Lucy Leaf / Betsy Bean
Tea is relaxing, refreshing, and way classier than coffee.
I’ve brewed a pot of Scottish breakfast tea, and I’m percolating with all kinds of advice and wisdom for you. I have no problem with coffee, mind you, and I am not here to spend oolong time changing you all into tea lovers. (But I’ll try). I can matcha Betsy leaf to bean with an additional dose of varie-tea to my column. Read on for perfectly acceptable responses to readers’ questions. I’ll leaf you to submit your question below for wise and thoughtful advice.
Coffee is vigorous, energizing, and better than tea.
- While out traveling the globe in search of the finest coffee bean, I’ve allowed Lucy Leaf to go on and on and on about her love of tea. If you are not a tea fan and cherish that first cup of coffee, you are in luck. Equally able to provide wise, sage advice, brew yourself a cup of strong java and let me offer you caffeinated words of wisdom.
Words of Wisdom
Stage Directions in a novel?
Ask Lucy! Lucy, My editor has several margin comments about "stage directions." I'm not writing a play, it's a novel. What does she mean by too many stage directions?Sincerely, Befuddled Dearest Befuddled, Your lovely editor is merely...
How many tea bags does it take to fill a cup?
Ask Lucy! Dear Lucy, How many tea bags? I am quarantined with my college-age daughter, and she always uses two tea bags instead of one. I've asked her to please conserve our precious supply, but she keeps “forgetting.” My tea is running out quickly. What...
Excessive Alliteration Nay or Yay?
Ask Lucy! Dear Lucy, I love excessive alliteration, okay maybe just a healthy dose of alliteration. Sometimes I'm not even aware I've done it until I see all the highlighted words from my editor. But why is it frowned upon in my fiction? Pondering Penny...
Raining Cats and Cats
Raining Cats Dear Lucy: It's raining cats at my house! I’ve got a stack of new urban fantasy books to read, but my cat keeps climbing on my tea table, then leaping onto my lap, right on top of the open pages. How am I supposed to escape into this great story?...
Do Not Disturb. Seriously… Do Not Disturb.
Ask LucyDear Lucy Do Not Disturb doesn't work anymore! I am trying to get moving on my first novel, but I can’t seem to get past a brief outline. Either my mind is everywhere else, there are too many interruptions, or I can’t stop scrolling on social...
Missing that Holiday Madness?
Ask Lucy your question here.Missing that Holiday Madness Dear Lucy, I miss the holiday madness. After months (and months and months) of being in quarantine (and ore months), the one thing I miss the most is being in a crowded store. Even though being around...
Drive-thru coffee in the time of quarantine.
Ask Lucy LeafI've brewed up a pot of Scottish breakfast tea, and I'm percolating with all kinds of advice and wisdom for you. Send in your question from the contact form below. Read on for questions from Lucy's fans.Dear Lucy, I miss drive-thru coffee. I’ve been...
The page vs. screen conundrum.
Wise advice from LucyThe page vs. screen conundrumDear Lucy:My partner always wants to watch television while I'm enjoying the next book on my TBR shelf. How can I share the appreciation of a good story from actual pages instead of from a flat screen? Sincerely,A...
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