Writer
Frozen-finger claw reaches from my hands blisters where I hold too tightly scraping at the surface of things dragging away death— remnants of things once green I try not to disturb what lives. Overhead, the wind loosens the hold of a hundred leaves. They rain down, no more attachment left, surrendered to the soil, sacrifices... Continue Reading →
There’s a story that’s been with me for a few years — several years. “Daisy & The Great Beyond” is the title. I started playing with the characters around 2011, 2021. I’d have to check my original project box to be sure. I’d revisit the characters now and again, and last summer, in 2020, I... Continue Reading →
I saw Wynton Marsalis speaking on Bill Maher’s "Real Time" and was moved to Listen to “The Ever Fonky Lowdown.” I’m not typically a jazz Listener, but I love satire and music. And humanity. “The Ever Fonky Lowdown” is a jaw-dropping example of how Art that has the power to transform society. I feel like... Continue Reading →
When I was a kid growing up in the 70s and 80s—in my father’s absence—there were a number of black men who were the fathers in my life. Some I knew as family friends. Two men, Rex and Charles, came close to being my stepfathers. Had it been a different time, Charles and my mother... Continue Reading →
Get a free copy of my eBook "Stories the Earth Told Me" from May 24, 2020 until May 28, 2020 on Amazon. Paperback copies are also available too. From the Prologue ~ The Tree of Life is not only for mystics. The trees around my childhood home were my closest companions. I nestled in their... Continue Reading →
Free eBook for #EarthDay Get your free copy of “The Caretaker of Tree Palace” eBook here. Available April 20, 2020 to April 24, 2020 to Honor our Mother on #EarthDay. Use #ReadToTrees to share the healing art you make. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lesson Plans The Caretaker of Tree Palace: #TeacherGuide introduction Chapter 1 – Fallen Chapter 2... Continue Reading →
FREE SCRIPT to use for educational projects of theatre and video production STUDENTS. If you use the script, share your pictures and videos here. I want to see what you create. The Canyon Flier by C. Dawn McCallum One-Act Play in the Style of Magical Realism Cast 1 F / 9 M* OLD ERNESTO ... Continue Reading →
I made a YouTube Playlist called "Stories with Dawn" that includes some of my short stories, video projects, and documentary shorts about The Pedestriennes by Harry Hall. Enjoy! For more stories, visit my Amazon Author page. https://www.amazon.com/C.-Dawn-McCallum/e/B001K8XLOS
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Everyone is haunted by something. In this allegorical tale told by a bodark tree, witness the decay and renewal of a family. The bodark tree weaves a poetic, yet unnerving narrative that reaches simultaneously into the earth, the sky, and beyond. The maddening effects of secrets—both past and present—shred the reality of all around the... Continue Reading →
O Thou kind Lord! This gathering is turning to Thee. These hearts are radiant with Thy love. These minds and spirits are exhilarated by the message of Thy glad-tidings. O God! Let this American democracy become glorious in spiritual degrees even as it has aspired to material degrees, and render this just government victorious. Confirm... Continue Reading →
FREE SCRIPT to use for educational projects of theatre and video production STUDENTS. If you use the script, share your pictures and videos here. I want to see what you create. The Canyon Flier by C. Dawn McCallum One-Act Play in the Style of Magical Realism Cast 1 F / 9 M* OLD ERNESTO ... Continue Reading →
I used to make up songs when I was a little girl. I've caught myself singing my own songs again. They're songs for my story "The Caretaker of Tree Palace." Here are a couple of beginnings. Works in progress. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50ZaScd_fgY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAlvU8fWFAE
“Praise be to Thee, O my God, Thou has guided me to the horizon of Thy Manifestation and made me known through Thy name. I beg of Thee, by the radiance of the light of Thy gifts, and the waves of Thy beneficence, to endow my utterance with inspiration from the traces of Thy Supreme... Continue Reading →
#TeacherGuide for The Caretaker of Tree Palace For Discussion Why does Catherine think the scraggly woods are a “palace”? What losses does Doodles face in the book? How does he cope with them? Which character in this book is most like you? Why? Re-read the scenes of Doodles at school. Have you ever had fears... Continue Reading →
#TeacherGuide for The Caretaker of Tree Palace For Discussion Why do you think this chapter is titled “sunward”? How has life changed for Jon in the past year? What lessons has he learned? How has life changed for Curtis in the past year? What lessons has he learned? Activities Make a list of major events... Continue Reading →
#TeacherGuide for The Caretaker of Tree Palace For Discussion Why do you think this chapter is titled “light follows dark”? In this chapter, Doodles begins to think of himself as Jon. What does this mean? What concerns does Doodles’ father have throughout the book? Jon says: “This paper used to be trees. But now it... Continue Reading →
#TeacherGuide for The Caretaker of Tree Palace For Discussion Why do you think this chapter is titled “root”? How does caring for the dove help Doodles’ own wounds heal? What’s the moral of the story of Eagle? How can you apply it to your own life? Activities Memorize Old Crow’s story of the Eagle and... Continue Reading →
