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Winters’ Day In
Conversations on life, faith, stories, and creativity from author Talena Winters.
Pour a cuppa and stay awhile.
![Sowing New Creative Seeds](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/4b16521c-3f0b-4476-bf53-4be9ef9e9988/2024-10-23+122234+web.jpg)
Sowing New Creative Seeds
Notes on the “in-between” stages of creative work and how I’m planning to tackle my upcoming projects to publish more frequently and keep my creativity fresh.
![Let’s Ring some Bells!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/3bbc81e3-1004-42ba-8b95-7c9aec9f263f/Every+Bell+that+Rings+banner+-+full+w+date+web.jpg)
Let’s Ring some Bells!
My newest book will be released into the world in less than two weeks! Here's a bit more about it and how you can get your hands on it with some awesome extras!
![Very Slowly, and then All At Once](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/c3aae915-9eb7-45ea-a8b4-afd3ef563718/EBTR_Every-Bell_Hook+pink+sqr+web.jpg)
Very Slowly, and then All At Once
I now have an empty nest. Plus, news about my upcoming book launch for Every Bell that Rings and how to get your hands on a review copy.
![Top 5 Places to Visit on Sirenia](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/818731be-406e-4403-9c4d-5e81412a5c9e/joshua-rondeau-KWUyjtSFNc0-unsplash+web.jpg)
Top 5 Places to Visit on Sirenia
In the eighth installment of the Rise of the Grigori Beneath the Surface blog series, veteran selvedge expert Nicandra kor’Nyx gives us a guided tour of Sirenia. Ready for some photography eye candy (and a little behind-the-scenes intrigue)? Read on!
![The Good Girl’s Guide to Being Bad](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/1668794224354-1OSND06M3ZSR7CB2ABWI/24679166_m+web.jpg)
The Good Girl’s Guide to Being Bad
In Part Four of the Rise of the Grigori Beneath-the-Surface series, Narcissa kor’Adonia, Opal Princess of the undine Island of Sirenia tells us what her cousin Calandra is really like…
![A Peek Beneath the Surface: Author Interview](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/1668790755554-HLZWDNCKTCOHLZGGQU0Q/unsplash-image-WaWV3DVqTA0.jpg)
A Peek Beneath the Surface: Author Interview
In Part Three of the Rise of the Grigori Beneath-the-Surface series, I’m posting an author interview that’s mostly about me, not so much the series… but the series does get top billing.
![Where Mythology & Imagination Meet: The Creation of a “Real-World” Mermaid Fantasy](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/b992dca7-afaa-445c-8426-1711adf8f51a/2022-08-10_unleash-hell-hook_ROTG-series_FB-img.jpg)
Where Mythology & Imagination Meet: The Creation of a “Real-World” Mermaid Fantasy
In the Rise of the Grigori Behind-the-Scenes Tour part 2, I dive into how I came up with the idea for the world that became my epic young adult mermaid fantasy series.
![Introducing the Rise of the Grigori Beneath-the-Surface Blog Series](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/1668786667017-A887KIQ2A46GM7YNXUV4/unsplash-image-cCkheI30Jd4.jpg)
Introducing the Rise of the Grigori Beneath-the-Surface Blog Series
The first of a series of behind-the-scenes posts for the Rise of the Grigori series. First up: What’s the series about?
![Playing with Audio Robots](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/28cf4b86-2f54-402f-bf45-30bcd2b9f135/fndd_tgw_2020b+digital+audiobook+web.jpg)
Playing with Audio Robots
My experiment with auto-narration for The Friday Night Date Dress turned out even better than I expected.
![The Undine's Tear on tour!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/1647488431120-JPS7VN9XGZW421UQJTJ3/TourBanner_The+Undine%27s+Tear.gif)
The Undine's Tear on tour!
News about the upcoming blog tour for The Undine’s Tear (with prizes!), and an update on my current work in progress, Every Star that Shines.
![The Benefits of "Escapist Fiction"](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/1532328505037-9L8CD09HQL8RCYR9VHIE/18006845_m+web.jpg)
The Benefits of "Escapist Fiction"
Humans are made of stories. And, no matter the "world" that a story may be set in, at the heart of every good story is a character who is overcoming difficult situations that must be relatable to the reader in some way, or the story would not resonate with us. In this post, I talk about some ways that fantasy and other genres of fiction have benefited me, and why I think everyone should read or watch it.
Book Review: "The Redemption" by MaryLu Tyndall
From the first pixelated page, The Redemption had me hooked. There was danger, suspense, personal growth, and yes, a little mystery.