Wintersβ Day In
Spilling the tea since 2006. Wanna cuppa?
Conversations on life, faith, stories, and creativity from author and songwriter (and aspiring mermaid) Talena Winters.
The Character Who Wrecked Me (And Why Thatβs Weirdly Healthy)
A spoilerβfree look at why character deaths hit hardβcatharsis, empathy, and how fictional stories make a real-world impact.
14 Clean YA Fantasy Reads for Teens and Adults by Canadian Authors
Celebrate Canada Day with these clean YA fantasy books by Canadian authors! From mermaids and magical portals to dream-walking vigilantes and ancient secrets, these highly rated reads deliver adventure, heart, and imaginationβperfect for teen and adult fantasy fans alike.
Suspending Disbelief: How Writers Ruin Fictional Stories
Iβm a pretty forgiving audience and have no problem suspending disbelief to enter into the story, but there are a few things that ruin that experience. Here are my top three.
Why the World Needs More Christian Fantasy
Is Christian fantasy silly, unbiblical, a waste of time, or even outright dangerous? Not in my opinion. Hereβs why (plus some book recommendations).
Flight to Neverland: Why We Love Peter Pan
Iβve loved Peter Pan in all his forms for as long as I can remember, and my kids have caught the Neverland bug too. This post is a celebration of the storyβs enduring magic, the lessons it teaches us, and why growing up doesnβt have to mean letting go of wonder.
Great Sources for Clean Romance and Fantasy Fiction
Struggling to find good, clean books to read? Hereβs a list of resources to point you in the right direction.
Living Without Regrets: Thoughts Inspired by Blake Crouchβs Dark Matter
The new Apple TV thriller series Dark Matter and a recent blog-organization project have me thinking deep (and grateful) thoughts about the roads not taken⦠and the one I did.
Of Beauties and Beasts: How Damaged Heroes Point to Redemptive Love
My obsession with the Tale as Old as Time in all its iterations, and why I believe it resonates with us so deeply.
The Good, the Bad, and the Wicked
In which I explore the Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (both the book, the Wicked musical, and the history of this story), and what Elphaba and Batman have in common.
Stories and Embers
My energyβs low, so instead of pondering life like I usually do, hereβs a little round-up of some of my recent projects you might be interested in.
Getting Serious about Rest
On the book Rest: Why you get more done when you work less by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, and how itβs affecting my shift into slow productivity.
Lots of bookish things⦠including my new title!
Update on my week, including the arrival of the hardbacks for Every Star that Shines! Woot!