Raised to be a warrior, seventeen-year-old Eelyn fights alongside her Aska clansmen in an ancient, god-decreed rivalry against the Riki clan. Her life is brutal but simple: train to fight and fight to survive. Until the day she sees the impossible on the battlefield—her brother, fighting with the enemy—the brother she watched die five years …
What’s in a name? #pennames #authorlife
A recent conversation with a fellow author who publishes her books under a pen name opened an interesting question about pen names for me. I only know this woman by her pen name as we ‘met’ in an online writing conference. We’ve become sort of friends over the years. I say ‘sort of friends’ because …
Something old, something new #shortstories
I received my copy of Vine Leaves Literary Journal: a collection of vignettes from across the globe. It's such a beautiful book, perfect as a Christmas gift (hint, hint). There are so many inspiring, gorgeous pieces of writing in there and the art and photos are stunning. I'm proud to be part of it. It …
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Review of It had to be you by @Keris Stainton @bookouture
I've read several of Keris Stainton's YA novels. I also signed up for her online course on writing YA lit. And I enjoyed all of that. So when I got the chance to review her new romance, It Had To Be You, I didn't think twice. Thanks to Netgalley for a review copy. Warning: The …
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Vine Leaves Lit. Journal is available for pre-order
The final issue of Vine Leaves Literary Journal is available for pre-order on Amazon and other retailers. It offers 240 pages of poetry, prose, art & photography, including two of my pieces. As the editor, Jessica Bell says of the vignette form, it "forces you to slow down, to distract your focus from the future …
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New stories
You can now read my short story, Dad's expiration date, on CafeLit. A ten-year-old boy, Max, who's always lived only with his mother suddenly meets his father. But there is something odd about him and Max has a sinking feeling that things will not end well. The last issue of Vine Leaves Journal, including my …
Side effects of reading
I don't read books. Usually I fall into them and don't come up for air until I'm finished. As a child, I would devour the Famous Five adventures. I immersed myself into the story to the point of shivering with cold when I was reading a story which took place in winter even though it …
When you want to give up #amwriting
This has been a difficult year so far. I've had new tasks piled on top of the old ones at work and I also spent a lot of time writing and editing several writing projects. Most of the time I feel overworked and on the brink of giving up. Particularly when I open my inbox …
Girl coders
Coding is such a cool skill to have. But I've never been very mathy and I'm afraid I'm hopeless with this sort of thing. So for those of us who don't know the first thing about programming, fiction books are the only way to enjoy this super power vicariously. Here's my list of great children's …
It's always so much fun to pick other authors' brains, especially those whose work I admire. S. D. Wasley is one such author. I've read and enjoyed several of her books, most recently Strange Truths, the first novel in the Alice England Mysteries. Strange Truths was as unique as Alice England. It was a delight …
Brigita Orel 