Winters’ Day In
Conversations on life, faith, stories, and creativity from author Talena Winters.
Pour a cuppa and stay awhile.
Flight to Neverland: Why We Love Peter Pan
I’ve 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 story’s enduring magic, the lessons it teaches us, and why growing up doesn’t have to mean letting go of wonder.
How It Started vs. How It’s Going (Blogging & Books Update)
A brief update about my current writing projects and ideas for a future memoir.
Great Sources for Clean Romance and Fantasy Fiction
Struggling to find good, clean books to read? Here’s a list of resources to point you in the right direction.
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.
Winding Ways, Dark Secrets, and Dwarf Duels, Oh My!
In Part Seven of the Rise of the Grigori Beneath-the-Surface series I’ve got my most favourite author interview I’ve ever done in my life. Mary from Kit’n’Kabookle came up with some seriously fun questions—including a behind-the-scenes moment from Calandra’s past that’s not in the series itself.
Read on for a real treat!
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
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
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
The first of a series of behind-the-scenes posts for the Rise of the Grigori series. First up: What’s the series about?
Big Release Week Ahead for Books and Knitting Patterns
New fantasy novella coming, a new dragon thriller story, and a new knitting pattern. Yep, just a few things going on! (And you can read my upcoming mermaid fantasy book for free!)
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.
What About Christian Fantasy?
I haven't read a ton of Christian fantasy books, but I have read some. And I always wonder afterwards if the real God of the Universe would behave as the author imagined he would. And I wonder if I really have the right while "playing God" with my own characters to cast the real God as one of them.
My Latest Reading Fix
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets did not disappoint. Not a review, but definitely an endorsement!