![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/720b681b-61e9-4f8e-9205-9cb5b5c3bd96/WDI+mermaid+reading+blog+header+2024-02-24+web.jpg)
Winters’ Day In
Conversations on life, faith, stories, and creativity from author Talena Winters.
Pour a cuppa and stay awhile.
![Creating a Vivid Fantasy Mermaid World with Real-Life Connections](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/0c8b2083-e09c-4b7f-9338-d586622cc3ae/jeremy-bishop-gqpkafqLTwk-unsplash+web.jpg)
Creating a Vivid Fantasy Mermaid World with Real-Life Connections
In Part Five of my Rise of the Grigori Beneath-the-Surface series, I talk about some of the seed ideas the grew into a full-blown fantasy world full of mermaids, crystal technology, and more. (Hint: Breathing stones aren’t so far-fetched after all.)
![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…
![The Ballad of the Brown V-neck Sweater](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/86c34a8e-983c-4305-9e88-3052e9e3044c/Jude%27s+V-neck+sweater_DSC_0093+fxd+web.jpg)
The Ballad of the Brown V-neck Sweater
After three years, I have finally finished the first adult sweater design I have ever attempted. Yay!
![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.
![Stories and Embers](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/d9c236df-4037-418f-83f3-e253ac00b2ff/christopher-campbell-h9Rx3zOYZws-unsplash_crpd_web.jpg)
Stories and Embers
My energy’s low, so instead of pondering life like I usually do, here’s a little round-up of some of my recent projects you might be interested in.
![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.
![Five Years](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/9026c6ad-410c-4b73-bb33-63f611ea0a74/martino-pietropoli-5jz3T5LwuPA-unsplash+web.jpg)
Five Years
The question “do I want to be doing this five years from now?” is a very helpful rubric for deciding on how to spend our time now. I get to choose the path I take. So why do I make it so hard?
![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?
![Still](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/4a9f9288-3442-464f-bf21-f7d5f8c24c01/aleksandr-ledogorov-G-JJy-Yv_dA-unsplash+web.jpg)
![Following Joy](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/1668447491024-QHFXL3Y56VGBEF4O6YRG/unsplash-image-fEwOb8EROJQ.jpg)
Following Joy
I’m slowing down on even more things… including how I market my business. And you know what? I like it.
![Narrowing My Focus](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/1667312409899-XLLEG2412GNC55L9OY6O/unsplash-image-V21dkuL8dnM.jpg)
Narrowing My Focus
I’ve been busy and trying to do all the things, so it’s time to slow down again and focus on what’s next.
![Impostor Syndrome, P.T. Barnum & the Enneagram](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/0888d195-581c-46ac-9a34-b6328b9a00bb/98985947_m+web.jpg)
Impostor Syndrome, P.T. Barnum & the Enneagram
My latest bout with Impostor Syndrome led to some interesting discoveries about how Impostor Syndrome and Enneagram Type might work together.
![Learning to Follow](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/1664897309185-4JASG6P8G6DXZ1TC7RDL/unsplash-image-QWdu5p6Jff0.jpg)
Learning to Follow
Maybe the overwhelm is from taking on things that weren’t mine to bear?
![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.
![Themes and Things](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5400f920e4b0b0a7e18454b2/1664374668427-H2ZXO2DWNQE6BLPZEMW3/unsplash-image-qFH7-yKoxik.jpg)