Once again available on Kindle (and for good this time), the story of a boy, his mother, and the spirit of the words, “The Diction-fairy.”

Cover art by Melissa Mathieu. Special thanks to Stuart Weiss.

“Leave some blank pages under your pillow for the Diction-fairy.” Mom finally said, between the squeaky atonal noises of the tape machine.

I asked who the Diction-fairy was.

“She’ll take your pages and write on them.” Mom explained.

I asked what would happen if I wrote words on them first. Mom’s smile was tired, but real and full of magic.

“Then she’ll make your words better.”


I still remember the first time I left an essay under my pillow for the Diction-fairy. Eight year old me was desperate; stuck on Sunday night with two pages due on Monday and not even old enough to say the word ‘bullshit,’ much less practice it. Little did I know that this magical figure would come to shape my future and my faith in the power of words. As an adult, I left my manuscript under my pillow one last time, never expecting what would come…

For fans of Charles de Lint or Legends and Lattes, this is a cozy little story of a boy, his mother, and the spirit of the words.

Order your copy of “The Diction-fairy” today!

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