Thinking of my time on the southern California and Baja beaches, and wishing aid and recovery to those magical places from Hurricane Rachel, from this Rachel. Wrestlng the Waves The tiny octopus wriggled in my small hand in that December in San Felipe where among the tidepools under an achingly turquoise sky I had one of the only tender moments with my father as he dropped the creature into my grasp and after a moment…
With a new book coming out soon, I’ve been contemplating the fiction category called “cozy mystery” and wanting a definition. How do you define a cozy mystery from all the other kinds? Here’s what I’ve found in my reading and research. What’s a Cozy Mystery? At first glance, the two words sound like a contradiction. What can be cozy about a mysterious event? Spooky, chill-inducing, scary—those are words I would associate with murder mysteries, until…
Free eBooks About Love and Time Warm your heart and dive into history at the same time. This month, a group of authors offer you a smorgasbord of Free romantic and historical fiction. Learn about different eras and places in history. Warm your heart with stories of love and connection. You can download as many books as you like and stack up your springtime reading. All you have to do is join the author’s newsletter…
My new poetry collection. The Artist’s House is a cultural autobiography, honoring the literature, art, and artists that have shaped my writing, with illustrations and interactive features. It will include Art Nouveau style drawings and links to music, dance, and poetry online. Listen to a song by Jacob Collier while reading a poem about Emily Dickinson’s lines dueling with Taylor Swift’s. Watch a performance of Twyla Tharp’s “In The Upper Rooms” ballet after reading the…
New Review! Very happy to have my new poetry collection reviewed by author Elizabeth Havey on her recent blog. Read the review here. She writes “Rachel Dacus is an amazing poet, choosing her words to explore ideas…every poem a gift that touches, informs and shines” I’m honored to have the book so enthusiastically reviewed. One of the dimensions of the book I’m most pleased by is the art work I included, drawings, photos, and paintings.…
In the recent years of uncertainty and upheaval, I’ve spent a lot of time in the artist’s house, reading and writing, and tending to my wellbeing by savoring art of all kinds. I’m very happy to let you know my new poetry collection, THE ARTIST’S HOUSE, is now available on Amazon! Paperback and ebook. Thanks to all the poets and artists who continue to inspire me and create our arts community,
My new poetry is coming! The Artist’s House will release on October 16, 2025.I’ve never been more proud of a book, and really excited to share it with you. A fresh concept in an illustrated package, it will be available in ebook and print. It’s been a long time — seven years — since I published a poetry collection. I was interrupted by the pandemic, a busy work schedule, and other projects. Receiving a poem…
Two hundred fifty years ago, one of my favorite authors was born. Jane Austen fans are celebrating her birthday with style and fanfare. The iconic romance author is being given parties and new films. Miss Austen, a new Masterpiece Theatre series premiered on May 5. The delightful French-English rom-com Jane Austen Wrecked My Life revives the great tradition of storytelling with Austen-like wit, satire, and happy ending. Mix-ups and mishaps, costumes and contemporary. Here’s a…
Are we all in the autumn spirit yet? Would you enjoy a novel set in Italy’s holiday season? How about some romance, family, and mystery in a story set on the Italian coast, when sisters inherit a dead poet’s cottage. Only the poet isn’t entirely gone. THE INVISIBLES – ON AMAZON It was a lot of fun writing this book during the season of holidays — Halloween, All Saints Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. I put…
Getting book reviews is often wonderful and even instructive for an author. You learn a lot by knowing what someone loved in your story and what they didn’t love as much. I especially value comments from fellow authors, who know how much goes into the writing and publishing of a novel. I was especially pleased when Suanne Schafer, editor, author, and regular book reviewer, read and reviewed my newest. Her full review and wonderful website…