News Center

In Search of … Me (Part 7) By Author Joseph J. O’Donnell

Monday, July 12th, 2021
Author Joseph J. O’Donnell

    As of my last episode I have just received a more extensive upgrade of my DNA analysis. Ancestry.com Is always uncovering new data, whether it be a DNA upgrade, or simply adding new info in helping you discover your family tree.

   According to the new results of my DNA sample the figures have changed somewhat since my last findings. I have now been declared 70% Scottish, 19% Irish, 9% English and Northwestern Europe, and 2% Norwegian (those pesky Vikings).

   This has made more sense to me as my mother’s maiden name was Mills (of which I have found many of my cousins now living just north of me), and my father’s namesake moved to Scotland from Ireland, due to the Great Potato Famine, at about 1830. He then married a Scottish girl not long after he arrived there.

   For the next several generations the sons of the O’Donnell clan married women of Scottish lineage until my father arrived in America and married my mother (a Mills).

   I will keep my readers informed, and updated, with any new info as it arrives. I hope that my search results can help anyone who is considering in their quest to find their bloodlines and how to promote their own family ties.

JOD/TAEM

My Virginia – Culpeper

Thursday, February 11th, 2021

By author Joseph J. O’Donnell

Joseph O'Donnell, Sr. and Joseph O'Donnell, Jr.
Author Joseph O’Donnell, Sr.
and Photographer Joseph O’Donnell, Jr.

   Our magazine has traveled through much of Virginia over the years and we have sadly missed a lot of territory. The recent pandemic cost us time and a lot of opportunities to explore more of this great Commonwealth. We have decided to go deep outside the boundaries we normally frequented and visit the boundless farmlands and communities that support them. We decided that our first choice would be Culpeper, Virginia.

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In The News! My new book is finally Published! by author Joseph J. O’Donnell

Saturday, April 11th, 2020
Writer Joseph J. O'Donnell

Finally! After a long stretch my new book, Tales For Late at Night – Darker Times is now on the book stands at the Amazon Kindle Book Store. You can see, and purchase it, by clicking on Our Book Store here or on the Homepage Tool Bar above.

My new anthology of Short Stories is great for late night reading, and will give all our readers another source of entertainment during the world’s battle with Covid-19.

Please enjoy my work and click on LIKE on all my work to let me know that I am well serving my readers. I also ask that you make Donations to The Eerie Digest , and my new magazine, The Science and Nature Journal (which can easily be reached by clicking on the Science icon at the tool bar on this Homepage). This will definitely help further productions for ALL my readers enjoyment.

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IN THE NEWS! See Our New Science and Nature Magazine

Wednesday, March 4th, 2020
Science and Nature Journal Logo

   The Science Section of our magazine has taken a giant leap forward at last ! For several years we toyed with the idea of placing all our science stories and interviews in a more formal, and appropriate, setting and we decided that the subject deserved a magazine of its own.

   Now the day has come in which those interviewed can proudly show off their stories. We decided that magazines such as Scientific American would satisfy the more sophisticated setting for this subject and we went about planning a similar style for our readers.

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Coming Soon : My New Book by author Joseph J. O’Donnell

Wednesday, November 20th, 2019
Author Joseph J. O'Donnell

I have a new anthology coming soon to Our Book Store and Amazon Kindle titled ‘Tales for Late at Night- Darker Times.’

Joe O’Donnell, our photographer and superb graphics designer in his own right, has completed the new book cover design for the long-awaited book which I have submitted to this article. Joe has quite a few accomplishments under his belt and his book cover design can proudly take its place amongst his many fine works.

I want to thank Joe personally for his contribution to my writing and I’d like to point to his contact info at the bottom of this article for ALL my readers who wish to employ him for their literary works. You can contact him through his site below.

Thanks so much again, Joe!!!

TAEM/ JOD

Joe O'Donnell, Jr.

Joe O’Donnell’s Contact Page

TAEM Takes a ride on the Walkersville Southern by author Joseph J. O’Donnell and photographer Joseph O’Donnell

Tuesday, October 1st, 2019

Joseph O'Donnell, Sr. and Joseph O'Donnell, Jr.On the 16th of September our magazine turned its eyes to the North to see what new adventure we could muster up. Approximately two years ago (see the September 2017 article) we ventured to Cumberland City Maryland and toured the area on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. We decided to do so again , but at a closer location to home.

Our photographer, Joseph O’Donnell, found such a venue and brought it to my attention. Game for a pleasant afternoon jaunt in ideal weather conditions , we headed north to Maryland once again to the Small town of Walkersville where a splendid small tourist railway and museum stood. (more…)

TAEM Welcomes Back Author Raymond Benson

Sunday, September 1st, 2019

Raymond BensonTAEM- Once again we have the honor of interviewing the first American author of the famed James Bond novels . We last interviewed Raymond in our July 2014 issue of our magazine. At the time we discussed his recent publications of the series ‘Black Stiletto : Secrets & Lies’ and ‘ ‘Ice Cold- Tales of Intrigue from the Cold War’. We recently learned that Raymond has just completed another great novel, ‘Blues in the Dark’, so we caught up with him to find out more about it. Raymond what genre is this novel written in?

RB- We call it a thriller, but I think it’s more of a suspense novel, or perhaps a literary thriller. My publisher, Skyhorse, is beginning a new crime imprint this fall, Arcade Crime Wise, and I’m proud to be one of the first publications under that banner. (more…)

TAEM Visits Tennessee… and the Land of Dolly Parton

Thursday, August 1st, 2019

Joseph O'Donnell, Sr. and Joseph O'Donnell, Jr.By author Joseph J. O’Donnell and photographer Joseph O’Donnell

We decided to set our sites to the South and explore a gem of an area hidden in the Great Smokey Mountains . As avid hikers my son, Joe (our magazine’s photographer), and I have traveled extensively in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. A neighbor, and good friend, had told us that he had vacationed often in the Great Smokey Mountains just to our south, in Tennessee. So we decided to travel there to see what the area offered.

We drove the distance from Northern Virginia to this fantastic location in a drive time of seven and a half hours, taking turns at the wheel and stopping along the way for gas and meals. It wasn’t so bad as the majority of the driving took us along Interstate 81 giving us a mostly direct route with little traffic. (more…)

My Virginia- Summertime Hiking in the Blue Ridge by author Joseph J. O’Donnell

Tuesday, July 2nd, 2019

Joseph O'Donnell, Sr. and Joseph O'Donnell, Jr.Virginia is unquestionably the most beautifully state for hiking along the Appalachian Trail . The state offers many trails branching out all over the Commonwealth, but its most scenic trails lay along the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Access to the area may be obtained via the Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah National Park. This 105-mile serpentine roadway runs the length of the mountain chain and offers many places where a vehicle can pull off to the side of the road to let its occupants enjoy the beautiful vistas of the Shenandoah Valley below. The views are spectacular and many photographers flock to these sites to pan the seemingly endless horizon and mountain peaks. (more…)

TAEM welcomes back Charles Butler!

Tuesday, June 25th, 2019

TAEM- We last spoke with Charles on November 14th, 2013 (see the article by clicking on here). It is hard to believe that it took place so long ago. Charles and I have been in contact constantly on Facebook and I have been privileged to witness his many advancements in both writing and his art work in there.

Charles, tell us about some of your written work after the 2013 issue.

CB- After we last spoke, I completed several more books on the horror film genre, all available on Amazon across the globe. Vampires Everywhere: the Rise of the Movie Undead, Vampires under the Hammer, Werewolves the children of the full moon and Vampires; the Final Hunt. I’ve also upgraded my original book The Romance of Dracula to Dracula; the ultimate Romance last year. I’m still wrestling with a book on the films of Frankenstein, but have been side-tracked – very pleasantly – with a lot of comic book work. (more…)

TAEM Fishing Adventure by author Joseph J. O’Donnell

Wednesday, October 17th, 2018

This month we decided to do something new for our readers. The Commonwealth of Virginia is nicely situated between the Allegheny mountains in the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. There is a marvelous stretch of water on the mainland’s east coast called the Chesapeake Bay with the Delmarva Peninsula separating it from the Atlantic Ocean.

The Chesapeake Bay is a fantastic fishing ground for sport fishermen not willing to brave the wilds of the ocean beyond. Here calmer waters prevail most of the time. Many fishing communities have sprung up here, alongside of residential areas harboring residents who love waterfront views. Vacationers and sightseers frequent the villages dotting the coastline to enjoy hearty seafood restaurants and explore the beauty of the Chesapeake Bay. One such community is know as Solomon’s Island. (more…)

TAEM Explores the world of Hiking by author Joseph J. O’Donnell

Tuesday, October 2nd, 2018

Within the past two months we began a new venture by exploring the world of Hiking ! What seemed like a dire period of bad weather, either roasting hot or a season of monsoon-like rains, we finally stepped outdoors in search of a new story, and a new passion.

The impediments of extreme temperatures , what felt like 103 + degrees in the shade, to one of the rainiest years on record for our area, sunshine and more temperate weather finally kicked in. Friends of ours have been sending us photos of their hiking and camping adventures and they really wetted our appetites for similar field trips. Unlike their extended stays, encapsulated by mother nature, we decided to minimize our explorations by going Day Hiking. In this way we could start building up our stamina along with much needed experience. This included purchasing the correct type of gear and supplies we would need for this purpose. (more…)

TAEM Visits St. Augustine Florida By Joseph J. O’Donnell & Photographer Joseph O’Donnell

Monday, August 20th, 2018

Joseph O'Donnell, Sr. and Joseph O'Donnell, Jr.Our magazine had trekked south this past week to explore the land of sunshine. Our goal was to explore the fabled city of St. Augustine, Florida, the first true city in North America.

St. Augustine was founded on September 8, 1565, by Spanish admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, Florida’s first governor. He named the settlement “San Agustín“, as his ships bearing settlers, troops, and supplies from Spain had first sighted land in Florida eleven days earlier on August 28, the feast day of St. Augustine. The city served as the capital of Spanish Florida for over 200 years. It was designated as the capital of British East Florida when the colony was established in 1763 until it was ceded back to Spain in 1783. (more…)

J&J Movie Review: Jurassic World – Fallen Kingdom

Sunday, July 1st, 2018

J&J Movie Review: Jurassic World - Fallen KingdomWe had the pleasure of seeing the new sequel to Jurassic World titled ‘Fallen Kingdom’ . It’s an action packed movie with many fine graphic scenes which thrill the viewers each step of the way. There is a minimum age limit requirement as it is billed as too violent for younger children.

Once again the characters of Claire Dearing ( Bryce Howard Dallas) and Owen Grady ( Chris Pratt) must return to the island to try to save the dinosaurs – again ! Actor Jeff Goldblum ( from the original Jurassic Park) is featured as a narrator in a governmental hearing to plead the case (against) such a venture. (more…)

TAEM at the All-Star Comic Con! By Author and Photographer Joseph O’Donnell

Friday, June 22nd, 2018

This month’s article deals with a visit to The All Star Comic Con held in Northern Virginia’s Tyson Corner. The event took place at the Sheraton Tyson Hotel. Accompanying me was my good friend Alex, who is also an avid Comic Con fan.

We arrived at approximately 1:00 pm and the parking was already jammed packed. Searching for a parking space was tedious, but we finally found one on the upper level. This particular show was much larger that the previous one I attended, The Nova Com, in Alexandria, Virginia. The venue for this show consisted of Comics, Games, Board Games, Artists, and merchandise. (more…)

Hobbies, Hobbies, Hobbies! by author Joseph J. O’Donnell

Friday, May 4th, 2018

Writers block is a terrible thing for one who takes up the pen. Sometimes it is a brief thing. Other times it comes in stages. When unusual circumstances intervene, long periods of brain mortification can set in.

Usually in the brief term a cup of java, or a short walk, will help the writer regain their poise and will act like a refreshing wind to get their juices flowing again. In dire circumstances a vacation, or alternate hobby is needed to get them back on course. Such was the long term effects dealt to me recently. (more…)

Today’s Great Authors by author Joseph J. O’Donnell

Sunday, April 1st, 2018

   There are so many new authors with their work gracing the book shelves today, and they surely owe their talents to some of the great authors of our century, and the current generation. To name a few we must conjure up the names of Tolkien, Rowling, Martin, and Doyle.

Each of these writers have spawned, not only written works, but movies, board games, comic books, and television shows . There are also many current writers, whose written topics, mirror these great people and it is comforting to know that written literature has been reborn again. (more…)

My Virginia – Let’s Go Exploring by Author Joseph J. O’Donnell

Thursday, March 8th, 2018

Well, it’s time to dust off the camera and leave the ‘cabin fever’ doldrums behind us. When Winter set in and the weather left us in a state of hibernation, a good book and a cup of hot chocolate beckoned us indoors in front of the fireplace. We threw a comforter around our shoulders and settled in till Spring. Now that Old Man Winter is about to leave us our magazine’s team is searching to explore our surroundings once again. In retrospect we are like bears leaving our dens to see what has changed over the winter months. (more…)

TAEM Praises our Photographer and his Latest Works!

Friday, December 1st, 2017

TAEMOur photographer Joseph O’Donnell has given much to the success of our magazine and has also created our company name of The Eerie Digest that is known world wide. His work is extraordinary and has given our readers a better insight to all our stories. (more…)

TAEM interview with author C.C. Krepick

Wednesday, October 18th, 2017

TAEM- The sole purpose of our magazine is to lend guidance and advice to students in order that they can prepare for their future and to follow in the footsteps for all those successful people that we interview. We focus on the education and training these people undertook to achieve their goals, as well as any pitfalls they underwent, so that students can benefit from their experiences.

   As writing and literature have been  the roots of our publication we believe that those we interview in this realm are of prime importance for communications, social life, and to carry on this endeavor for generations to come. One such author is C.C. (Christy) Krepick who has contributed much to literature and society in general.

TAEM- Christy, please tell our readers about your educational background, and how it led you your successes in writing.

CCK- I earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and Master of Education, there was a lot of writing in those undergrad and graduate focuses. I just kept writing after I finished with my degrees. (more…)