How a curious and wacko kid became an oddly-perceptive adult — I was a snoopy little fat kid who listened in on my parents through the heater vents. We all did — my brother, sister and me. We lived in an old farmhouse with a large grate at the top of the stairs. Lying on the floor with our heads on…

The Camino de Santiago melted my fat and built my muscles — Your body fat melts like butter. Your feet widen and flatten. Your skin browns, whether or not you use sunscreen. Your body will respond to the demands, and serve you well. It can break down, however. Be cautious. In Pamplona, I met an extremely athletic twenty-something who twisted his ankle…

She lived under a bridge and phoned me with her last fifty cents — There are angels all around us. Scattered light orbs, the sound of wings, music just around the corner. The essence of purity and kindness — that is how I’ve always considered angels. My cousin Francesca was one. How else could she have been so sweet, while enduring the worst problems…

In comments, share your favorite story from any Parasol Pub in the last year, and say why you loved it — win a tip! — Oh, the holidays are upon us, and I’m not exactly ready That beautiful girl in the photo? Meet Tegan Marie, of the Yellow Bear Clan. When we adopted her twelve years ago from some people whose labs had puppies, she was the biggest pup of the litter. The opposite of the ‘runt of the litter.’

We are celebrating our collaborations — An announcement for our writers: USA Thanksgiving is 23 November, and many editors and writers are traveling and entertaining family, not to mention cooking. We are happy to accept your submissions, but please have patience with us over the holiday. In the spring of 2023, we started hearing about a Medium Day slated for August 12th “Wow, that’s kind of close,” we said to each other…

These guidelines are basics for the editorial team at Parasol Pubs — Deb Groves Harman is the publisher for Parasol Publications. This information has been assembled by her, and edited by the team at Parasol. Let us know if you have any questions. These are Parasol Pubs’ guidelines, not the way every pub functions, but the way we work. General Editor Information Note: our edits…

Fiction & poetry —

A poem — Eclipse 1 My love and I drive south For seven minutes of darkness. During solar eclipse, the sun proposes a sparkling rim and white-hot stone, We drive for margaritas, the blue Pacific, to make love when Orion rises, belt low on his hips and hike date groves to a church where fruit bats hide in beams. To sit silent in…

He wanted me to develop a drug habit so I wouldn’t leave him — Without a doubt I was addicted to my ex. He was more of a drug to me than heroin. I worked for years to get him out of my system, and there were no clear endings. The truth floated, an oily film on water, changing shape and colors. I didn’t…