Xine Segalas
Bio
Exploring life through writing, art, and photography, drawing inspiration from the natural world and beloved tales. Author of "Xine's Pack of Strays & Others," about life with my dogs, I review books, hoping to encourage others to read.
Stories (45/0)
My Arrows of Ambition for 2024
I write every day. Every morning, I write for 30-60 minutes in my journal, simply downloading my thoughts of the morning so I can proceed with my day. Part of that day includes more writing, and although I don’t usually set my goals in writing, it’s fitting to write down my 2024 writing goals for the first Vocal Challenge of the year.
By Xine Segalas4 months ago in Motivation
The Gritty Reality of Demon Copperhead
Demon Copperhead might first seem like a daunting read with its 500+ pages, but let me tell you, diving into its depths is like discovering a hidden treasure. The audiobook version, a masterpiece narrated by the talented Charlie Thurston, unfolds over an epic 21 hours and three minutes.
By Xine Segalas4 months ago in BookClub
The Gentle Giant Among Us
The following is a chapter from my book, Xine's Pack of Strays & Others - A Memoir. Alex When I was a sophomore at Boston University, my roommate Sarah brought her dog to our apartment for a semester. We both love dogs and somehow, my roommate from Southern California had her family's 7-year-old Great Dane in our Boston apartment.
By Xine Segalas4 months ago in Petlife
Spira, the Tiniest Tree
Once upon a time, in a cozy little tree farm, nestled there among the giants, was a small spruce named Spira. “Spira,” pronounced like "speer-ah," means a little sprout, just beginning to grow. She was the smallest tree on the farm, with branches soft and fine, and needles that shimmered like dewdrops in the morning sunshine. The air around her was crisp and fresh, filled with the earthy scent of pine and soil, a peaceful haven under the wide blue sky.
By Xine Segalas4 months ago in Fiction
My Vocal Story Gone Without a Trace
Writing, in any form, is deeply personal. Each word is a fragment of oneself. My journey with writing has been lifelong, evolving from journaling a daily decades-old routine to authoring a book on life lessons I learned from raising dogs and children. I've also enjoyed penning over 300 book reviews and multiple articles about life.
By Xine Segalas4 months ago in Writers
New York's Timeless Tales
Few cities have the dynamic personality and narrative power of New York City. Its vibrant society, streets, history, and energy are more than just a setting or backdrop. A long-time muse for storytellers, New York City is a character in its own right. This was particularly evident in two books that I read this year: the contemporary novel Mrs. by Caitlin Macy and the historical narrative The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. In both stories, the city isn't just a backdrop but a vital, living part of the story. Both offer a window into the high society of New York but from different eras and perspectives.
By Xine Segalas5 months ago in BookClub
Early Agatha Christie Explored
One of my reading goals is to read my way through the collection of various favorite authors I have. My parents were both huge fans of Agatha Christie, and they were the ones who introduced me to her murder mysteries when I was a teenager. I was excited to return to the beginning with her debut novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles.
By Xine Segalas5 months ago in BookClub
- Top Story - December 2023
Pencil Lines and PlotlinesTop Story - December 2023
This year, I dove into a few graphic novels - I wanted to mix things up since I have been reading an average of over 60 books a year. I thought it would be nice to expand my literary horizons and slip back to a genre that I was comfortable with from the beginning.
By Xine Segalas5 months ago in BookClub
Tales and Targets
This year started out rough for me, with my father’s death on January 2nd. I had to drive down to Connecticut to join my siblings for the service, so I knew I would be in the car for about 8 to 9 hours. When I know I have to drive a long way, I usually look to one of the books in my audiobook library to entertain on those so long miles.
By Xine Segalas5 months ago in BookClub