Winters’ Day In
Conversations on life, faith, stories, and creativity from author Talena Winters.
Pour a cuppa and stay awhile.
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.
Drawing the Line: 5 Loving Reasons to Say "No"
Saying "no" to trying to control things which are impossible to control anyways means saying "yes" to peace, tranquility, and more time and energy doing things I love with people I love to be with.
2-Minute Tutorial: Write a Good Book Review
Writing reviews is probably one of the very best ways you can help your favourite authors (besides buying their books). On sites like Amazon, once a book has a certain number of reviews the platform "rewards" it by showing it in the "Also bought" lists. Some readers and book newsletters won't even consider reading a book until it has 25, 50, or even 100 reviews. But what makes a good review? Here are the "3 Rs" of writing a good book review.
7 Things: Books for Summer
Okay, so I know that summer is already almost half over. (What? I know, right?) But there are still six more weeks for summer reading--you've got plenty of time! (Six of the seven are indie authors or were published by small presses, and several are by Canadian authors. Can you guess which ones?)
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.
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!
Book Review: That Wicked Earl by Jessica L. Jackson
Review for great new Regency romance book "That Wicked Earl" by Jessica L. Jackson.
Photo Friday: Book Love
"Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a man, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx
Our "currently reading" list.
Hey, there, Beautiful
We all have days when we don't feel beautiful. On those days, we need to know that we ARE precious, we ARE amazing, and we ARE loved. We are the apple of our Father's eye.
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.
Teaching Kids Great Values
When I was a kid, my parents bought us a tape series from Brite music called "Standin' Tall." Also from the same company, they bought two tapes called "Safety Kids." They came with colourable story books that were well-drawn. I listened to them over and over and coloured the pictures with the greatest care. Now, my kids also love them (fortunately, my brother and I left them some pictures to colour!)--and, surprisingly, I also appreciate their quality as an adult, even though they were recorded over twenty years ago.
I was thrilled to find out today that these are still available. Here is my review.