April 26, 2012

Anticipating the Season

April 26, 2012

Summer isn't even here yet, and I'm already looking forward to fall. Why?

Because of this.

Me likey. I think I have a drool spot on my sweater.

Winters' Day In

Sit down and have a cuppa...

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

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What I'm listening to right now... The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton. . Took a while to get into it for various reasons (I'm quite a bit further along than this now), but I've been enjoying it the last couple of days in my down time, or, say, when I was sitting with my son while he waited to see a doctor. (Nothing too serious, but he's down a big toenail). I love all the British-isms in it, as it is set in England and written by a British author. (I just discovered she takes stunning photographs, too. Go check out her account. @katemortonauthor) . Happy Friday! . #theclockmakersdaughter #bookstagram #amreading #bookish #reading #igreads #bookworm #booklover #booknerdigans

Saturday self-care: drinking an almond milk latte with cinnamon, chatting with my family, and working on a new baby sweater design. Heaven. . #stripedbabypullover #knitstagram #amknitting #knittersofig #knittersofinstagram #knitweardesign #mysecretwishbytalena #mswbtprojects

It's been a week, folks, and I've been feeling this. Or the need to remind myself to do this. Even when it felt like I was drowning, progress was made. And there were still moments in the sun. . Looking forward to the weekend, though. . How about you? Did you conquer your week, or did it conquer you? . #authorpreneur #writerscommunity #writerslife #writersofig #amwriting #inspiration #motivation #seekbeauty #spreadsunshine #seizetheday #liveinthemoment #itsthelittlethings

I've had a few short nights this week. I'm really trying hard to get to bed earlier, but apparently I still need to work at it. Anyway, it's snowing here and I'm feeling under the weather, so I'm sitting in my woodstove-warmed office drinking mocha (not awesome for when you're fighting something, I know, but I also took a bunch of good stuff!) and hoping to draft two articles and do some fiction writing this afternoon so I can sit and enjoy some family time tonight without worrying that I am falling behind. We'll see if it all happens. Because if the coffee doesn't help, I'm going to spend the afternoon sleeping instead. . Happy Friday! I hope you're warm and cozy, wherever you are! . #writerscommunity #writerslife #writersofig #amwriting #coffee #gojuice #almostwinter #knittingseason

Exciting news! The Stash Potion Cowl and Scarf pattern is now live. This fast and easy pattern uses shifting textures and bits and bobs from your stash held together on chunky needles to create a beautiful neck warmer suitable for any gender. The perfect weekend knit for you or someone else! More photos and information at www.talenawinters.com/stash-potion-cowl. . Happy knitting! . #stashpotioncowl #knitstagram #amknitting #knittersofig #knittersofinstagram #knitweardesign #mysecretwishbytalena #mswbtprojects

You've had a long week. You've taken steps. You've made progress, whether great or small. (And slow progress is still progress.) Take a moment to appreciate what you've accomplished. And breathe. . Happy Friday, friends! You've got this! . #dreams #inspiration #motivation #seekbeauty #spreadsunshine #seizetheday #liveinthemoment

On a recent podcast episode by Holly Lisle and Rebecca Galardo (Alone in a Room with Invisible People, if you're wondering), Holly said that writers eat the elephant (what they learn to write a book) to give writers the berries (what they include in the book for readers). The metaphor doesn't make a huge amount of sense to me, but the proportions do. It's partly why it took nine years before the first book in my historical fantasy series, Rise of the Grigori, was published. When it comes to history, it's one thing to have an idea of context and culture while you're watching or reading something historical, and quite another thing to know it well enough to write about it believably. And no, you can't ever know everything. Still, you want to do a passable job. . I sure appreciate books like this one that were easy to read and understand and helped me understand the forces that shaped the thought patterns of the nineteenth (and even eighteenth) centuries. What surprised me was how much the social and personal struggles of the Victorians mirrored ours in some ways. They lived in times when technology was changing quickly and causing new social concerns, as well as bringing awareness of previous ones to centre stage. And they were characterized by their optimism, much as I see the millennial-and-younger generations today. We don't always get it right, but sometimes, as humans, we do learn some things. We've certainly improved on some of the issues the Victorians were dealing with. I hope in another 125 years, our descendants can say the same of us. . Happy Tuesday! . #riseofthegrigori #bookstagram #amreading #bookish #reading #igreads #bookworm #booklover #booknerdigans #writerscommunity #writerslife #writersofig #amwriting #victorianengland #richarddaltick @rebeccagelardoart @holly.lisle @alonewithinvisiblepeople

I was so excited when this yarn arrived, because I will be making my last hat sample for the upcoming Just Plain Hat pattern in it. This yarn is so very lovely. I started knitting the sample on Saturday, and will post update photos soon. This yarn is just as pretty in a fabric. . Also on my agenda this week: drafting The Sphinx's Heart, editing a romance novel, and talking to some dynamic local business people so I can write their stories. It's going to be a fun week. . Happy Monday! What are you up to this week? . #justplainhat #knitstagram #amknitting #knittersofig #knittersofinstagram #knitweardesign #mysecretwishbytalena #mswbtprojects #musehandpainted #knitpicks @knit_picks #riseofthegrigori #thesphinxsheart #fantasybooks #historicalfantasy #shifter #YAbooks #YAFantasy #youngadultbooks #mermaids #sphinxes #dragons #angels #grigori #peaceriver #moveupmag

This is one of my favourite quotes. Throwback to this graphic I made a few years ago. Because we all occasionally need the reminder that it's okay to fail. . If you missed it, my newsletter went out yesterday with your monthly dose of inspiration plus some exciting news. Check your inbox! If you don't already subscribe, you can sign up and see archived emails at www.talenawinters.com/contact. You get a free novella and knitting pattern when you sign up, too! Just in time for Friday night chillaxing! . Happy Friday, friend. Practice being brave. . #inspiration #motivation #seekbeauty #spreadsunshine #seizetheday #liveinthemoment #itsthelittlethings

I'm thrilled to announce that my Patreon page is now live. The page is to serve readers and writers, with rewards including long and short fiction, early access to video writing tutorials, downloadable graphics, and exclusive monthly writing classes and Q&A sessions. "Up in Smoke," a short urban fantasy story that was published in March of this year in Constellate eZine, is now available exclusively for patrons. (Including Dana Vaillancourt's clever cover art.) Please check out my page and consider joining my community. I look forward to serving you this way! https://patreon.com/talenawinters . @paradeofzombies #constellatepublishing #upinsmoke #bookstagram #amreading #bookish #reading #igreads #bookworm #booklover #booknerdigans #patreon #writerscommunity #writerslife #writersofig #amwriting #urbanfantasy #canadalit #canlit

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