Articles written by Darcia Helle

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About me - Darcia Helle

According to my kids, I'm a tree-hugging hippie. According to my dogs, I'm a goddess. I'm pretty sure neither description is accurate.

I have a B.S. in Natural Health & Nutrition. I spent a few years writing for several health-related websites. I am a

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Politics, News & Issues > Police & Prisons Do prisons reform criminals?: 1 of 50

The word penitentiary originates from the Pennsylvania Quakers' belief in penitence and self-examination as a way of achieving salvation. The first American penitentiary was the Walnut Street Jail, established in Philadelphia in 1790. The structural pattern of outside cells, along with the central corridor, was introduced at...
Creative Writing > Novel Excerpts Novel excerpts: Suspense: 6 of 168

No Justice Let him laugh. One more hour and he'd be dead. Michael Sykora put the binoculars down on the empty passenger seat. The man he'd soon be killing went by the name Alan Nystrom. An alias, of which he had three others. His real name, the one he hadn't used in over twenty years, was Bruce Renwick. More laughter. Good t...
Health & Fitness > Healthy Living & Wellness Quick and easy pick-me-ups: 1 of 19

Feeling down? In a funk? Or perhaps you're just having a hectic day and need a quick pick-me-up? All too often we get caught up in the stresses of life. We forget how important it is to take a time-out to rejuvenate our minds and bodies. The following is a list of proven remedies that take very little time, yet provide immen...
Creative Writing > Novel Excerpts Novel excerpts: Romance: 22 of 205

Enemies and Playmates Gina hopped off the barstool. Perfect perpetually tanned legs, a teasing smile, dark eyes that lit up beneath long dark lashes. That was Gina. She not only turned heads, she stopped men in their tracks and left them drooling and speechless. "Let's dance," she said. Carrie slipped off her stool. Short to...
Creative Writing > Novel Excerpts Novel excerpts: Mystery: 17 of 124

An excerpt from my novel, Hit List. Corinne didn't know he'd come in through the back and was now standing in the kitchen doorway watching her. Ian rubbed his hands over his eyes. In the house less than two minutes and already his head throbbed. He didn't think they could go on like this much longer. Guilt, anger, sadness, f...
Health & Fitness > Healthy Living & Wellness Kidney health: The importance of drinking enough water: 1 of 6

Most people have two kidneys, each about the size of a fist, located on either side of the spine at the bottom of the rib cage. In simple terms, kidneys are the body's filter. In a 24-hour period, the kidneys process approximately 200 quarts of blood in order to sift out about 2 quarts of waste products and extra water. The ...
Home & Garden > Weeds & Pests The dandelion: It's more than a weed: 2 of 11

Dandelion is a perennial herb found throughout the temperate regions of North America, Europe, and Asia. The dandelion grows to be several inches in height, with a bright yellow flower, thin stem, and jagged leaves. The root, leaves, and stem all contain a milky fluid. More than one theory exists on the origins of the dandel...
Health & Fitness > Vitamins & Dietary Supplements Milk thistle and its use to treat liver disease: 2 of 10

Milk Thistle, or Silybum marianum, is a weed-like plant that grows in rocky, dry soil. The plant reaches heights of 3 to 10 feet, has dark green, spiny leaves, and big flowers that range from pink to purple. A native to the Mediterranean, milk thistle now grows wild in Europe, North America, and Australia. The Latin name mar...
Health & Fitness > Herbal & Natural Remedies Natural remedies explored: Insomnia: 1 of 5

Insomnia is relatively common, affecting 30- to 50-percent of the population at any given time. Chronic insomnia, affecting approximately 10-percent of the population, is a persistent condition in which you have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, and/or you do not experience restorative sleep. Chronic insomnia is often ...
Creative Writing > Novel Excerpts Novel excerpts: Death: 13 of 63

Excerpt from my novel, Enemies and Playmates. After a restless night with little sleep, Lauren went downstairs and found her mother in the kitchen. A mug and nearly empty pot of coffee sat on the table in front of her. Lauren sat beside her. "Morning mom," she said. Kara simply nodded, her gaze fixed on the mug in front of h...