September 16, 2014

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September 16, 2014

Winters' Day In

Sit down and have a cuppa...

Writer. Knitting pattern designer. Foodie. Tea addict. Book geek. Mom of boys. Aspiring mermaid. My Secret Wish: Be your most fabulous you.

Get more encouraging and knitterly posts by following me on Instagram @TalenaWinters.

Happy book birthday! It's been one year since I released Finding Heaven, and what a journey it has been. I've learned so much, met so many amazing people, been so blessed by testimonies shared and people who told me that THEY were blessed (or at least riveted) by the book. Truly, thank you, you guys. Every step of this road has been worth it. . To celebrate, I'm doing a book giveaway! How to enter: . 1. Follow me on Instagram (www.instagram.com/talenawinters) 2. Comment and tag up to five friends you think would like to read this book. Your name will be entered once for each tagged friend to a maximum of five entries. Tagged friends may also enter. . On Thursday morning, I will enter all the commenters' names in a hat and draw out five names. The five winners will each receive a signed, personalized paperback copy in the mail. (Within North America only.) . Yes, you heard that right. I'm giving away five copies. . What are you waiting for? Enter, already! . Learn more about this book at www.talenawinters.com/finding-heaven . #bookbirthday #bookgiveaway #findingheavennovel #fictionbooks #bookstagram #writersofig #amreading #booklaunch #amwriting #domesticnoir #romantic #suspense #womensfiction #inspirational #survivor #abuseawareness #domesticviolence #sextrafficking #childhoodsexualabuse #healingispossible #metoo

Been trying to get this up for a couple of days, but I got busy writing up a pattern. (Yay! More knitting coming soon!) However, here it is: My Dairy-Free Hot Chocolate Recipe. Check it out on the blog. www.talenawinters.com/wintersdayin Or through the link in my profile. . Enjoy! . #hotchocolate #dairyfreerecipe #dairyfree #almondmilk #winterwarmer #recipe #blog #wholefood #realfood #treat #vegan #veganrecipes

At last, the Just Plain Gloves pattern is live! I'm proud of this one, which follows in the vein of my Just Plain Mittens pattern—loads of options and easy to follow. . There are gloves in every size from Toddlers to Men's Large in three yarn weights—bulky, aran/heavy worsted, and fingering weight. There are even instructions for a knit fingering weight liner for extra warmth! (At -20C here this week, I'm so glad I have mine!) . Check it out at www.talenawinters.com/just-plain-gloves . Happy Thursday! . #justplaingloves #gloves #knittingpattern #knitstagram #amknitting #knittersofig #knittersofinstagram #knitweardesign #mysecretwishbytalena #mswbtprojects

I read this many years ago before watching the movie. Wow. I have never read another book by Ms. Hyde, though I have several on my wishlist that I hope to start on soon, because this was amazing. She is one of my writing heroes, and I dream that my books will have as much cultural impact as this one did. . Who are some of your writing heroes/favourite authors? . #payitforward #catherineryanhyde #writerscommunity #writerslife #writersofig #bookstagram #amwriting #amreading #bookish #reading @catherineryanhyde

This lovely lady was a birthday gift from my hubby this year. And today, she is helping me celebrate the fact that as of last Friday, I finished my initial revisions of The Undine's Tear (which took much longer than I had planned for) and have finally sent it off to beta readers! . What's next? . Well, there's book 2--The Sphinx's Heart. And I might try to sneak in a short story and a short romance novel before starting on that, just for a little break. . Speaking of short stories, I just found out this morning that my sci-fi-ish short story "Up In Smoke" (working title) got accepted to a brand new Canadian speculative fiction eZine. I'll be posting more news about that soon. . Because for a writer, the way to take a break from writing is to do different writing. Right? Haha. . Happy Monday! . #writers #writerslife #author #writersofig #theundinestear #bookstagram #amwriting #amreading #speculativefiction #scifi #shortstory #fantasybooks #historicalfantasy #shifter #youngadultbooks #mermaids #sphinxes #dragons #angels #grigori #vintagebooks

Carrie recently posted these beautifully-made Just Plain Socks! I love seeing how others interpret my patterns and use them to push their skills. Thanks for sharing, Carrie! You knocked it out of the park! . Free pattern at www.talenawinters.com/just-plain-socks . Repost from @poetinthepantry: FINALLY!!! It only took 10 months 😳 but I finished knitting my 2nd pair of socks ever! There's nothing like made-for-your-feet homemade wool socks. 💖 My kiddo is super lucky, because I really wanted to keep them. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Pattern: Just Plain Socks by @talenawinters Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks Sing'n The Blues Stripes (@michaelsstores) . #homemade #sockknitting #socks #sockknitter #knittersofinstagram #knit #crafty #justplainsocks #woolsocks #handknit #knitting #knitted #ravelry . #knitstagram #amknitting #knittersofig #mysecretwishbytalena #mswbtprojects

Throwback Thursday to lovely, daisy-licious summer day. . I'm going to finish my revisions of The Undine's Tear today. So. Excited. . Happy Thursday, friend! . #flowers #daisies #tbt #inspiration #motivation #seekbeauty #spreadsunshine #seizetheday #liveinthemoment #itsthelittlethings . #writers #writerslife #author #writersofig #theundinestear #bookstagram #amwriting #amreading #fantasybooks #historicalfantasy #shifter #youngadultbooks #mermaids #sphinxes #dragons #angels #grigori

"Confession: I've read Pride and Prejudice about two hundred times. I get lost in the language. Words like 'thither. Mischance. Felicity.' I'm always in agony over whether Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy are going to get together. Oh, read it. I know you'll love it." . So says Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) to Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) in You've Got Mail. . I haven't read P&P 200 times, but I've read it about five or six times, all of them as an adult, which, for adult-reading-time me, is HIGH. . I was recently gushing about this book, and my two favourite movie versions, the 2005 Keira Knightly/Matthew Macfadyen one and You've Got Mail (you heard me), with another fan of the book. She hadn't seen You've Got Mail, which just seems wrong. You've Got Mail is as much a comfort movie to me as chocolate is a comfort food. In fact, that sounds like a good idea for tonight, Halloween or no. (I don't care for horror. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies? No, thank you.) . Confession: I've probably watched You've Got Mail over two dozen times. And '05 P&P almost as many. . What is your go-to comfort book/movie combo? . #notthezombies #prideandprejudice #youvegotmail #nohorrorzone #writerscommunity #writerslife #writersofig #bookstagram #amwriting #amreading #bookish #reading

I got sloppy with my eating during my crazy September/October. It's not like I "fell off the wagon," but my legs kept bumping against the ground. A grapefruit snack instead of a cookie is a small start for me to get back on track, and a small start is all you need sometimes—especially at this time of year. I always feel proud of myself when I eat grapefruits. I like them, but they're not my favourite, so I eat them because I know they are just so darn good for me. . What food do you always feel proud of yourself for eating? Or am I the only one that does that? . #realfoodie #grapefruit #cleaneating #wholefood #inspiration #motivation #seekbeauty #spreadsunshine #seizetheday #liveinthemoment #itsthelittlethings

I'm working on revisions for The Undine's Tear and I just made buttered coffee for the first time. It's not bad. For this dairy-free girl who makes an exception for butter, it might be a nice treat once in awhile. (I miss cream!) I didn't even sweeten it. (First time for me to drink unsweetened coffee.) . I'm hoping to have these revisions done in a couple of days. I'm so glad for a home day where I can feel productive in my office. . What are you up to this fine Monday, friend? . #buttercoffee #coffee #comfortdrink #writers #author #writerslife #writersofig #writerscommunity #theundinestear #amwriting #amreading #fantasybooks #historicalfantasy #shifter #youngadultbooks #mermaids #sphinxes #dragons #angels #grigori

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