend above all of our daily struggles for a bit.It is hard sometimes to put all of that aside sometimes, even for just a half hour to listen to some great stories. There is too much going on out there that is fast becoming existential.I didn’t have any good poems this week so I read three great stories for everyone and added in as many sound effects as I could. I hope people continue to like this show. I am still looking for writers so if you have something you think would be a good to read aloud for a family audience, let me know. I have enough saved up for the next two weeks but I need more.In other news, I read another blog article today by my friend Bruce Coulter about his struggles and travels. Time Flies is a bit satirical and full of his typical New England style humor. He gets around and takes really great pictures. I am so jealous.I read quite a few other Medium and Substack writers works as much as I can every day. Some days when I am very busy, I have to put them off but I try not to. Seeing as how they put forth all of that effort to write good blog articles, stories and poems, it is the least I can do is set aside a little time in my schedule to pay them the attention they are due.I also continue to support Jessica Wildfire with her writings in OKDoomer. She is worth every penny I can provide for her cause. She still continues to receive hate mail from people taking issue with her research and wry style of writing. I think it means that she is successful if she is getting that much attention, good or bad. She got chased off of Medium, then chased off of Substack and now is getting negative feedback on her own platform. It’s such a shame that people have forgotten their manners in this day and age.Another writer who was chased off of Substack is my favorite Canadian, Sam W. Her latest article about preparing for the future is good advice. Preparing for the Worst: Mutual Aid and Sustainable Skills is a positive piece about community. Something I think a lot of Americans have forgotten somewhere along the way in the 21st century.It is with that sense of world-wide community spirit that I bring you this week’s selections. One story is from a Canadian (I think), another is a Substack writer from the U.S. and the last one is from someone living in Italy (I think) who is originally from eastern Europe (again, I think).From Beyond the Water WallChapter 23/25 — Burn them AllDon WoodbyNothing Else MattersNevena PascalevaThat is all I have for everyone this week. I hope I have helped ease your burden a little bit for a short time. Until next week, SláinteGo raibh maith agat. Thank you for your attention. I hope you enjoyed the variety of stories again this week. If you like the show, please share, like, subscribe and reply as this goes a long way towards reaching more listeners around the world.As a Seanchaí, I hope you will allow me to continue delighting you with a story or a poem here under the Crann na beatha. Maybe they will bring you a smile and take you away from your troubles for a time.As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. “May your path rise up to meet you and the sun warm your bonnet as you walk down the lane to the pub. May your friends and relations bring you a

Cead FáilteA thousand welcomes to Crann na beatha Short Stories and Poetry for June 28th, 2024I am Terrance Ó Domhnaill, your village scéalaí, back again this week with more stories and poems from online authors.I just have two short stories and two poems this week. We have chapter twenty two of the ongoing story From Beyond the Water Wall, and part three of the young adult story about Renae and the pixie. Then I have two wonderful poems that might make you think a little about life.So gather round once more and let me read them to you under the shade of the crann na beatha, the tree of life. Click play above to listen to this week’s selections.There is so much going on in the world right now that this show becomes a little more important in some regards as a way to escape all of the chaos we find ourselves in.I continue to search out good fictional stories and poems that may offer us a quiet moment but I need more help. I am starting to get to the bottom of the story well. I am still able to find good poetry for the most part but fictional stories that I can read to young children are becoming somewhat scarce these days.I am having to search deep into Medium archives to find stories I can use in this podcast and I am coming up short. Are clean, short fictional stories becoming passé these days?I am searching for writers over on Substack for diversity but more and more, I am finding more stories there than I am on Medium now. Medium fiction writers where are you? I have found a few stories that I have saved for future podcasts but the list is getting smaller.The biggest issue I am having is the lack of diversity. I seem to be selecting from a very small pool of writers and that pool is getting smaller all the time. I hope my well doesn’t run dry at some point.This show is becoming very popular around the world since I started less than a year ago. I started this podcast last year in late summer and now, it has thousands of listeners everywhere. Most of them are in the United States but there are still a lot of listeners outside of the United States that I want continue reading for as well.If I run to low on writers at some point, I may have to resort to reading library books to keep the show going. There are certain writers that I read frequently that I wish to mention as a thank you for writing consistently such as Sara Fellers, H.R. Parker, and Don Woodby. I regularly read their stories these days as I search out more.There are quite a few poets whom I have been honored to read their poems over the last year and I will continue to do so. As in all things, I try to read from a large selection of poets. I want to offer the chance for many different writers to have an opportunity to have their works listened to all across the planet.I am still adding in dramatic sound effects where appropriate, to give the stories and poems more of a flair. Some poems I leave as they are because they so well written that they have no need for any additional backgrounds. Additional sound effects would actually cheapen them, if you know what I mean.I am old enough to remember the old radio shows from the early 1960’s before television replaced them. This was before my parents bought their first black and white TV about 1964, as I recall. They all had sound effects to make the listeners imagine they were watching a show.I remember listening to The Green Lantern, The Shadow and a couple of others back then. I just hope that my little show comes close to what those old radio shows were like back then. There are so many people around the world who don’t have access to a TV these days. Most of them do have access to a mobile device and the internet occasionally. Almost like a radio from bygone days.This is another reason why I insist on reading only ‘clean’ stories because I want children to be able to listen to all of your stories and poems, along with their parents. Think of the children in the refugee camps around the world who only have access to a shared mobile device for any chance at this type of entertainment.Believe it or not, there are a lot of people around the world who are fluent in English who would translate, if they knew about this show. I try to keep it at roughly thirty minutes or less so as not to push the boundaries of the children’s restless natures.If you are an aspiring fictional writer and are interested in submitting story suggestions to me for reading in future podcasts, let me know. My main criteria is for them to be children friendly and long enough to keep their attention. These little one or two minute ‘drabbles’ usually don’t qualify. I do make exceptions for extremely good stories though, such as H.R. Parker’s Elemental series and others I find. But I keep the really short ones to a minimum.Now for this week’s selections:From Beyond the Water WallChapter 22/25 — Through the CaveDon WoodbyThe Blooming of the Violet Dusk OakPart Three: Will Renae’s and Vitty’s words reach Bobbie?Sara FellersA Prophecy

Cead FáilteA thousand welcomes to Crann na beatha Short Stories and Poetry for June 21st, 2024I am Terrance Ó Domhnaill, your village scéalaí, back again this week with more stories and poems from online authors.I just have four short stories this week. We have chapter twenty one of the ongoing story From Beyond the Water Wall, a short science fiction story by a Substack writer, a science fiction horror story and part two of the young adult story about Renae and the pixie.So gather round once more and let me read them to you under the shade of the crann na beatha, the tree of life.Click the play button above to listen to the stories I have selected to read.Just out of curiosity this week, I checked the analytics for this podcast/audio book across all of the platforms I have set up for distribution. The total downloads are in the thousands now.Over a thousand on my Substack page, and over four thousand on all of the other platforms. This is coming from my hub on RSS.com, which distributes this show across the world on multiple platforms. The largest percentage is from listeners here in the United States of course.Good work writers. We are becoming popular around the world. Compared to Instagram and TikTok influencers, these numbers are small change but it shows that we do have a growing global audience. Something worth cheering about in these trying times.I will do my best to keep up with everything and continue to try and provide the best audio content I can give. I know I don’t have one of those Hollywood style professional voices but I try. I think I am doing okay for someone who has never had any formal training in making audiobooks.This is heartening to know that our efforts to provide the world with good quality stories and poems for their entertainment is having a small impact on some peoples lives. Now it is up to you to keep writing and for me to keep trying my best to turn these stories and poems into something akin to a story time for people everywhere.For anyone who listens to this show, I am open for suggestions. If you have a suggestion about format, or content (such as special effects) that you think might make the show more popular, I will listen and see what I can do.I don’t have a crew to help me nor a professional sound studio. I do all of this work by myself out of a spare room turned into a part time sound studio made up of a commercial grade microphone, sound editing software on a robust desktop computer, sound muffling curtains hanging from a ceiling track and some on the job training for sound engineering. All of the backgrounds and commercials you see have been created by me using Canva and Microsoft Paint 3D. My costs include an annual subscription to podcast hosting platforms, such as RSS.com and Apple Podcasts, an annual subscription to Streamyard, Medium, YouTube and the expenses needed to set up my domain name and hosting of my website.I am not monetizing any of this as I look at this endeavor as a community service to the world when the average person needs all of the simple entertainment we can give them amidst the chaos and daily struggles.I only ask that all of the people reading this newsletter or listening, pass this podcast on to as many others as they can. Let people know that this simple, free entertainment is available every week and how to find it. Word of mouth is the best advertising in the world. Something I learned when I owned my own business once upon a time.If someone feels generous enough to want to support my efforts, I offer details in the podcast on how to do that. The easiest way is directly through my website at www.crann-na-beatha.com. It works great. I have had a couple of donations given in the recent past so I know it works.For all of the writers whom I have shared their stories and poems to the world, keep up the good work. If I haven’t read one of your stories or poems yet, rest assured, I will find them someday and reach out to ask your permission to read one. I plan to be around doing this for a long time yet.Now I present to all of you this week’s selections to read.From Beyond the Water WallChapter 21/25 — The General’s DreamDon WoodbyBaneA ruthless invader, determined to thrive.Cathryn MooreThe Blooming of the Violet Dusk OakPart Two: When Renae becomes fast friends with Vitty, a pixie, she realizes there still may be a way to restore the park to its residentsSara FellersThat’s all I have for everyone this week. I hope those who have followed along this far, return again next week for more. SláinteGo raibh maith agat. Thank you for listening to the show today. I hope you enjoyed the variety of stories and poems again this week. If you like the show, please like, subscribe and reply as this goes a long way towards reaching more listeners around the world.As a Seanchaí, I hope you will allow me to continue delighting you with a story or a poem here under the Crann na beatha. Maybe they will bring you a smile and take you away from your troubles f

Cead FáilteA thousand welcomes to Crann na beatha Short Stories and Poetry for June 14th, 2024I am Terrance Ó Domhnaill, your village scéalaí, back again this week with more stories and poems from online writers.I have three stories and three poems this week. We have chapter twenty of the ongoing story From Beyond the Water Wall, a short science fiction story, a children’s story, and poetry for the soul.So gather round once more and let me read them to you under the shade of the crann na beatha, the tree of life. Click play above to listen to the show.I am still working on more fictional stories from Substack writers and I hope to have some more soon. This week, I have a little bit of everything. Some short science fiction stories and Zen poetry to help soothe our lives in all of this chaos from the outside world.Sara Fellers new story today is a three part children’s story, written at a preteen level, so I hope this reaches a few parents to let them know. Not that the other stories and poems wouldn’t be of interest to everyone of all ages as well. More of my efforts to keep this family friendly for all age groups. I will read the other two chapters over the next couple of weeks.There isn’t much going on in the literary world that stands out this week other than a couple of emails from Substack writers asking me to look at their stories to see if I want to read them. Sometimes I feel more like a publisher than a simple Seanchaí who wants to sit under a shade tree with the kids and parents from the village to read and tell stories to.I love stories. I have ever since my late Máthair sat me down at a very young age and gave me a book to read. I have spent countless hours ever since reading books, especially before the advent of the digital age. Now, I still read a physical book to help me get to sleep at night. That is so much better than looking at a digital screen for settling the mind before bedtime.I was fascinated as a kid to read and hear the stories of my forebears. Stories of Fion Mac Cumhaill, Cú Chulainn and the knights of the Red Branch. Plus the stories of the Tuatha dé Danann. Then I found science fiction.After that, it became all about stories in the pulp fiction magazines of the day. Stories by Ray Bradbury, and Isaac Asimov. Books by C.J. Cherryh, Terry Brooks, Alan Dean Foster and so many other greats.I had a huge library (huge by a normal poor person anyway) at one time of science fiction books that overflowed a bookcase that went floor to ceiling and along one wall. I had been collecting books since 1979.When I sold this house in this picture and moved to Texas in 2015, I donated the books to the local public library in Caribou, Maine. They were shocked at the sheer amount of books I brought them but were grateful for all of them nonetheless.Now, I don’t collect as much. When I accumulate a handful of books I have read and don’t wish to keep, I box them up and take them to the local library where I live now and donate them. No more wall to wall, floor to ceiling bookcases.My tastes are still the same after all of these years. Primarily science fiction and fantasy. I still look for stories of the famous Irish mythological heroes of old and other Celtic legends.Terry Brooks and S.M. Sterling have to be my most favorite authors of all time, with C.J. Cherryh and Alan Dean Foster running close behind. Once in a while I will read a little Charlaine Harris or someone new I discover.Maybe I will discover a Medium or Substack writer who has become as famous as some of the noteworthy authors I mentioned here. Is there another Terry Brooks or C.J. Cherryh waiting for me out there to discover?With that in mind, here are the stories and poems I selected to read to the world today.From Beyond the Water WallChapter 20/25 — A New LeaderDon WoodbyThrough a Darkening CopseDavid PahorThe Blooming of the Violet Dusk OakPart 1: This tree only blooms once every ten years to mark the end of spring, and Renae will do anything to see itSara FellersI Release the Need for Perfection (Shadows On the Path)Dave B.Dawn’s ReveilleMusings With MelanieWhispers of the soulScribbled ThoughtsThat’s all I have for everyone this week. I hope you will return again for another episode of Crann na beatha Stories and Poetry next week. SláinteGo raibh maith agat. Thank you for joining me. I hope you enjoyed the variety of stories and poems again this week. Maybe one of them might touch your heart a little.As a Seanchaí, I want to continue to delight you with a story or a poem that may bring you a smile or make you think a little after we part for the day.As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. “Long-life and fair health to you — Saol fada agus breac-sláinte chugat.” “Slán go fóill — goodbye for now”.T. Ó Domhnaill — Gaelic SeanchaíThank you for reading Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life. This post is public so feel free to share it.Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life is a reader

Cead FáilteA thousand welcomes to Crann na beatha Short Stories and Poetry for June 7th, 2024I am Terrance Ó Domhnaill, your village scéalaí, with more stories and poems from online writers.I have two stories and one poem this week. We have chapter nineteen of the ongoing story From Beyond the Water Wall, a second revision of Alice in wonderland and the Hundred Aker Wood with Winnie the Pooh and a poem to close things up. The Pooh Bear in Wonderland story is read by the authors once again so I hope you enjoy it.So gather round once more and let me read them to you under the shade of the crann na beatha, the tree of life. Click play above and listen to the stories and poem I selected.Last week I mistakenly mixed in a little politics in this weekly newsletter and I apologize for it. I shouldn’t be mixing politics into this podcast and newsletter as it takes away what this show is all about.I intend for this show to be a break from all of the scary stuff happening beyond our doorsteps and I promise to do that from now on. I will leave the scary stuff to my other podcast, The Village Oak Tree.If you are interested in the scary stuff of world politics, you may find all of the episodes and blog articles on my website at www.crann-na-beatha.com.To that end, I want to thank Pernoste and Dahl for their wonderful children’s story, Pooh Bear in Wonderland, in which they created a really great story, with different voices and sound effects and sent me a copy of the audio file to use in today’s podcast. It is the other side of the coin from their first story I read a few weeks back, Alice in the Hundred Aker Woodland. Today’s story is told from Pooh’s side of things when he met Alice in the previous story.I hope children all over the world will have a chance to hear this story somehow. God’s know that there are a lot of children around the world right now that could use a little peace and tranquility for a few minutes out of their struggle to survive.It is summer, or very close to it, according to the solstice. It’s a time when children in developed countries are out for summer break and families are going on their annual vacations. I know my wife is talking to me about taking a trip to the southern Appalachian mountains for a long weekend this summer. I am thinking sometime in July.Right now, flowers are blooming everywhere. The monsoon rains are nearly finished as we wait for the first hurricanes and typhoons in the northern hemisphere to arrive as the climate scientists tell us that this year may be a banner year for big storms.I have talked to a couple of people from Florida who tell me that the temperatures have already reached a hundred degrees this spring. Portents of things to come this summer.I plan to keep reading stories for everyone for a long time to come as this podcast is becoming somewhat popular. Not so much here on Medium and that is okay but more so on Substack and Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other podcast apps. That is your loss Medium readers. I think it has more to do with the Medium algorithms than actual readers. As someone else noted last week, Medium isn’t geared for short fictional stories or poetry.I will admit that I am a little distracted this week with everything that is going on so I won’t make this a lengthy post. I hope everyone who finds this newsletter listens to the stories and supports the writers who have graciously allowed me to read their stories and poems to the world at large.That is all I have this week. Here are the stories and poem I selected for the podcast. SláinteFrom Beyond the Water WallChapter 19/26 — The Wolf and the WoundsDon WoodbyPooh Bear in WonderlandA short story inspired by Lewis Carroll and A.A. MilnePernoste & DahlBeing WildYour sweet dreams are mirrored in me…Mariana BusarovaGo raibh maith agat. Thank you for listening to the show today. I hope you enjoyed the variety of stories and poems again this week. Maybe one of them might touch your heart a little.Disclosure for everyone; In order to read the complete stories and poems, you will need to sign up for a subscription in Medium. If I see a link by the author on one of the stories to allow everyone to read it, I will let you know in the newsletters.Please return again next week for another episode of Crann na Beatha Stories and Poetry as I continue to bring everyone more stories and poetry from great writers around the world.As a Seanchaí, I want to continue to delight you with a story or a poem that may bring you a smile or make you think a little after we part for the day.As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. “Long-life and fair health to you — Saol fada agus breac-sláinte chugat.” “Slán go fóill — goodbye for now”.T. Ó Domhnaill — Gaelic SeanchaíThank you for reading Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life. This post is public so feel free to share it.Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support

Cead FáilteA thousand welcomes to Crann na beatha Short Stories and Poetry for May 31st, 2024I am Terrance Ó Domhnaill, your village scéalaí, with more stories and poems from online writers.I have four short stories this week, no poems, sorry. The first is chapter eighteen of the ongoing story From Beyond the Water Wall, and three other stories, one of which is from a Substack writer. All but one are science fiction and the first two are rated PG-13, so parents, be mindful if you let your children listen to this podcast.So gather round once more and let me read them to you under the shade of the crann na beatha, the tree of life.Click the play button above to listen to this week’s show.I do my best to keep this show to around the thirty minute length, give or take, with a commercial at the halfway point for people who want to get up and stretch or something. It’s also a good stopping point if parents are letting this podcast help their children get to sleep at night.Although this weeks show is probably not a good show for the littlest ones as there is a bit more violence in this chapter of Beyond the Water Wall and some minor sexual innuendo's in the second story. Nothing overly graphic in either but still, I am putting out the caution just in case. Ultimately, it’s up to the parents.There is a lot more graphic violence going on in the news right now than is in these stories. My wife is even talking about Ukraine and Gaza, and that is a first so I know things are getting bad if she is talking about it.My goal is to offer these stories to the world to take people minds off the threat of world war three for a wee bit every week. Gods knows I am such a news hound. I watch the independent news feeds on YouTube and read the news on my mobile device a couple times a day now and I am getting very concerned, to put it mildly.I am branching out starting this week with a story from a Substack writer, Joseph Wiess. He writes to the Substack page, Crann na beatha. His page is why I added a little extra to my Substack page to keep us separate. For a while, we had the same site name. Now, mine has been retitled Crann na beatha — The Tree of Life.He writes a lot of fantasy stories and the occasional science fiction shorts like the one I read for everyone today. Mostly, he writes serialized stories about druids, elves and Celtic Gods. They are very good and I may start including more Substack writers in the future as I find them. Joseph Wiess writes novels with his characters so if I find one of his books down the road, I will let everyone know the title(s). Expect more of his works here in the future.He has recommended another Substack writer today that I will be looking into and I may find others along the way. It looks like Medium writers will have a little friendly competition in the future.I don’t have much else going on right now that is noteworthy, other than what I have mentioned already. I don’t want to delve much into any politics or world events in this newsletter as this is supposed to take our minds off of those things for a bit. I hope this podcast is able to do so for people who listen to it.Thank you for being fans. Here are this week’s stories to read while listening to me read them in the podcast. SláinteFrom Beyond the Water WallChapter 18/26 — Battle in the FireDon WoodbyAnd It Was All Because of a Missing ReceiptSometimes, a dream come true is not what it seems.Sara FellersMemories of a Rose BushDavid PahorGo raibh maith agat. Thank you for listening to the show today. I hope you enjoyed the variety of stories and poems again this week. Maybe one of them might touch your heart a little.Disclosure for everyone; In order to read the complete stories and poems, you will need to sign up for a subscription in Medium. As I find more Substack writers to read to you, I hope everyone will enjoy their work as much as I do and subscribe to read all of their stories, not just the ones I select here.Please return again next week for another episode of Crann na Beatha Stories and Poetry as I continue to bring everyone more stories and poems from great writers around the world.As a Seanchaí, I want to continue to delight you with a story or a poem that may bring you a smile or make you think a little after we part for the day. As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. "Long-life and fair health to you - Saol fada agus breac-sláinte chugat." "Slán go fóill - goodbye for now".T. Ó Domhnaill - Gaelic SeanchaíThank you for reading Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life. This post is public so feel free to share it.Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit todomhnaill.substack.com/subscribe

Cead FáilteA thousand welcomes to Crann na beatha Short Stories and Poetry for May 24th, 2024I am your village scéalaí, back with more stories and poems from online writers. I say that as I am starting to read Substack writers now and again so medium writers are no longer the only writers I read for the show now.I have three stories and two poems this week. The first is chapter seventeen of the ongoing story From Beyond the Water Wall, two science fiction short stories, and two poems about life.So gather round once more and let me read them to you under the shade of the crann na beatha, the tree of life.Click the play button above to listen to the selections I have this week.Memorial Day weekend is upon us here in the United States and most media outlets are taking the weekend off. Posting reruns and alternatives while they head for the beach and backyard BBQ’s.I am not one of those. Although I will honor those I served with who didn’t come home to their families on Monday next, I rarely take the whole weekend off. This year is especially poignant because of what is going on overseas right now. My prayers are with the refugees and widows of all the soldiers in Europe, both Ukrainian and Russian, and for the dead and suffering of Gaza, both the Palestinians and the Israeli hostages.I think about all of the students around the world trying to tell their elders to stop the madness. Some are on hunger strikes, some have been brutally hurt by militarized police. All of this I will be thinking about this Memorial Day weekend as I remember all of the wars I participated in at the behest of the United States empire. Was all the pain and suffering I endured, the suffering and death of fellow soldiers all just for the game of empires?It certainly seems that way now that technology is uncovering a lot of truths. It seems that these social media apps are good for something after all besides teenagers and influencers posting stupid stuff. I wouldn’t have admitted that to anyone nine months ago.The stories and poems I read every week are meant for entertainment purposes. I like showcasing the writers here to audiences around the world. I am now wondering if there is a way for me to translate this podcast into Farsi, Arabic, Ukrainian or Russian to offer these stories to the people the war zones to take their minds off their misery for a few minutes each week. I will be looking into that in the coming days ahead.While I am figuring out the logistics of that, here are the stories and poems I selected for this weeks show.From Beyond the Water WallChapter 17/26 — In the MansionDon WoodbySable, overlined with amberVisiting Crete in the dead of Winter may birth a friendship.David PahorSpacefill FireA field trip to the waste-disposal planetoid gets cut shortL. R. ContiThe Language of LifeA poemSally PragWahjí’gë:öje’This too shall passSusan BrearleyThat is all I have for everyone this week. I hope everyone can take a few moments this weekend to honor our fallen warriors in between slinging burgers, hot dogs and steaks (for those who can afford them).Please remember to show your appreciation for the writers here and everywhere as some of them need all of the help they can get in these trying times. Others more fortunate in life, also deserve your praise, even if it’s just an online pat on the shoulder and a handshake for a job well done.I will be back next week with more stories and poems. SláinteGo raibh maith agat. Thank you for listening to the show today. I hope you enjoyed the variety of stories and poems again this week. Maybe one of them might touch your heart a little.Disclosure for everyone; In order to read the complete stories and poems, you will need to sign up for a subscription in Medium. If I see a link by the author on one of the stories to allow everyone to read it, I will let you know in the newsletters.Please return again next week for another episode of Crann na Beatha Stories and Poetry.As a Seanchaí, I want to continue to delight you with a story or a poem that may bring you a smile or make you think a little after we part for the day. As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. "Long-life and fair health to you - Saol fada agus breac-sláinte chugat." "Slán go fóill - goodbye for now".T. Ó Domhnaill - Gaelic SeanchaíThank you for reading Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life. This post is public so feel free to share it.Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit todomhnaill.substack.com/subscribe

Cead FáilteA thousand welcomes to Crann na beatha Short Stories and Poetry for May 17thAs a village scéalaí, I have returned again with another selection of short fictional stories and a poem for everyone.The first is chapter sixteen of the ongoing story From Beyond the Water Wall, the second part of that wolf puppy and his savior story I read last week, an LGBTQ science fiction story and a poem from an Asian writer about vanities and going astray.Despite IT Technical issues once again with my audio editing software, I managed to over come adversity today and still bring out a decent show. I purchased a license a couple of years ago for an editing suite that would allow me to easily record audio and video files and edit them as needed.When the company leaves it alone, it works fine. It’s whenever they decide to send me a patch update, that jacks things up and I end up with a jammed up computer and much hair pulling (Arrrrrgghhghh!), not that I have that much to pull anymore. Anyone who has ever spent any amount of time dealing with IT issues, can probably relate.My software has now been updated once again today so I should be fine for next week and beyond. Fingers crossed until the next patch comes through again.Click play to listen to the show. As I remind readers here nearly every week, Substack is not the only platform to listen to this show. I am on YouTube, you can listen to it on my website at the address in the image, on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, WAA Radio on Monday nights at 11 pm, Pandora, Deezer, TuneIn, and many others, for those who like to listen on their mobile devices.In other news, Facebook suspended my long standing account because of a conflict over an Instagram account that I didn’t have at the time. Try as I might, they shut it off and it doesn’t look like I will get it back.I guess I know what I will be doing this weekend. Creating a new Facebook account to keep up with my family and close friends. That and I need access to stay in contact with my hosts at MBR (Military Broadcast Radio). All I can think of is that someone hacked my account with a fake Instagram account and down it went. The internet is just so much fun these days.The good news is that my new Instagram account works. I uploaded an introductory video and it worked just fine. That could get interesting. In case anyone is interested, my Instagram moniker is todomhnaill.I continue to solicit stories and poems from anyone who is interested in having me read them on this podcast. I am working on acquiring another story from Pernoste and Dahl. They recently published a bookend story for the first one I read, about Alice in the hundred Aker woodlands. They have gotten together with me to create another audio file like the last one for me to air on the show sometime in the near future. I can hardly wait. They do a much better job with their stories than I am able.I have also started offering all of my Medium.com newsletters to the Open Microphone publication run by Mitch and company. I am hoping I can help juice up the readership and publication followers for him. I am not much of a writer when it comes to professional journalism or blogging. I try but there are so many better writers out there that put me to shame.But, I offer my meager efforts nonetheless. I like to feel like I am contributing to something, even if it’s an unpolished version. Let me give you the polished stories I selected to read today for you to read while listening to the podcast.From Beyond the Water WallChapter 16/26 — An Unexpected VisitorDon WoodbyA True FriendThe wolf remembered the one who saved its lifeMariana BusarovaThe Cornfield: A Gay Sci-Fi ShortSomeone is about to change…Evan PurcellVanitasA poem about going astrayHC LeungI don’t have anymore for you this week. Remember, if you are able to read these stories and poetry, please show your appreciation for these much more professional story tellers by clapping, highlighting and replying with your thanks for these wonderful contributions to the literary world. SláinteGo raibh maith agat. Thank you for listening to the show today. I hope you enjoyed the variety of stories and poems again this week. Maybe one of them might touch your heart a little.Disclosure for everyone; In order to read the complete stories and poems, you will need to sign up for a subscription in Medium. If I see a link by the author on one of the stories to allow everyone to read it, I will let you know in the newsletters.Please return again next week for another episode of Crann na Beatha Stories and Poetry.As a Seanchaí, I want to continue to delight you with a story or a poem that may bring you a smile or make you think a little after we part for the day. As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. "Long-life and fair health to you - Saol fada agus breac-sláinte chugat." "Slán go fóill - goodbye for now".T. Ó Domhnaill - Gaelic SeanchaíThank you for reading C

Cead Fáilte romhat!A thousand welcomes to Crann na beatha Short Stories and Poetry for May 10th, 2024Your village Seanchaí is back again with more stories and poems for everyone.I have four stories and two poems this week. The first is chapter fifteen of the ongoing story From Beyond the Water Wall, a story about American civil war veterans that will shake you up at the end, a wonderful story about a wolf puppy and his savior. This story comes in two parts. I will read the second part next week. A story of a city park, a science fiction poem and another Zen poem by Dave B.So gather round once more and let me read them to you under the shade of the crann na beatha, the tree of life. Click the play button above to listen to the selections I have this week.I don’t have much going on this week out of the ordinary. I continue to work on my other podcast and gather more stories and poems from people. I found a new writer in Substack this week, with whom I plan to share some of her work here sometime soon.She is a wife and mother from the North of Ireland, not to far from Belfast, she says. As she has little ones to take care of, she doesn’t write every day so we need to be a bit patient ( I am talking to me self here more than anyone else).Other than that, we welcome late spring as it quickly fades into summer now. Writers are already talking about wildfire season and we are expected to have a lot of named hurricanes this year in North America. I can hardly wait for all of that. I am glad I live in a fairly safe area, for know.Which brings me back to something I touched on last week that I want to emphasize again. I am working harder to keep this show at a G or at worse, a PG rating so that parents can feel safe enough to play this for their children as bedtime stories or even if they want to play them for quiet time during afternoon nap time.I have grandchildren of my own and they are who I think of when I am reading these stories and poems to all of you in the world, no matter where you are. I just wished there was a way I could translate it into all of the languages around the world so all of the parents and children everywhere can listen in peace.That is the biggest thing I am working on these days, is promoting peace for everyone, everywhere around the world. I use my other podcast to bring attention to the injustices in the world so I won’t talk about that here. This podcast is strictly for bringing a little measure of peace and tranquility to peoples homes for thirty minutes a week to take them away from all of the bad things we have to deal with everyday now.I hope I am doing that. For those few readers who find this and read it through, pass this podcast on to those who can’t afford to read this newsletter. It’s more about listening to the podcast, which is free, than reading about my musings here. If you are reading this paragraph, good on you. I thank you for your support. My writings are nowhere near as entertaining as the stories and poems I read every week.All right then, I won’t bore you with anymore of my blather. Here are this week’s stories and poems that I selected to read for the podcast.From Beyond the WaterwallChapter 15/26 — DilemmaDon WoodbyToasting Fallen BrothersA Short StoryKelly RonayneAfter the First ShotOnly the strongest would surviveMariana BusarovaThe Wild Treasure in the Old ParkSadie returns to the one place she truly felt a connection with to rediscover some of nature’s magicSara FellersLife LoopA science fiction poemL. R. ContiWitnessDave B.I don’t have any more for you. I wish all of you a blessed weekend and week ahead. May the sun and gentle rain wash away your troubles and your day pass like a warm breeze on your cheek. SláinteGo raibh maith agat. Thank you for listening to the show today. I hope you enjoyed the variety of stories and poems again this week. Maybe one of them might touch your heart a little.Disclosure for everyone; In order to read the complete stories and poems, you will need to sign up for a subscription in Medium. Please return again next week for another episode of Crann na Beatha Stories and Poetry.As a Seanchaí, I want to continue to delight you with a story or a poem that may bring you a smile or make you think a little after we part for the day. As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. "Long-life and fair health to you - Saol fada agus breac-sláinte chugat." "Slán go fóill - goodbye for now".T. Ó Domhnaill- Gaelic SeanchaíThank you for reading Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life. This post is public so feel free to share it.Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit todomhnaill.substack.com/subscribe

Cead FáilteA thousand welcomes to Crann na beatha Short Stories and Poetry for May 3rd, 2024I am back again with more stories and a poem for everyone. We have chapter fourteen from Beyond the Water Wall, another short, real short continuation of The Elementals, a adaption of two children’s stories mixed together that the authors actually read themselves and a nature themed poem, to which the author asked me to mention her book, The Honey in the Bones published by Dragonfly Press in 2022.Gather around under my village tree and let us read the stories and poem to you. Warning once again, there is some minor language in the first story that may not be suitable for young children. I rate it as PG.I have been contacted by a well respected writer in Medium.com asking if I will read one of her serialized stories sometime and I replied that I would look into it as soon as I am finished reading Don Woodby’s story here.I try not to have too many serialized stories running at the same time to keep people’s interest from flagging. I am working hard at keeping things diversified as much as I can, although I am partial to nature and meditative poems.That doesn’t mean that people shouldn’t reach out and let me know that you may have something you think I should read for the audience. I am always open for suggestions. I am easy to find. I have a contact page on my website noted above and if you can’t contact me through Substack, you may reach out to me there.Since I have such a special addition to this week’s show, I highly recommend everyone listen to this week’s episode because of the very fine telling of Alice in the Hundred Aker Woodland by Pernoste & Dahl. They sent me an audio file that is sooo much better than if I had read this.I will remind everyone that I do offer that option. If you want to read your own story or poem and have me add it to the podcast, reach out to me and we can make some arrangements. A handful of people have taken advantage of this offer that turned out very well. A case in point is the story in today’s show, which is a cut above anything I have added to my podcast to date. Listen for yourself.I just noticed something for which I must apologize for now. The authors asked me to read a special introduction to Alice in the Hundred Aker Woodland and I completely forgot. I hope they will forgive my lack of memory. I even made a large font note to do this and I still missed it. I guess that is part of getting old.I did add in my little commercial right before the Alice in the Hundred Aker Woodland story. I hope it doesn’t take away from how special this story is. Maybe those couple of minutes will give parents some time to sit their children down to listen to the story. One can only hope. Let me know if you feel that is too much of a distraction and I will do something different next time.As always, if you read the stories and poem here, please let the writers know how much you appreciate their efforts by clapping, highlighting and replying. Some of these folks need the income they generate from all of this work.Now for the links to the stories and poem, if you wish to read along as you listen to the show.From Beyond the Water WallChapter 14/26 — A New ShelterDon WoodbyA New Ally: The Elementals Pt. 5“We have one more extraction. Someone named Geo…”H.R. ParkerAlice in the Hundred Aker Woodlanda short story inspired by Lewis Carroll and A.A. MilnePernoste & DahlAll InA poemCaroline MellorThat is all I have once again. I hope you will return again next week for more. SláinteGo raibh maith agat. Thank you for listening to the show today. I hope you enjoyed the variety of stories and poems again this week. Maybe one of them might touch your heart a little.Disclosure for everyone; In order to read the complete stories and poems, you will need to sign up for a subscription in Medium. If I see a link by the author on one of the stories to allow everyone to read it, I will let you know in the newsletters.Please return again next week for another episode of Crann na Beatha Stories and Poetry.As a Seanchaí, I want to continue to delight you with a story or a poem that may bring you a smile or make you think a little after we part for the day. As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. "Long-life and fair health to you - Saol fada agus breac-sláinte chugat." "Slán go fóill - goodbye for now".T. Ó Domhnaill - Gaelic SeanchaíThank you for reading Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life. This post is public so feel free to share it.Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit todomhnaill.substack.com/subscribe

Cead FáilteA thousand welcomes to Crann na beatha Short Stories and Poetry for April 26th, 2024I am Terrance Ó Domhnaill, your Irish scéalaí with more stories and poems from Medium writers.I have three stories and two poems this week. The first is chapter thirteen of the ongoing story From Beyond the Water Wall, then, another short, real short, continuation of The Elementals and a mythical story about a cursed god and a child. Two poems, one about gardens and one from someone who rarely writes poetry but his older one is very good.So gather round once more and let me read them to you so you can decide for yourselves.Warning: The first story, chapter 13 of Beyond the Water Wall is rated PG-13 for a little bit of language, just so you know. I also give a warning in the podcast as well. We don’t want any parents to be surprised with wee ones listening.It’s official, this week, this show debuted on Wreathes Across America (WAA Radio) at 11 pm last Monday night for any night owls out there. I haven’t heard any negative feed back so they must like it so far.I don’t have much to give everyone this week in this edition of the newsletter. At least nothing of noteworthy anyway. I continue to find more and more story writers and poets every week as I actively search for writers and poets constantly.I am glad to see that the Medium algorithms are starting to catch up with me now as I am seeing more new writers in my feeds. Good for all of you as I can offer a better variety of writing styles for the world wide audience in the weekly podcast.Anyone reading this who may have any poems or short fictional stories (not too short) that they would like me to read, feel free to let me know and I will look at them. I already have a que of stories and poems into the middle of May and I add more every week. Keep them coming and if I see one that looks like something I can read easily enough, I will ask you if I may include it in my selections for a certain week in the near future. This includes any Substack writers who might want to get in on this as well. I don’t mind reading your work, with your permission. I am not exclusive to just Medium writers.I don’t mind reading a good series, like I am currently doing with Beyond the Water Wall, as long as it doesn’t have profanity in it. I am trying to keep this show at a G to PG rating as much as I can.That is the drawback of reading a series. I start reading the chapters every week and get halfway or towards the end and the author decides to throw me a curve ball. Then I have to give an age limit warning. I don’t like doing that as I want this podcast to be a family friendly show. So, keep that in mind when you submit stories to me or I find them on my own.Hit play above and listen to this weeks show and reach out to me if you want to be a contributor.Here is this weeks selections for any readers who are able to access the stories and poems.From Beyond the Water WallChapter 13/26 — Roasted PigDon WoodbyExtraction: The Elementals Special EditionA special Kraken Lore Monday Mashup edition of The ElementalsH.R. ParkerThe Flower Singer and her StonemanA fairytale of sacrifice and transformationJojo TeckinaMy Secret Garden, My Tír na nÓgWhat secrets can a garden hide? A poem to say “thank you” to gardeners for National Garden MonthSara FellersThe Truth About My Life and Writing PoetryGood or bad, I wrote poetry 25 years agoBruce CoulterI thank all of you who read this as do the writers I showcase every week. This shows us that you appreciate what we are doing to bring you some quality writing for your enjoyment. Until next week, SláinteGo raibh maith agat. Thank you for listening to the show today. I hope you enjoyed the variety of stories and poems again this week. Maybe one of them might touch your heart a little.Disclosure for everyone; In order to read the complete stories and poems, you will need to sign up for a subscription in Medium. If I see a link by the author on one of the stories to allow everyone to read it, I will let you know in the newsletters.Please return again next week for another episode of Crann na Beatha Stories and Poetry.As a Seanchaí, I want to continue to delight you with a story or a poem that may bring you a smile or make you think a little after we part for the day.As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. “Long-life and fair health to you — Saol fada agus breac-sláinte chugat.” “Slán go fóill — goodbye for now”.T. Ó Domhnaill — Gaelic SeanchaíThank you for reading Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life. This post is public so feel free to share it.Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit todomhnaill.substack.com/subscribe

Cead FáilteA thousand welcomes to Crann na beatha Short Stories and Poetry for April 19th, 2024I am back again with more stories and poetry for everyone this week. My debut on the world’s stage will get even bigger next Monday night as this podcast will start being broadcast on WAA Radio (see the advert above for date and time).I have four stories and four poems this week. The first is chapter twelve of the ongoing story From Beyond the Water Wall, then, a three short stories, two from the same writer, some beautiful poems, one with a bit of the Gael in it that I will do my best to read with my American accent, and another wonderful meditative poem by David B to close things out.So gather round once more and let me bring these stories and poems to life for you.This week, my other podcast was picked up by another radio station out in Colorado. Those details are in my Wednesday newsletter, The Village Oak Tree. The one thing I realized with that after I watched the show, is that I need to do a better job at editing before I send it out. As the ‘ole Sarge used to say ‘Pay attention to detail stupid.”I think I do a better job on this one, what do you think? Click play above and let me know.I do my best to bring quality stories and poems to everyone, every week. I also work hard to read everything as professionally as I can. Then, I spend hours every Friday editing and adding in sound effects where appropriate.I truly enjoy doing this, although my wife often wonders why I am spending so much of my retired time in my office/studio to bring all of this to the world.I try to tell her that is a labor of love but she doesn’t understand that concept. To her, you are either working or you’re not. There is no such thing as a grey area where you are working but not making a steady salary. I told her once that I only make pennies on the dollar for all of the time and materials I have poured into this journey of writing and podcasting. She just shook her head and called me foolish.If she only new how much I have invested in all of this. I would probably be berated harshly for being so foolish (to put it mildly). Shhh, don’t tell her. It’s a good thing she doesn’t read these newsletters.The other reason I am doing this is for mental therapy. I need to keep busy or I would fade away into an early grave or go screaming into the night due to absolute boredom. It has a little to do with my OCD, which is part of my overall PTSD diagnosis from years ago. In other words, I am a flippin’ lunatic on most days with the need to be occupied with something constructive to do.I also intersperse my daily routine with handyman chores around the house and helping with the backyard gardens. But there is only so much of that I can do, unless I want to remodel the house every six months.I am getting better at pre-screening the stories and poems I select to read for everyone. I want this show to be rated G for everyone, including the wee ones who might enjoy a good bed time story now and again. Maybe give some busy parents a bit of time off once in a while.I have no problem with being a surrogate, on air grandad for those who might miss that a little bit.Here are this week’s stories and poems I selected to read. Please clap, highlight and or reply to them if you read something as this is as much for them as it is for myself.From Beyond the Water WallChapter 12/26 — The ShelterDon WoodbySleepless in Cuddly LandDavid PahorEmber Burning: The Elementals PrologueSome say you’re scarred by fire; others say you’re molded by itH.R. ParkerBreakout: The Elementals Pt. 3“She has no chance. I’m Amplified.” Meet CascadeH.R. ParkerI Am a Descendant of IrelandThe home of my ancestors, my family’s stories and gift of story-telling, and the one I hope to see one daySara FellersThe AlchemistA prose poemNatalie GasperLife’s DanceA poemKatherine MyrestadSkyboundDave B.That is all I have for everyone again this week. Please listen to the podcast and if you feel generous, donate to my efforts through the podcast at rss.com or my website at www.crann-na-beatha.com. SláinteGo raibh maith agat. Thank you for listening to the show today. I hope you enjoyed the variety of stories and poems again this week. Maybe one of them might touch your heart a little.Disclosure for everyone; In order to read the complete stories and poems, you will need to sign up for a subscription in Medium. If I see a link by the author on one of the stories to allow everyone to read it, I will let you know in the newsletters.Please return again next week for another episode of Crann na Beatha Stories and Poetry.As a Seanchaí, I want to continue to delight you with a story or a poem that may bring you a smile or make you think a little after we part for the day. As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. "Long-life and fair health to you - Saol fada agus breac-sláinte chugat." "Slán go fóill - goodbye for now". ( listen to the end of the sh

Cead FáilteA thousand welcomes to Crann na beatha Short Stories and Poetry for April 12thI have two stories and three poems for everyone this week. The first is chapter eleven of the ongoing story From Beyond the Water Wall, then, a somewhat lengthy story of a dystopian future western United States, a poem about the ocean in the Pacific northwest, a short poem about spring sunsets and another wonderful meditative poem by David B to round things out.I have added sound effects where appropriate, as always, so I hope you will listen to the show and enjoy. Remember, this show will also be broadcasted on WAA Radio starting April 22nd, at 11 pm and every Monday night thereafter as long as I keep providing them shows.Please enjoy these podcasts free of charge for thirty days. After that, they get archived behind a paywall. It’s only fair, right? I also accept donations for my efforts to produce and host these podcasts for everyone’s enjoyment.If you do feel generous, you may donate to my efforts for bringing these stories and poems to life outside of the Medium platform by visiting the Crann na beatha Stories and Poetry podcast page at rss.com via the link provided here or on my website via the donations page at www.crann-na-beatha.com. No amount is too small and you may use whatever currency you wish as long as you have access to Paypal in your country.Hit play on the podcast at the top of this page and listen to the stories and poems I have selected to read this week. As always, I have added in some sound effects to try and bring them to life a little more.Here are the stories and poems I selected this week. If you are blessed with a membership to Medium, you may read them along with my narrations for an even better experience.From Beyond the Water WallChapter 11/26 — A Small CelebrationDon WoodbyOnce There Was a River HereWe’ve always built our cities near the water. What will life be like when those rivers disappear?Sam W.Lost in the Pacific NorthwestA poemNatalie GasperA Firefly In My PalmSweet craving for eternal lightMariana BusarovaThe MountainDave B.That is it for this week. I hope you will return again next week when I bring you more selections from great Medium writers. I try to mix things up as much as I can but, sometimes I run afoul of the Medium algorithms that make it a little harder for me to find a mix of writers I haven’t showcased yet. Never fear, I will find you and ask to read one of your fictional stories or poems one day.Until next week, sláinteGo raibh maith agat. Thank you for listening to the show today. I hope you enjoyed the variety of stories and poems again this week. Maybe one of them might touch your heart a little.Disclosure for everyone; In order to read the complete stories and poems, you will need to sign up for a subscription in Medium. If I see a link by the author on one of the stories to allow everyone to read it, I will let you know in the newsletters.Please return again next week for another episode of Crann na Beatha Stories and Poetry.As a Seanchaí, I want to continue to delight you with a story or a poem that may bring you a smile or make you think a little after we part for the day. As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. "Long-life and fair health to you - Saol fada agus breac-sláinte chugat." "Slán go fóill - goodbye for now".T. Ó Domhnaill - Gaelic SeanchaíThank you for reading Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life. This post is public so feel free to share it.Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit todomhnaill.substack.com/subscribe

Cead FáilteA thousand welcomes to Crann na beatha Short Stories and Poetry for April 5th, 2024I am Terrance Ó Domhnaill, your Irish scéalaí with more stories and poems again.I only have two stories and a poem this week. The first is chapter ten of the ongoing story From Beyond the Water Wall by Don Woodby, then, a rather lengthy third chapter about our intrepid magician, Adelaide from Rachel Anderson Lee, and another wonderful poem by David B.So gather round and let me read to you for a bit. Just to let everyone know, I have added in my commercial break after the first story today, if you listen to the show.I hope you will consider a donation to help me keep this going. Any amount is fine. I use Paypal for your safety as it allows you to donate without giving up any personal information. You can donate from any country with access to Paypal using your currency. It goes to support all that I give to bring these stories and poems to the world.There are two places with donation pages. One is my website, www.crann-na-beatha.com and at Crann na beatha Stories and Poetry at rss.com. All links go to the same Paypal webpage I have set up just for this purpose. So, think about it. Even fifty cents will help if that is all you can give. No amount is too small.Please hit play at the top of the page and listen to this week’s show. I try to provide a good audiobook here, as best as I can without a professional crew and sound studio. Although that part is improving. No crew but the sound studio bit.I got creative and made my own. It’s not perfect but it is quite a step up from where I started last year. Let me know what you think.Now for this week’s selection of stories and poem.From Beyond the Water WallChapter 10/26 — At the Fisherman’s HouseDon WoodbyA Magician Never Repeats Her MistakesFictionRachel Anderson LeeLife’s WeaveDave B.I don’t have much else to offer you in the newsletter this week because it’s all in the podcast. So, listen to the stories as I have read them for people around the world. Some of you may be able to read the stories through the links I provide. If you can, make sure to support these gifted writers as much as you can, with claps, highlights and responses. I know they greatly appreciate the attention.I will be back next week with another podcast full of more wonderful stories and poetry. SláinteGo raibh maith agat. Thank you for reading this newsletter today and maybe listening to the podcast.. I hope you enjoyed the variety of stories and poems again this week. Maybe one of them might touch your heart a little.Disclosure for everyone; In order to read the complete stories and poems, you will need to sign up for a subscription in Medium. Some of the authors have a link to allow everyone to read their stories but most do not. Sorry.Please return again next week for another episode of Crann na Beatha Stories and Poetry.As a Seanchaí, I want to continue to delight you with a story or a poem that may bring you a smile or make you think a little after we part for the day. As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. "Long-life and fair health to you - Saol fada agus breac-sláinte chugat." "Slán go fóill - goodbye for now".T. Ó Domhnaill - Gaelic Seanchaí This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit todomhnaill.substack.com/subscribe

Cead Fáilte romhat! is é do bheathaA thousand welcomes to Crann na beatha Short Stories and Poetry for March 29th, 2024I am Terrance Ó Domhnaill, your Irish scéalaí with more stories and poems from Medium writers.Again this week, I have five short stories and a poem. The first is chapter nine of the ongoing story From Beyond the Water Wall, then, a David Pahor story of escape, a children’s ghost story, an Irish folklore story, a science fiction version of dangerous curiosity, and another wonderful poem by David B., who is rapidly becoming one of my favorite poets.So gather round and let me read to you for a bit. I will add in my commercial break after the first three stories again today. With regard to that, I want to let everyone know some good news, especially for my Medium writers.This podcast has been accepted for broadcast by WAA Radio, which is Wreaths Across America, a non-profit radio station from Portland, Maine. Which means this podcast will have even more distribution across the world. Listen to the show for more details.This station can be found at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/radio and these podcast mobile apps, iHeart Radio, Audacy and TuneIn . This show will be in the 11 pm Monday night time slot starting on April 22nd. So, tune in on April 22nd to hear the first show.I hope you will consider a donation to help me keep this going. Any amount is fine. I use Paypal for your safety as it allows you to donate without giving up any personal information and you can use any currency around the world. It goes to support all that I give to bring these stories and poems to the world. More about that in the mid show commercial.Hit play above for today’s podcast. If you are reading this, I hope you will listen to the show. There is so much more in the podcast than what I can put in these newsletters.Here are the stories and poem I have selected to read for everyone this week.From Beyond the Water WallChapter 9/26 — No DisembarkDon WoodbyWarden’s SmokesDavid PahorBad FriendsEven bad friends can have your back.Keith M LeonardThe Girl and the Golden ThimbleSteal from the fae at your perilPatrick MetzgerThe Forbidden BasementHe loves me, and I have nothing to fearMark Suroviec, M.Ed.WhisperfallDave BThat’s all of the stories and the poem I have for everyone this week. Please give as much credit as you can to these fine writers and I will be back again next week with more. SláinteGo raibh maith agat. Thank you for listening to the show today. I hope you enjoyed the variety of stories and poems again this week. Maybe one of them might touch your heart a little.Disclosure for everyone; In order to read the complete stories and poems, you will need to sign up for a subscription in Medium. If I see a link by the author on one of the stories to allow everyone to read it, I will let you know in the newsletters.Please return again next week for another episode of Crann na Beatha Stories and Poetry.As a Seanchaí, I want to continue to delight you with a story or a poem that may bring you a smile or make you think a little after we part for the day.As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. “Long-life and fair health to you — Saol fada agus breac-sláinte chugat.” “Slán go fóill — goodbye for now”.T. Ó Domhnaill — Gaelic SeanchaíThank you for reading Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life. This post is public so feel free to share it.Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit todomhnaill.substack.com/subscribe

Cead Fáilte romhat! is é do bheathaA thousand welcomes to Crann na beatha Short Stories and Poetry for March 22nd, 2024I am Terrance Ó Domhnaill, your Irish scéalaí with more stories and poems from Medium writers.This week, I have five short stories and a poem. The first is chapter eight of the ongoing story From Beyond the Water Wall, chapter seventeen, the last chapter of the Sanctuary story, part two of a science fiction story I read last week from H.R. Parker, a new science fiction story from David Pahor, an old tale from Europe by Ulf Wolf and a wonderful poem that may trigger a fond memory from Connie Walkup Hull.So gather round and let me read to you for a bit. I will add in my commercial break after the first two stories today. I hope you will listen to it and consider a donation. Any amount is fine. I use Paypal for your safety as it allows you to donate without giving up any personal information and you can use any currency around the world. It goes to support all that I give to bring these stories and poems to the world.For those who don’t wish to listen to the podcast you may travel to my website at www.crann-na-beatha.com to see what I am all about. I have several web pages available to look through with free options to listen to the podcasts, read these newsletters in the blog or, if you are so inclined, donate to my efforts or buy a book. I offer a full service website for anyone who feels adventurous or curious.Now for this weeks podcast. Just a reminder, this podcast is broadcast around the world via YouTube, and podcast apps like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, InTunes, and several others. So no matter where you live on this planet, this podcast is available, even in Russia.Here are the links to this weeks stories and poem. I hope you enjoy. If you read any of these, please let the authors know by clapping and replying as you see fit to let them know how much you appreciate their work. I know they would appreciate the attention.From Beyond the Water WallChapter 8/26 — The DealDon WoodbySanctuary — The EscapeChapter 17 — Destroying evidence and the alien technology left behindRobert G. Longpré [he / him]Fire StormFire dances a jig under my skinH.R. ParkerOrblessDavid PahorThe CrowA fairy taleUlf WolfSong of the Old House on the HillA poemConni Walkup HullThat’s all I have for everyone. I hope you enjoy your weekend and the week ahead. Maybe something in these stories and poem will lighten your steps a little. SláinteGo raibh maith agat. Thank you for listening to the show today. I hope you enjoyed the variety of stories and poems again this week. Maybe one of them might touch your heart a little.Disclosure for everyone; In order to read the complete stories and poems, you will need to sign up for a subscription in Medium. If I see a link by the author on one of the stories to allow everyone to read it, I will let you know in the newsletters.Please return again next week for another episode of Crann na Beatha Stories and Poetry.As a Seanchaí, I want to continue to delight you with a story or a poem that may bring you a smile or make you think a little after we part for the day.As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. “Long-life and fair health to you — Saol fada agus breac-sláinte chugat.” “Slán go fóill — goodbye for now”.T. Ó Domhnaill — Gaelic SeanchaíThank you for reading Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life. This post is public so feel free to share it.Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit todomhnaill.substack.com/subscribe

Cead Fáilte romhat! is é do bheathaWelcome once again to Crann na beatha Short Stories and Poetry for March 15th, 2024I will keep this newsletter blog post short as I am currently on holiday and writing this from a break room at a, supposed to be, upscale KOA camp ground. We are taking our holiday on the South Carolina coast and I am writing this from Myrtle Beach, SC now.The issue I have is that, for a upscale KOA (which I paid extra for) it doesn’t have any internet, except for in this little clubhouse. So, I am writing this in a hurry as I am two days behind on everything due to lack if wifi service at my RV.I have more stories and poems from Medium writers, and maybe soon, I will try and add some from a Substack writer as he transitions to Substack (long story).This week, I have four poems, one very short story and two chapters from our ongoing series for everyone. The first is the seventh chapter of the ongoing story From Beyond the Water Wall, chapter sixteen of the Sanctuary story and several different poems that I hope will give you a heart tug.So gather round and let me read to you for a bit. Because I have more poems than stories this week, I will spare you the commercial interruption and save it for the end. I hope you will listen to it and consider a donation. Any amount is fine. It all goes to a worthy cause.Hit play on the podcast above to listen to this weeks show.Here are the links to the stories and poems, just in case you are able to read them.From Beyond the Water WallChapter 7/26 — In the SewersDon WoodbySanctuary — Kari Comes Up With An Alternate PlanChapter 16 — Leaving the cabinRobert G. Longpré [he / him]A Kind of CelebrationA poemTom KaneWhat’s LeftIn search of the unsearchableMartin MorrisonThe Double Bass TaleAn endless pathMariana BusarovaBrain StormLightning and thunder ripping into my mindH.R. ParkerSpring’s AwakeningPoppy PoetThat’s all I have this week as I mentioned, I am in a bit of a hurry today. SláinteGo raibh maith agat. Thank you for listening to the show today. I hope you enjoyed the variety of stories and poems again this week. Maybe one of them might touch your heart a little.Disclosure for everyone; In order to read the complete stories and poems, you will need to sign up for a subscription in Medium. If I see a link by the author on one of the stories to allow everyone to read it, I will let you know in the newsletters.Please return again next week for another episode of Crann na Beatha Stories and Poetry.As a Seanchaí, I want to continue to delight you with a story or a poem that may bring you a smile or make you think a little after we part for the day.As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. “Long-life and fair health to you — Saol fada agus breac-sláinte chugat.” “Slán go fóill — goodbye for now”.T. Ó Domhnaill — Gaelic SeanchaíThank you for reading Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life. This post is public so feel free to share it.Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit todomhnaill.substack.com/subscribe

Cead Fáilte romhat! is é do bheathaWelcome once again to Crann na beatha Short Stories and Poetry for March 8th, 2024I am Terrance Ó Domhnaill, your Irish scéalaí and I am back again to read you more stories and poems from Medium writers.This week, I have four stories, and two poems for everyone. The first is the sixth chapter of the ongoing story From Beyond the Water Wall, A fictional bull fighting story, a science fiction story about time travel, chapter fifteen of the Sanctuary story and two poems that will make you think a little.I added my usual advert in the middle to break things up better. Gives everyone a chance to stretch a bit and refill that cuppa whatever it is you like to sip on.I added sound effects as usual, to make the stories and poems come alive more. It is very painstaking at times but the writers deserve my best efforts to attract more attention to their work. My purpose is for people around the world to listen to this show and want more. Maybe I can attract a few subscribers here.Gods know that I don’t attract much attention to my work here outside of a small fan group, very small I might add. I have quite a few followers now but most don’t seem to be true fans. Just following me to see if I will follow back. Once in a while I attract someone who is more than just a bait stealer and for that, I am very appreciative. Thank you to all of you who actually read my newsletters and listen to the podcasts.One of the stories is rated R for language. I also added a verbal warning just before I read the story as well. I don’t want any minors listening to that particular chapter of Sanctuary this week. If you share this podcast with your children as bed time stories or other, skip by this one.Here is this weeks stories and poems for everyone to read.From Beyond the Water WallChapter 6/26 — ChaseDon WoodbyThe Last LeapCan you survive a battle against a demon?Cathryn MooreEight minutes to decideShould I stay or should I go?Richard DeeSanctuary — Dorian Gives Everyone a ChoiceChapter 15 — Telling everyone about the flying saucer and about being an alienRobert G. Longpré [he / him]The Laughing River Laughs At YouA poem: like the waters of Earth, your lifetime is too important to take seriouslyChristyl Rivers, PhdMusings on an AfterlifeTeresa RobertsThat is all of the stories and poems I selected for you this week. I hope you will stick around and read next week’s edition to see what I have for you. Sláinte Go raibh maith agat. Thank you for listening to the show today. I hope you enjoyed the variety of stories and poems again this week. Maybe one of them might touch your heart a little.Disclosure for everyone; In order to read the complete stories and poems, you will need to sign up for a subscription in Medium. If I see a link by the author on one of the stories to allow everyone to read it, I will let you know.Please return again next week for another episode of Crann na Beatha Stories and Poetry.As a Seanchaí, I want to continue to delight you with a story or a poem that may bring you a smile or make you think a little after we part for the day. As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. "Long-life and fair health to you - Saol fada agus breac-sláinte chugat." "Slán go fóill - goodbye for now".T. Ó Domhnaill - Gaelic SeanchaíThank you for reading Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life. This post is public so feel free to share it.Crann na beatha-The Tree of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit todomhnaill.substack.com/subscribe

Cead Fáilte romhat! is é do bheathaWelcome once again to Crann na beatha Short Stories and Poetry for March 1st, 2024I am Terrance Ó Domhnaill, your Irish scéalaí and I am back again to read you more stories and poems from Medium writers.This week, I have three stories, and two poems for everyone. The first is the fifth chapter of the ongoing story From Beyond the Water Wall, A cute alien story, two poems that will make you think about life a little, a fictional dystopian future story that reminds me a little of my book, Fugitives in a New United States and chapter fourteen of the Sanctuary story.So gather round and let me read to you for a bit as you relax under the Crann na beatha, the tree of life.I added the advertisement in the middle of the podcast so you can refill your cup before sitting down for the second poem and the rest of the stories.Once again, I remind readers that the selections are from Medium writers and as such are paywalled by the authors, unless they have that special link that enables non-subscribers to read them in their entirety.Here is the list of this weeks stories and poems.From Beyond the Water WallChapter 5/26 — Ducks at the BeachDon WoodbyWe Have an Alien for You“Todd was still hoping it would turn out to be a disfigured cow.”Rayne SanningWe Wore Our Rose Coloured GlassesWhen we bought the old boat and restored it’s soulCatherine OceanoThe Revelations of RavensA poemTom KaneSquishing Sacred CowsA fairy taleMichael CampiSanctuary — The Cabin is SurroundedChapter 14 — Bertha attempts to seize control and oust Dorian’s family and friends.Robert G. Longpré [he / him] Go raibh maith agat. Thank you for listening to the show today. I hope you enjoyed the variety of stories and poems again this week. Maybe one of them might touch your heart a little.Please return again next week for another episode of Crann na Beatha Stories and Poetry.As a Seanchaí, I want to continue to delight you with a story or a poem that may bring you a smile or make you think a little after we part for the day. As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. "Long-life and fair health to you - Saol fada agus breac-sláinte chugat." "Slán go fóill - goodbye for now".T. Ó Domhnaill - Gaelic SeanchaíThank you for reading Crann na beatha. This post is public so feel free to share it.Crann na beatha is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit todomhnaill.substack.com/subscribe

Cead Fáilte romhat! is é do bheathaWelcome once againMerry meet. I have five readings for you this week. Four stories and two poems from the same Medium writer on the same page. One of the stories is the fourth chapter of From beyond the Water Wall. The thirteenth chapter of Sanctuary, the second story about Adelaide the young magician and a short, funny drabble story. The poems are a translation of two famous poems by a Romanian poet from the 19th century.I will apologize up front now as I have a sinus infection so my voice may sound a little off. I have done my best here for you.So gather round the hearth fire and let me read you some stories and poems.I stuck my advert in at the middle this time, on the advice of an experienced radio talk show host. Which I will be changing out soon. He is asking me to create PSA’s for military veterans services to add to my shows. If he likes them, he will air these podcasts on their veterans radio network later this year.Here is this week’s Medium stories and poetry that I selected.From Beyond the Water WallChapter 4/26 — The Arms DealerDon WoodbyBest of Love Poems: ‘The Enchanting Fairy’Verses by Mihai Eminescu, translated by Julia KalmanJulia KalmanA Magician is Never LateFictionRachel Anderson LeeSanctuary — Dorian Disclosing His Alien Origins to LeahChapter 13 — Bertha has endangered the sanctuary of the cabinRobert G. Longpré [he / him]Up to CodeJust another day in the suburbs.Grim FlandangoThat is all I have for everyone this week. I hope everyone has a good weekend and I will return again next week. SláinteGo raibh maith agat.Thank you for listening to the show today. I hope you enjoyed the variety of stories and poems again this week. Maybe one of them might touch your heart a little.Please return again next week for another episode of Crann na Beatha Stories and Poetry.As a Seanchaí, I want to continue to delight you with a story or a poem that may bring you a smile or make you think a little after we part for the day.As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. “Long-life and fair health to you — Saol fada agus breac-sláinte chugat.” “Slán go fóill — goodbye for now”.T. Ó Domhnaill - Gaelic SeanchaíThank you for reading Crann na beatha. This post is public so feel free to share it.Crann na beatha is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit todomhnaill.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome once again.I am Terrance Ó Domhnaill, your Irish scéalaí. I am glad you have decided to take a little time out in your busy day to listen to some more stories and poems from Medium.com writers.This week, I have several great readings for you. Three poems, a sonnet, a couple of real short stories, the third chapter from the science fiction serial story we started from Don Woodby, and Robert G. Longpré’s twelfth chapter from Sanctuary. All with appropriate sound effects to try and make us feel like we are there with the characters in the stories and poems.So come in, sit down for a bit and listen to what I have for you. Just a reminder that I have a small advert in the podcast after the readings so please stick around to learn how to support my work a little. Thank you.Click the podcast above to listen to the poems and stories I chose for today’s show. As always, I have added sound effects to try and bring listeners closer to the characters as I read them to everyone who cares to listen. I will provide the links to everything here but be warned, they will be paywalled unless specified by the authors.From Beyond the Water WallChapter 3/26 — Arm ReplacementDon WoodbyThe Bluebird’s Last Song#100StoryChallenge (Round 2) №33Lark MorriganA cup of tea in the morning. It’s the little things in life that make a difference.Marc WhiteGolden FlecksDavid PahorOcean Dangers Howl and WarnA sonnetJF DanskinWaldoWhen you ask the right questionsWillow ReedWhere is my beloved?ZHENASanctuary — Roadside Cafe in a Tiny TownChapter 12 — Finding gas on the journey towards his homeRobert G. Longpré [he / him]That is all I have for this week. I hope you enjoy all of these special poems and stories. If you can, give the writers your thanks for their creations that bring me joy to read them to the world at large. SláinteThis podcast will remain free to listen to on all of the major podcast apps worldwide and on my YouTube channel, Crann na beatha. If you feel generous and want to donate to my efforts to bring these stories and poems to life, feel free. You can donate through my website at www.crann-na-beatha.com in the donations page I have set up.If you like this podcast, please share it with everyone you know in your social circles as the writers I showcase in this podcast deserve all of the exposure they can get. I created this podcast for them because I love to read their work and I believe it should be shared with the world.Please return again next week for another episode of Crann na Beatha Stories and Poetry.As a Seanchaí, I want to continue to delight you with a story or a poem that may bring you a smile or make you think a little after we part for the day.As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. “Long-life and fair health to you — Saol fada agus breac-sláinte chugat.” “Slán go fóill — goodbye for now”.T. Ó Domhnaill — Gaelic SeanchaíThank you for reading Crann na beatha. This post is public so feel free to share it.Crann na beatha is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit todomhnaill.substack.com/subscribe

Cead Fáilte romhat! is é do bheathaWelcome to Crann na beatha Short Stories and Poetry for Feb. 9th, 2024I am Terrance Ó Domhnaill, your Irish scéalaí. Welcome once again. Take a little time out in your busy day to listen to some more stories and poems from Medium.com writers.I have a one of my own seasonal poems and three story chapters for you this week. The second chapter from the science fiction serial story we started last week, a new story with more to come in the following weeks, and Robert G. Longpré’s eleventh chapter from Sanctuary.So come in, sit down for a bit and listen to what I found for you. Just a reminder that I have a small advert after the readings, before I close out the show. Please stick around to learn how to support my work a little. Thank you.Here are the selections for this week. Please reward the writers for their work if you decide to read them. I know they would all greatly appreciate the support.ImbolcA Seasonal PoemTerrance Ó DomhnaillFrom Beyond the Water WallChapter 2/26 — The CrashDon WoodbyA Magician Never Reveals Her SecretsFictionRachel Anderson LeeSanctuary — Buying a Pistol and RifleChapter 11 — Price gouging at the storesRobert G. Longpré [he / him]That is all I have for everyone this week. Another reminder. If you want to hear the stories with the sound effects I have added, please listen to the show using the link above. Until next week, SláinteGo raibh maith agat. Thank you for listening to the show today. I hope you enjoyed the variety of stories and poems again this week. Maybe one of them might touch your heart a little.Please return again next week for another episode of Crann na Beatha Stories and Poetry.As a Seanchaí, I want to continue to delight you with a story or a poem that may bring you a smile or make you think a little after we part for the day.As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. “Long-life and fair health to you — Saol fada agus breac-sláinte chugat.” “Slán go fóill — goodbye for now”.T. Ó Domhnaill — Gaelic SeanchaíThank you for reading Crann na beatha. This post is public so feel free to share it.Crann na beatha is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit todomhnaill.substack.com/subscribe

Fáilte romhat! is é do bheathaWelcome to Crann na beatha Short Stories and Poetry for Feb. 2nd, 2024Welcome once again. Take a little time out in your busy day to listen to some more stories and poems. Maybe grab a cuppa of something warm as I try to charm you with this week’s selections.In this, the second day of Imbolc, when we start the annual celebration of Brigid, the ancient Gaelic Goddess of poetic inspiration, fire and the beginnings of spring.I have four short stories and a poem for you this week. A new science fiction serial story to start with, the second part of the poem from last week read to us by the author, Robert G. Longpré’s tenth chapter from Sanctuary and a short story from my favorite Bulgarian writer.I won’t keep you long here as I am sure you would rather hear the stories and poem instead of me blathering along. Just a reminder that I have a small advert after the readings, before I close out the show. Please stick around to learn how to support my work a little. Thank you.I chose the stories for this week for the stories themselves and how they spoke to me, never mind the language. Although the language is minor, it still rates a PG-13 rating in accordance with U.S. rating standards. With that said, I am not allowed to let just anyone see or listen to the show on Medium without parental guidance. I hope you understand.Here are the stories and poem I selected for this weeks show.From Beyond the Water WallChapter 1/26 — The TravelDon WoodbyLove IncompleteDanyelle Mustafa (read by the author with her own sound track in the background)Maiden’s PetalsDavid PahorSanctuary — Final Trip To His Home in the CityChapter 10 — Signs of a city in troubleRobert G. Longpré [he / him]Within Their DreamsAn unexpected worldMariana BusarovaAs always, I have added certain sound effects to enhance the stories.That is all I have for this week. I hope everyone enjoys the selections. I also hope readers will listen to the podcast as well. What ever you choose, please reward us with your feedback, whether it be a note on the YouTube page, here on Medium or where ever you wish, with claps and replies. It all goes to a good cause.I want to take this time to ask for a donation of any amount to help me keep this podcast going, if you can, and to also explain how to find my website and what’s inside when you arrive at the door.My podcasts will remain free to subscribe on all of the major mobile podcast apps, at Substack for the first month and on my YouTube channel, Crann na beatha.I have set up a donation link on Crann na beatha Stories and Poetry at rss.com and a donations page on my website at www.crann-na-beatha.com. All using PayPal for your security. Think of it as me passing my hat around to you at the end of my visit each week.If you like this podcast, please share it with everyone you know in your social circles as the writers I showcase in this podcast deserve all of the exposure they can get. I created this podcast for them because I love to read their work and I believe it should be shared with the world.Now, I want to explain how to find my website. Since this show is audio only, just type in www.crann-na-beatha.com in your browser and search for it.The website domain name is Gaelic and may be a little hard to find unless you know what you’re looking for. Then bookmark it if you like it.I also have the RSS feeder enabled so if you like my blog posts, you can be notified whenever I post something new. Search for www.Crann-na-beatha.com in your RSS feeder and set it up.Users finding the website for the first time will reach the Welcome page to learn a little about what’s inside. There you will see the home page link at the bottom of the page. On the home page, you can learn a little more about what crann na beatha means for a little bit of Irish culture and a little more about me in general. On the menu bar at the top, there are links to all of the pages in the website. The blog section where I post podcast newsletters, blog articles, stories and poems, a drop down podcast menu with links to both podcasts, a donations page, an ad page to purchase my published books, and a contact page in case someone cares to leave a message.Thank you for your patronage and support.Go raibh maith agat. Thank you for listening to the show today. I hope you enjoyed the variety of stories and poems again this week. Maybe one of them might touch your heart a little.Disclosure for everyone; In order to read the complete stories and poems, you will need to sign up for a subscription in Medium. If I see a link by the author on one of the stories to allow everyone to read it, I will let you know in the newsletters.Please return again next week for another episode of Crann na Beatha Stories and Poetry.As a Seanchaí, I want to continue to delight you with a story or a poem that may bring you a smile or make you think a little after we part for the day.As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as yo

Fáilte romhat!Welcome to Crann na beatha Short Stories and Poetry for Jan. 26th, 2024I have four short stories and three poems for you today. We have the third and last part of The Heart and Harvest, some beautiful poetry, one of which is read to us by the author, and Robert G. Longpré’s ninth chapter from Sanctuary.The show went overlong due to Jonathon Sawyer’s last chapter for The Heart and the Harvest but it is well worth the time spent listening to the whole show. Due ot the extraordinary length, I spared everyone my advert this week. I know, your all so disappointed. I will bring it back next week by popular demand.I am happy to hear from the authors regarding my efforts here to bring these stories and poems to life around the world. So far, they all like what we are doing here and it seems this show is gaining popularity around the world, primarily in the U.S.Let’s keep it up. I recently added Google Translator to my website at www.crann-na-beatha.com so maybe more non-English speaking and reading peoples will have more access to these podcasts. Time will tell.And now, the links to this week’s selections:His Hands Were Creating MagicThe form of his dreamsMariana BusarovaOnce upon a timeI loved youDanyelle MustafaWinter’s WombA poemAnna West With the Waning of the MoonA poemTom KaneThe Heart and the HarvestA Novelette in Three Parts: Part ThreeJonathon SawyerThe Night ShiftI don’t get paid enough for this.BethSanctuary — A Scary Secret Is RevealedChapter 9 — What? Ninety percent death rate?Robert G. Longpré [he / himThat is all I have this week. I hope everyone enjoys the selections I have here. As always, if you read any of these, make sure you let the writer know what you think by clapping and replying. SláinteGo raibh maith agat. Thank you for listening to the show today. I hope you enjoyed the variety of stories and poems again this week. Maybe one of them might touch your heart a little.Disclosure for everyone; In order to read the complete stories and poems, you will need to sign up for a subscription in Medium. If I see a link by the author on one of the stories to allow everyone to read it, I will let you know in the newsletters.Please return again next week for another episode of Crann na Beatha Stories and Poetry.As a Seanchaí, I want to continue to delight you with a story or a poem that may bring you a smile or make you think a little after we part for the day.As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. “Long-life and fair health to you — Saol fada agus breac-sláinte chugat.” “Slán go fóill — goodbye for now.”T. Ó Domhnaill-Gaelic SeanchaíThank you for reading Crann na beatha. This post is public so feel free to share it.Crann na beatha is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit todomhnaill.substack.com/subscribe

Fáilte romhat! is é do bheathaWelcome to Crann na beatha Short Stories and Poetry for Jan. 19th, 2024Your Irish scéalaí is back again with more stories and a poem. Come in, sit down for a wee bit to listen to some more wonderful stories and a beautiful poem.After some major IT technical issues yesterday into today over a new beta version of my audio editing software, I finally managed to save the audio file to upload to my host provider this afternoon. It’s a good thing I am a semi-retired IT technician and engineer or I might still be waiting on tech support.I have four short stories and a poem for you today. We have the second part of The Heart and Harvest, an amusing monster story, a western love story, a poem about the beauty of poetry , and Robert G. Longpré’s eighth chapter from Sanctuary.I made a couple of small changes to the podcast this week. I have added in a two minute advertisement about donations for my work here and about my website after I read all of today’s offerings, on the advice of some professional podcasters. I also shortened the post message with a new Irish blessing in both Gaeilge and English. So, stay tuned after the stories to learn more about what else I have to offer everyone beyond these stories and poems.I have added the transcript to the end of this newsletter, since this is the first episode with the changes, so you know what to expect if you listen to the show.And now, the stories and poem I selected from great Medium writers read in this episode, with appropriate sound effects. To hear the enhancements, click the link above or listen to it in your favorite mobile app. I hear Spotify is all the rage these days.The Heart and the HarvestA Novelette in Three Parts: Part TwoJonathon SawyerThe Lord of GluttonyWhat happens when a summoning goes wrong and the demon you never knew existed emerges from the beyond?Violet LivelyStone Cold Heart (Western Short Story)Amy PotterThe Beauty Of PoetryWRITERJames WilliamSanctuary — Is It a Submarine?Chapter 8 — No. it’s a flying saucer.Robert G. Longpré [he / him]That is all I have for you. I look forward to hearing from everyone on whether this show brings value to all of you. As always, if you like a particular story or poem, please let the writer know personally.SláinteI want to take this time to ask for a donation of any amount to help me keep this podcast going, if you can, and to also explain how to find my website and what’s inside when you arrive at the door.My podcasts will remain free to subscribe on all of the major mobile podcast apps, here in Substack for the first month and on my YouTube channel, Crann na beatha.I have set up a donation link on Crann na beatha Stories and Poetry at rss.com and a donations page on my website at www.crann-na-beatha.com. All using PayPal for your security. Think of it as me passing my hat around to you at the end of my visit each week.If you like this podcast, please share it with everyone you know in your social circles as the writers I showcase in this podcast deserve all of the exposure they can get. I created this podcast for them because I love to read their work and I believe it should be shared with the world.Now, I want to explain how to find my website. Since this show is audio only, just type in www.crann-na-beatha.com in your browser and search for it.The website domain name is Gaelic and may be a little hard to find unless you know what you’re looking for. Then bookmark it if you like it.I also have the RSS feeder enabled so if you like my blog posts, you can be notified whenever I post something new. Search for www.Crann-na-beatha.com in your RSS feeder and set it up.Users finding the website for the first time will reach the Welcome page to learn a little about what’s inside. There you will see the home page link at the bottom of the page. On the home page, you can learn a little more about what crann na beatha means for a little bit of Irish culture and a little more about me in general. On the menu bar at the top, there are links to all of the pages in the website. The blog section where I post podcast newsletters, blog articles, stories and poems, a drop down podcast menu with links to both podcasts, a donations page, an ad page to purchase my published books, and a contact page in case someone cares to leave a message.Thank you for your patronage and support.Go raibh maith agat.Thank you for listening to the show today. I hope you enjoyed the variety of stories and poems again this week. Maybe one of them might touch your heart a little.Please return again next week for another episode of Crann na Beatha Stories and Poetry.As a Seanchaí, I want to continue to delight you with a story or a poem that may bring you a smile or make you think a little after we part for the day.As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. “Long-life and fair health to you — Saol fada agus breac-sláinte chugat.” “Slán go fóill — goodbye for now”.T.

Fáilte romhat! is é do bheathaWelcome to Crann na beatha Short Stories and Poetry for Jan. 12th, 2024I will keep this short this week as I have a houseful of children and grandchldren to take care of. Come in, sit down by the fire and get warm for a wee bit while I read a some stories and poems for you.I have three short stories and a poem for you this week. The poem is about children and how they grow up so fast, there is one fantasy story, another about relationships and dating, and Robert G. Longpré’s seventh chapter from Sanctuary.I am working on changing the format around a little bit in a week or two to keep things from going stale. No one likes to listen to the same ‘ole thing every week. Nothing drastic but something for a change of pace.So while we are trying to stay warm right now with all of the storms rolling across the nothern hemisphere, let me give you the links to the stories and poem I brought you.They Dance AwayAnd grow like weeds toward the skyCatherine OceanoIn the Shade of an Apple TreeA short storyNatalie Gasper This author has a link for everyone to read the storyThe Heart and the HarvestA Novelette in Three Parts: Part OneJonathon SawyerSanctuary — Bertha Becomes Head of HouseholdChapter 7 — A secret in the supplies shedRobert G. Longpré [he / him] Go raibh maith agat. Thank you for listening to the show today. I hope you enjoyed it. I try to offer everyone a variety of stories and poetry each week . Maybe something might touch your heart a little.Disclosure for everyone; In order to read the complete stories and poems, you will need to sign up for a subscription in Medium. If I see a link by the author on one of the stories to allow everyone to read it, I will let you know in the newsletters.Please return again next week for another episode of Crann na Beatha Stories and Poetry.This once a week podcast is available to listen to in nearly every podcast platform out there, including YouTube.Share this podcast with your friends and relations, the more the merrier. Search for Crann na beatha Stories and Poetry in your favorite podcast app.Subscriptions are still free but I do have a donations tab on the rss.com webpage, and on my website at www.crann-na-beatha.com. I appreciate any support for my efforts to bring these stories and poems to you. I hope I have achieved my goal in helping you feel like we've been sitting under the Tree of Life together. As a Seanchaí, I want to continue to delight you with a story or a poem that may bring you a smile or make you think a little after we part for the day. As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. "Bless you and yours, as well as the cottage you live in. May the roof overhead be well thatched, and those inside be well matched." Slán go fóill - which means goodbye for now in Irish.T. Ó Domhnaill - Gaelic SeachaíThank you for reading Crann na beatha. This post is public so feel free to share it.Crann na beatha is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit todomhnaill.substack.com/subscribe

Cead Míle FáilteWelcome to Crann na beatha Short Stories and Poetry for Jan. 5th, 2024Your Irish scéalaí is back to your digital village again this week. Come in, sit down for a wee bit so I can read a couple of stories and poems for you once again.I have five poems and two short stories for you this week. The poems and one story are about nature are and I have Robert G. Longpré’s sixth chapter from his new book, Sanctuary.I am working extra hard this week with other obligations so my podcasts and newsletters are being posted after normal working hours. Next weekend, I have family visiting so this newsletter may be a bit slow getting posted. I will record the show the day before they arrive and schedule the upload for next Friday. I will try to do the same for the newsletters. Things will get back to normal after next week, I hope.I am still doing just an audio show for this podast as I don’t think I have what it takes to be a lively story reader just yet. Maybe someday. I think I would probably need some minor acting lessons first and I don’t see that in my future.Now let me share these wonderful poems and stories with you here.The Wind is My FriendAnd invites me into his dreamsMariana BusarovaFlight of the Fatherless: A Blue Jay’s Tale of Loss and HopeA Blue Jay’s Odyssey of Grief and GraceEthan GomezFrost’s Cryptic AirFree VerseLark MorriganSanctuary — A Trip Back Home For KariChapter 6 — Solving a connection problem for Anne and her mother.Robert G. LongpréAll That Falls to the GroundBrenna B.The Poem “Nature Soul” (with the reference to Mavka)The Heart of the NatureProse PulseWhere I’m FromA poemJojo TeckinaThat is all I have this week. Somewhat short but I hope worthy of everyone’s attention. Please read these really great stories and poems and let the author’s know how much you like them. I know I do.SláinteGo raibh maith agat. Thank you for joining me today. I hope you enjoyed it. I try to offer everyone a variety of stories and poetry each week . Maybe something might touch your heart a little.Please return again next week for another episode of Crann na Beatha Stories and Poetry.This once a week podcast is available to listen to in nearly every podcast platform out there, including YouTube.Share this podcast with your friends and relations, the more the merrier. Search for Crann na beatha Stories and Poetry in your favorite podcast app.Podcast subscriptions are still free but I do have a donations tab on the rss.com webpage, and on my website at www.crann-na-beatha.com. I appreciate any support for my efforts to bring these stories and poems to you.I hope I have achieved my goal in helping you feel like we’ve been sitting under the Tree of Life together. As a Seanchaí, I want to continue to delight you with a story or a poem that may bring you a smile or make you think a little after we part for the day.As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. “Bless you and yours, as well as the cottage you live in. May the roof overhead be well thatched, and those inside be well matched.” Slán go fóill — which means goodbye for now in Irish.T. Ó Domhnaill — Gaelic SeanchaíThank you for reading Crann na beatha. This post is public so feel free to share it.Crann na beatha is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit todomhnaill.substack.com/subscribe

Fáilte romhat! is é do crann na bheatha (Welcome to The Tree of Life)Welcome to Crann na beatha Short Stories and Poetry for Dec, 29th, 2023Your Irish scéalaí is back again with more stories and poems for everyone. Come in, grab a chair and sit you down for a wee bit while I read the picks I have for you.I have five short stories and a poem for you this week. All are science fiction and fantasy and Robert G. Longpré’s fifth chapter from his new book, Sanctuary.I want to apologize for last week’s awful readings and sound effects editing. I took on too many stories and poems and lost steam in the middle somewhere so that it sounded like I was falling asleep at the wheel. When I listened to it, I was embarrassed so I am going to make a change as we transition from 2023 to 2024.I won’t be reading quite so many stories and poems going forward so I can provide you, the audience, a better performance. I also moved all of my advertising to the closing portion of the show. I promise to keep trying to make things better for you.Thank you to everyone who listens and just know that we are all fallible and make mistakes. I am no exception. After all, we are all human in our various sizes, shapes and colors. We may all speak different languages and have different cultures but I would like to think that listening to a good story or a poem can make our troubles go away for a time, no matter where we are in the world.Hit the play button and give this a listen while you read what you can of the stories and poem I have listed below. I only found the poem to have that special link that will allow you to read it in its entirety. I will let you know when I post the link here.What Really Killed the DinosaursAliens! But it’s not what you think.Andrew DartBorn a SavageA messiah’s last breath in the oceans of EuropaCharles BastilleLady of Embrace and Spear’s ThrustNot all Englishmen survived MesopotamiaDavid PahorThe JanitorFirst Contact with aliens couldn’t have happened to a nicer guyDr. Casey LawrenceGabriel and GabrielaSpirits aglow.Bruno T. (This is the poem I mentioned that has a link for non-Medium readers to read the whole poem without the paywall.)Sanctuary — A Committee of AdultsChapter 5 — The women are given controlRobert G. LongpréI want to wish everyone a happy and safe weekend and I will return again next week with more stories and poetry to start 2024 off.Go raibh maith agat. Thank you for listening to the show today. I hope you enjoyed it. I try to offer everyone a variety of stories and poetry each week . Maybe something might touch your heart a little.Disclosure for everyone; In order to read the complete stories and poems, you will need to sign up for a subscription in Medium. If I see a link by the author on one of the stories to allow everyone to read it, I will let you know in the podcast.Please return again next week for another episode of Crann na Beatha Stories and Poetry.This once a week podcast is available to listen to in nearly every podcast platform out there, including YouTube.Share this podcast with your friends and relations, the more the merrier. Search for Crann na beatha Stories and Poetry in your favorite podcast app.Subscriptions are still free but I do have a donations tab on the rss.com webpage, and on my website at www.crann-na-beatha.com. I appreciate any support for my efforts to bring these stories and poems to you.I hope I have achieved my goal in helping you feel like we’ve been sitting under the Tree of Life together. As a Seanchaí, I want to continue to delight you with a story or a poem that may bring you a smile or make you think a little after we part for the day.As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. “Bless you and yours, as well as the cottage you live in. May the roof overhead be well thatched, and those inside be well matched.” Slán go fóill — which means goodbye for now in Irish.SláinteT. Ó Domhnaill — Gaelic SeanchaíThank you for reading Crann na beatha. This post is public so feel free to share it.Crann na beatha is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit todomhnaill.substack.com/subscribe

Fáilte romhat!Welcome to Crann na Beatha Short Stories and Poetry for Dec, 22nd, 2023Come sit with me in a warm chair with a cup of something warm, a handful of Christmas cookies or a candy cane or two while I read you some more fictional stories and poems this week.I have nine short stories and poems for you this week. Some are Christmasy, some not so much, Robert G. Longpré’s fourth chapter from his new book, Sanctuary and lastly, a Christmas poem I found from a Facebook writer in one of my Pagan groups.I hope you are in a warm, comfortable seat because this episode may run overlong because of all the Christmas stories and poems I have. There is nothing better than sitting somewhere warm to listen to good stories and poems for a wee bit to take your mind off your troubles.I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, where ever you are in the world. I may not celebrate the Christian version of this special time of year but we are all children of the earth so none of that matters. My holiday time runs five days from the winter solstice until the day after the Christian Christmas day. I hope every one has a wonderful time with family and friends and can leave the worldly things aside for a few days.Here are the links to this weeks stories and poems. I have added sound effects to all of the selections so listen to the show and enjoy. I will copy the last poem I have for you here as it is not an internet file.Sanctuary — First Morning At the CabinChapter 4 —And some homeless people in need of a safe placeBy Robert G. LongpréAs a Maker, to SpeakDavid PahorI Took a Sip of You, but I Am Still ThirstyA pure thirst for loveMariana BusarovaI Did Something Bad YesterdayAnd I don’t know how I feel about itTzeLin SamThe Ageless Mrs. NibbetzShe’s always been there—waiting on her stoopA A McRaeThe Skylark, the Pendant, and the LuteAn Original Fairy TaleLark MorriganHis WishWhat the Snowman KnowsGrandma’s Still Alive!I better bring her home for ChristmasHarry HoggTWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE YULETIDETwas the night before Yuletide and all through the glenNot a creature was stirring, not a fox, not a hen.A mantle of snow shone brightly that nightAs it lay on the ground, reflecting moonlight.The faeries were nestled all snug in their trees,Unmindful of flurries and a chilly north breeze.The elves and the gnomes were down in their burrows,Sleeping like babes in their soft earthen furrows.When low! The earth moved with a thunderous quake,Causing chairs to fall over and dishes to break.The Little Folk scrambled to get on their feetThen raced to the river where they usually meet.“What happened?” they wondered, they questioned, they probed,As they shivered in night clothes, some bare-armed, some robed.“What caused the earth’s shudder? What caused her to shiver?”They all spoke at once as they stood by the river.Then what to their wondering eyes should appearBut a shining gold light in the shape of a sphere.It blinked and it twinkled, it winked like an eye,Then it flew straight up and was lost in the sky.Before they could murmur, before they could bustle,There emerged from the crowd, with a swish and a rustle,A stately old crone with her hand on a cane,Resplendent in green with a flowing white mane.As she passed by them the old crone’s perfume,Smelling of meadows and flowers abloom,Made each of the fey folk think of the springWhen the earth wakes from slumber and the birds start to sing.“My name is Gaia,” the old crone proclaimedin a voice that at once was both wild and tamed,“I’ve come to remind you, for you seem to forget,that Yule is the time of re-birth, and yet…”“I see no hearth fires, hear no music, no bells,The air isn’t filled with rich fragrant smellsOf baking and roasting, and simmering stews,Of cider that’s mulled or other hot brews.”“There aren’t any children at play in the snow,Or houses lit up by candles’ glow.Have you forgotten, my children, the funOf celebrating the rebirth of the sun?”She looked at the fey folk, her eyes going round,As they shuffled their feet and stared at the ground.Then she smiled the smile that brings light to the day,“Come, my children,” she said, “Let’s play.”They gathered the mistletoe, gathered the holly,Threw off the drab and drew on the jolly.They lit a big bonfire, and they danced and they sang.They brought out the bells and clapped when they rang.They strung lights on the trees, and bows, oh so merry,In colors of cranberry, bayberry, cherry.They built giant snowmen and adorned them with hats,Then surrounded them with snow birds, and snow cats and bats.Then just before dawn, at the end of their fest,Before they went homeward to seek out their rest,The fey folk they gathered ‘round their favorite oak treeAnd welcomed the sun ‘neath the tree’s finery.They were just reaching home when it suddenly came,The gold light returned like an arrow-shot flame.It lit on the tree top where they could see from afarThe golden-like sphere turned into a star.The old crone just smiled at the beautiful sight,“Ha

Failte romhat! is é do bheathaWelcome to Crann na Beatha Short Stories and Poetry for Dec, 15th, 2023Your favorite Gaelic scéalaí is back again. Come sit with me in a warm chair with a cup of something warm, maybe with a Christmas cookie to hand while I read you some more fictional stories and a poem this week.I have four short stories and a poem for you this week. A Christmas story but not your normal milk and cookies type, the third and last chapter of The Glacier, a short scary story about neighborhoods, a poem of longing and loss and Robert G. Longpré’s third chapter from his new book, Sanctuary.There is nothing better than sitting somewhere warm to listen to good stories and poems for a wee bit to take your mind off your troubles.This once a week podcast is available to listen to in nearly every podcast platform out there. And now on YouTube.Subscriptions are still free but I do have a donations tab on the rss.com webpage, and on my website at www.crann-na-beatha.com. I appreciate any support for my efforts to bring these stories and poems to you.Disclosure for everyone; In order to read the complete stories and poems, you will need to sign up for a subscription in Medium. If I see a link by the author on one of the stories to allow everyone to read it, I will let you know.Here are the links to this weeks stories and poem. To listen to the stories with sound effects, click the play button at the top of the page.The Perfect TreeIt’s Christmas magic in the forest…Grim FlandangoTalking with the NeighboursDavid PahorHalf AsleepWhere did you go?🌬️MitchSanctuary — Arrival at the CabinChapter 3 —The necessity of decontamination before entering.Robert G. LongpréI hope you enjoyed this week’s show. I try to offer everyone a variety of something here and maybe something that touches the heart a little at times.Until next time. SláinteGo raibh maith agat. Thank you for listening to the show today. I hope you enjoyed it and that you will return again for another episode of Crann na Beatha Stories and Poetry next week. Share this podcast with your friends and relations, the more the merrier. Search for Crann na beatha Stories and Poetry in your favorite podcast app.I hope I have achieved my goal in helping you feel like we’ve been sitting under the village oak tree as I entertained you today. As a Seanchaí, I want to continue to delight you with a story or a poem that may bring you a smile or make you think a little after we part for the day.As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. “Bless you and yours, as well as the cottage you live in. May the roof overhead be well thatched, and those inside be well matched.” Slán go fóill — which means goodbye for now in Irish.T. Ó Domhnaill — Gaelic SeanchaíThank you for reading Crann na beatha. This post is public so feel free to share it.Crann na beatha is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit todomhnaill.substack.com/subscribe

FáílteWelcome to Crann na Beatha Short Stories and Poetry for Dec, 8th, 2023As your favorite scéalaí, I invite you to come sit with me next to a warm fire with a cup of something while I read you some more fictional stories and poetry again this week.Once again, I have seven short stories and poems for you this week. A couple of fantasy and science fiction stories, a couple of poems and Robert G. Longpré’s second chapter from his new book.I enjoy reading stories and poems, especially during the colder months. I used to read stories to my kids when they were real young. There is nothing better than sitting somewhere warm and listening to good stories and poems for a wee bit to take your mind off your troubles.This once a week podcast is available to listen to in nearly every podcast platform out there. And now on YouTube. I am starting to get serious about producing a video version of my podcasts. I have the equipment and platforms to support this. How do you feel about it?Subscriptions are free but I do have a donations tab on the rss.com webpage found in the link with the newsletter, and on my website at www.crann-na-beatha.com. I appreciate any support for my efforts to bring these stories and poems to you.I added sound effects to nearly every story and poem so I invite to you to listen and let me know what you think. If you like this, subscribe to my Youtube channel for free.Now, I invite you to read along to the podcast with these great stories and poems.The Equines of RedemptionIf only ladies could recognise Gift Horses, they would give them a wide berth.David PahorThis Year is LeavingWhere’s the winter?Mariana BusarovaLaura’s ThemeDavid SheehanSims: When a Genius Gets Lonely All She Has To Do is Make Some FriendsDeborah WalkerThe Cost of ObedienceWhen ceaseless desperation hits, how far are you willing to go to make your ends meet?Erosia PotterA Winter Night We LovedA poemDebra G. Harman, MEdSanctuary — The Escape PlanChapter 2 — Kari had kept the cabin a secret from Anne.Robert G. LongpréI try to offer a variety of stories and poems every week. As we get closer to the Winter Solstice and the Christian holiday season, I will be bringing more seasonal stories and poems to everyone over the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned.Go raibh maith agat.I hope you enjoyed this weeks episode and that you will return again for another episode of Crann na Beatha Stories and Poetry next week. Share this podcast with your friends and relations, the more the merrier. Search for Crann na beatha Stories and Poetry in your favorite podcast app.I hope I have achieved my goal in helping you feel like we’ve been sitting under the village oak tree as I entertained you today. As a Seanchaí, I want to continue to delight you with a story or a poem that may bring you a smile or make you think a little after we part for the day.As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. “Bless you and yours, as well as the cottage you live in. May the roof overhead be well thatched, and those inside be well matched.” Slán go fóill — which means goodbye for now in Irish.T. Ó Domhnaill — Gaelic StorytellerThank you for reading Crann na beatha. This post is public so feel free to share it.Crann na beatha is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit todomhnaill.substack.com/subscribe

Fáilte romhat! is é do bheathaWelcome to Crann na Beatha Short Stories and Poetry for Dec, 1st, 2023Come in and sit down by the fire. Make yourself at home. Have a cup of something warm while I weave you some stories and poetry from Medium this evening.I have seven short stories and poems for you this week. A couple of fantasy and science fiction stories, a couple of poems and Robert G. Longpré’s second chapter from his new book.I truly enjoy reading stories and poems, especially during the colder months. There is nothing better than sitting somewhere warm and listening to good stories and poems for a few minutes to take your mind off your troubles for a wee bit.This once a week podcast is available to listen to in nearly every podcast platform out there. And now on YouTube. I found out this week, that the Spotify version of this podcast has become very popular in Malaysia of all places.Subscriptions are free but I do have a donations tab on the rss.com webpage found in the link with the newsletter, and on my website at www.crann-na-beatha.com. Of course, you can always become a paid subscriber here as well. Just sayin’. I appreciate any support for my efforts to bring these stories and poems to you.Disclosure for everyone; In order to read the complete stories and poems, you will need to sign up for a subscription in Medium, although I am thinking about this new Medium extra called Friends of Medium. It allows the author to set up a link that can be shared with everyone. If I see one on any story, I will share it with you.And here are this weeks stories and poems from really great writers. I added sound effects to all of the stories so, if you want to hear these with the added enhancements, click the link above.A Song of CastingA battle for survivalCathryn MooreHave Mutants, Will TravelIt is never a good sign when they interrupt your retirementDavid PahorBorn in the ForestAlice’s babyKaty Langston Be sure to check out her website at www.Seenandgreen.comA Bonfire to the SkyWe all bear our burdensMariana BusarovaPoem: The Language of SilencePoetry by Lovely PoemsLovely PoemsBorn to SoftnessBrenna B.Sanctuary — The Signal To Leave HomeChapter 1 — An open door doesn’t bode well.Robert G. LongpréI hope you enjoyed this week’s show. I try to offer everyone a variety of something here and maybe something that touches the heart a little at times.Until next time. SláinteGo raibh maith agat. I that you will return again for another episode of Crann na Beatha Stories and Poetry next week. Share this podcast with your friends and relations, the more the merrier. Search for Crann na beatha Stories and Poetry in your favorite podcast app.I hope I have achieved my goal in helping you feel like we’ve been sitting next to the hearth fire as I entertained you today. As a Seanchaí, I want to continue to delight you with a story or a poem that may bring you a smile or make you think a little after we part for the day.As I say good bye this week, I wish to leave you with this Irish blessing as you go about your day. “Bless you and yours, as well as the cottage you live in. May the roof overhead be well thatched, and those inside be well matched.” Slán go fóill — which means goodbye for now in Irish.T. Ó Domhnaill — Gaelic SeanchaíThank you for reading Crann na beatha. This post is public so feel free to share it.Crann na beatha is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit todomhnaill.substack.com/subscribe