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.
Book Review: Eleora by Melissa Keaster
In Eleora, Melissa Keaster brings to life a world as enduring as Narnia or Middle Earth and characters that will live in your heart next to Lucy Pevensie and Bilbo Baggins. It is a world where spirits walk, crime rings hold immense power, and the King, though seemingly absent, still guides the land through the magical Eleora stone--a gem of immense power.
The Healing Power of Community
Two years after losing our son, we are still completely humbled when we consider the massive wave of support we received when Munchkin died. I am convinced that the support of our community through that first difficult year had a good deal to do with the progress we made in our healing. Yes, the work of grief must be done on an individual basis. But knowing that we were never alone had a significant impact on how brave we were in approaching that work.
Book Review: Endless Change by P.D. Workman
This spring, I had the opportunity to beta-read a novel for Calgary author P.D. Workman, who writes stories in the YA genre. Since she has just released it, I get to share it with you at last!
Behind-the-Scenes of "Finding Heaven"
I think all great stories probably begin with a question that the author has to answer for themselves. Thus it was that, in 2012 while I was learning how to create a career as a writer, I also got the seed idea that eventually bloomed into Finding Heaven.
Book Review: That Wicked Earl by Jessica L. Jackson
Review for great new Regency romance book "That Wicked Earl" by Jessica L. Jackson.
7 Things I'm Grateful For
Wow, so much has happened last week/will be happening this week that I'm going to be posting a couple times this week. For today, because it's Monday, because it's been a while, and because I'm much better at posting these moments on Instagram and Facebook than keeping my blog updated, here's a 7 Things summary of what's been going on.
Sticks and Stones, Love
What happened when my book was captured by pirates. Turns out, it's a lot more fun when it's in fiction than when it happens to your fiction...
Book, Body, and Knitting Reset
This week, I have been resetting physically and mentally, including my current writing project. Plus, a quick knitting update.
Full Circle
Good morning, blog. I had no idea when I got up this morning that this is the day I would come back here, finally, and reintroduce myself.
I've missed you while I've been away. Have you missed me?
Getting Unstuck
A day at a time, the log jam is loosening and the ideas are flowing. The sun is coming back, energy is returning, and I am pulling myself blinking from the retreat of hibernation. For my own mental and emotional health, this year needs to be less about driving myself and more about reducing commitments, taking care of myself, and finding my passion again. It needs to be about healing.
A Year is Just a Trip Around the Sun
I've been quietly avoiding interacting with all the social media posts bashing 2016, as though a year can be to blame for all the things that are wrong with the world or a person's life. It seemed so ludicrous, and I figured if someone was going to be that negative and blame it on a calendar, my energy would be better spent elsewhere than trying to help them see how ridiculous that is.
Making Baking Healthier
I don't know anyone who would argue that cookies and cakes are necessary food groups for a balanced diet. (Chocolate, on the other hand...) But even with all the conflicting information, I believe that baked goods can still be a nutritious alternative to store-bought processed foods. Here is the outline of the philosophy I have embraced to judiciously incorporate delicious baked goodness into our family's diet over the years while still keeping as much nutrition in our calories as possible.
Photo Friday: The Wonder of Everything
When one travels, it is easy to look in wonder at the big buildings, the different customs, the strange food, and wonder, "What is that for? Who made that? Why do they do it that way?"
The truth is, wonderful things are all around us, no matter where we live.
Photo Friday: Memories of Sunshine
Nothing like a few garden herbs growing inside in winter to bring back memories of summer. Oh, sunshine, how do I miss thee? Let me count the ways...
Photo Friday: Memories of India
Tiptoeing through time and space back to India, where we made friends for life--and where our love story began.