Echoes from the Wander
15 December 2025
I had an incredible week … thanks, honestly, to you all.
Your encouragement has been astonishing. I doubt I’d be writing half of what I’ve written this past year without leaping into Substack and landing among this community.
Yet here I am—exploring new worlds, unexpected genres, and rekindling old poetry flames.
Thank you. Truly.
’Tis the season to git ’r done, so let’s dive in.
Last Week
Phaiku—A perfect example of what your curiosity sparks. I’d never have invented this philosophical little hybrid without you.
Haiku No. 20 in the series—another piece that brushes up against the Star Archive. I knew nothing about archaeoastronomy before arriving here. You opened that door.
Wednesday Whimsy #30: The Muse Writes to Santa
This one harks back to the version of me who once thought she might pursue journalism. I don’t imagine many editors would have approved a “Muse beat,” but you’ve let me fly with it. It brings me a childish delight I didn’t have space for earlier.
If you missed the Muse’s recommendations for what should end up in a writer’s stocking, catch them before the elves finish packing the sleigh.
Pictographs and the Poetry That Doesn’t Use Words
This whole series fell from the sky and landed at my feet because you’ve been so generous with your curiosity about my skyward wanderings. Essay Three of the Star Archive dances at the edge of poetic science. I can feel how deeply this series echoes my own longings—and you’ve allowed me to lean into that.
Signal & Solstice: A Mature Outing in Apple Whisky
It should be illegal how good this came out. I may have a spirit license, but not a liquor license—otherwise I’d offer each of you a taste. With every sip of Signal & Solstice, I toast your inspiration.
Crone’s Cairn
I said it would return, but then a timely reminder nudged me: the very contest that inspired the collection in the first place was open again. So earlier this week, I submitted Crone’s Cairn to the Two Sylvias Press Wilder Series Poetry Book Prize.
Which means I’ll hold off on posting any more Crone poems until a decision is made.
Unexpected good news, that reminder. And for any of you “women over fifty” (with women defined as broadly and graciously as our world now understands), the deadline is December 31st. There’s still time. Consider it.
What’s Next
Sending Crone’s Cairn into a contest has freed me to work more earnestly on my new poetry project: a posthumous collaboration with my father, and a way to know him through the writings he left behind. Watch for early explorations. My heart has wanted this for a long time, and your support has given me the steadiness to begin.
Phaiku No. 21: Sun Dagger appears in Thursday’s essay, though I may slip another one in on Tuesday.
The Muse will return in Wednesday Whimsy #31—I suspect she’s stirring up trouble with Rudolph this time.
And on Thursday, you’ll receive The Crab’s Claim: Evidence After Attention. Essay Four of the Star Archive is full—knowledge, wonder, surprise. It has made me a better sky-poet.
And with that, I’m set—and hope you are too. This is an extra-busy season for many. The fact that you’re still here means more than you know.
I’m in with Santa, via the Muse. I’ll put in a good word.
Right now, I’m catching a whiff of bright green apple. Surely it’s five o’clock somewhere.
Right?
Be good, y’all.
—Jennifer
JL Tooker
You're an inspiration too, you know! Seriously, I love reading your stuff and it makes me aspire to really engage with my long-form storytelling again. It's stuck in aspiration for now, but I have a feeling it's just gathering energy and will let loose after the holidays.