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Time Enough at Last

From the Editor’s Desk

Hey there creative people!

I start and abandon writing projects all the time, but stories are regularly on my mind. Like so many of you, my life is full. I run this creative business, have a full-time job unrelated to publishing, I’m a mom, I have pets, a newsletter that’s getting dusty, shows I haven’t gotten around to watching, books I want to read, and more corners of my house that need a good scrubbing than I want to admit. Oh, and as I type this, the dryer just sang me the song of clothes that need to be folded. It’s a lot to manage.

My tracking system might be part of my problem.

The busier I am, the more my own creative side gets stifled. Does anyone remember that Twilight Zone episode where the very busy man wanted to read, but never had enough time? It took a global apocalypse for the poor guy to have quiet time to spend with books. And then: a twist! I won’t give it away. That episode’s worth tracking down if you’ve never seen it.

Anyway.

My brain is constantly buzzing with the next thing and the next thing and the next thing. Five minutes wait time in the grocery line? Clean up my inbox. Half hour before I have to leave for work? Read a submission or two. Son sleeps in a little on the weekend? Get up early anyway to edit or schedule social media posts.

I’m the accountant and graphic designer and editor and social media manager and publicist around here.

Creative friends, it’s exhausting. And it works against me. The more I’m swirling around what I have yet to do, the less focused I am on what I’m supposed to be doing right now. I don’t particularly wish for the sort of apocalypse that leaves me as the only human left on Earth (argh, Twilight Zone spoiler! Too soon?), nor do I want to take any advice from the version of Stephen King who wrote a book a week in the 80s. When I found myself in the middle of adding a creative business into my already full life and feeling like I was drowning as a result, I needed something a little less drastic than a world-ending apocalypse or a new cocaine habit.

I needed to learn how live more in the moment.

Let me tell you, that sounds fluffy and obvious, but it is really hard. Like, REALLY hard.

My work with Hollow Oak often doesn’t include my own writing, but it’s a whole host of other types of creative output, and a busy brain with no downtime stinks at drumming up creative thoughts. Creativity thrives in a brain that is allowed to rest.

And I knew that, logically. There were (and still are) times in my every day life where I could allow myself brain-rest, if I could learn to live in those moments. I drive to work. I walk my dogs. I have little pockets of five or ten minutes here and there when I can let my thoughts just drift. The caveat is that, in order to do that, I had to learn how to press the pause button on the never-ending scroll of my internal to-do list.

I’m talking about mindfulness here. My gut reaction is to make jokes about hugging a tree and pass it off as silly and keep on keepin’ on with my overstressed, anxiety-riddled, next-thing-focused life. I didn’t (and still don’t) particularly like feeling that way, but it’s what’s comfortable because it’s what I knew. So I kept doing it. Because you know what’s more uncomfortable than feeling so busy that I’m reeling by the end of the day?

Yeah. It’s change. You guessed it.

I’m fine. Everything’s fine. Fine-ity fine fine.

So I had to make a choice. I had to either keep trying to outrun being busy and stress myself out to the point of illness, or learn to sit in the moment I’m in. I chose learning how to be mindful.

Ever go swimming? When it’s time to get in the pool, sometimes the water feels cooler than the air. Some people cannonball right in. Some people get in slowly using a ladder. Regardless of how I get in the pool, my body will adjust to the water temperature and within minutes it’ll feel just as comfortable as the air did.

Change is sort of like that. If you do the thing in a way that’s manageable for you, you’ll adjust. I promise. And after awhile, it’ll feel comfortable. It took me a long time and a lot of practice to figure out how to allow my brain to relax.

For me, a piece of this is about saying no. I can choose to say no to requests of my time, both from other people and from my own brain. I continue to have to make this choice every day.

Every. Day.

There’s always some deadline, or project, or shiny new thing that comes trotting by, making its demands on me. I don’t live the isolated creative life in a cozy cabin tucked away in the woods with my dogs and hours of uninterrupted time to write and edit.

…but I want to…

So what does this look like, exactly? It’s super easy for me to slap down some words in a blog and tell you that you have time for what you *make* time for. I do believe that, by the way. I just don’t think it’s as easy as all that for a lot of us because making that choice means we have to give something else up. Maybe it’s TV binge watching. Maybe it’s a social commitment. Maybe it’s rearranging how you do your chores.

Maybe it’s asking for help.

When you do carve out the time (which is the easier part by the way) the next step is clearing your mind enough to let the creative process flow. If you know you only have an hour, how to do you turn everything else off to make the most of that hour?

Back to that idea of mindfulness and living in the moment. That’s how you do it.

It takes practice. You can acknowledge the other things, and let them go. Jot them down, if that helps. Tell yourself, “I’m here for this writing” or painting or cooking or whatever you’re doing and then DO THAT. When the intrusive busy thoughts pop back up, notice them, and go back to the creative thing. Over and over again until you get good at it.

“But I’m *too* busy! You don’t understand!”

Oh, I do. The feeling of being busy is just thinking about all the things you aren’t currently doing in this moment. You have to learn how to stop doing that and give yourself permission to focus on the thing you are currently doing.

So set aside your time, and practice using it. Practice knowing that, for this thirty minutes (or however long you have) all you need to be doing is your creative process. And that is VALID, folks. It’s just as valid to practice your creative art as it is to run the vacuum or fold the laundry or respond to your messages.

Find that balance, and practice it. If you want to learn more about how to do this, there’s loads of info out there. I’d recommend this article as a place to start. No matter how busy you are, no matter how much anxiety your brain feeds you, you can learn how to better manage these things and make time for what fuels you.

Just get in the pool. I promise you’ll adjust.

Amanda Pica is a writer and editor who also holds a Master of Science degree in Educational Psychology. Amanda has over two decades of experience working in community mental health, and has designed trainings on numerous topics in psychology, behavioral science, and writing. She is editor-in-chief of Hollow Oak Press, co-author of The Wordsmiths, and her short fiction has appeared in F(r)iction’s Dually Noted, Story Nook, Wyld Flash, and Humour Me Magazine. Amanda is the facilitator of Writer’s Flock, a writing support group in Oil City, where she lives with her son and two huskies.

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From the Editor’s Desk

Reading a book in front of a campfire, with a pine tree line and sunset in the background

Musings from Amanda Pica, our Editor-in-Chief

As we come into spring and the blossom of seasonal allergies and bug bites, I’ll be spending the newly bright, warm weather reflecting on coziness.

We aren’t a “beach reads” sort of publishing house, but I think the beach can get whatever read you want to give it, so take that, summer. I’m not exactly Morticia on vacation over here, but to be totally transparent (much like my skin in July thanks to my SPF 1000), I’m not really a summer person. I love a fluffy blanket, a hot drink, and dim lighting, and all of that is tough to enjoy during the season of sweat and blinding sun.

But our next anthology, The Ordinary Magic in Extraordinary Tales, is all about coziness. Our official release date is TBD, but it’ll be just as the leaves burn orange in cool sunlight, the breeze nips your skin, and the nights get just a little bit longer. We have fourteen cozy fantasy stories for you, each more delightful than the last. They’ll be grouped thematically and paired with essays written by yours truly on how to curate a cozy life for yourself, full of conviviality and contentment.

If you didn’t know, I have a graduate degree in educational psychology and a decades-long background in recovery-based mental health. This book is a real passion project for me that combines two areas of great interest.

Let’s be real, though. All of our books are like that. I love them all—this one’s just a different type of intersection for me.

If you aren’t familiar with the cozy subgenres, the concept is a smaller cast of characters, and a more upbeat and optimistic tone. The plots have action, adventure, and emotion, but they’re lower stakes that are more about interpersonal relationships and personal development rather than world-ending issues.

Anyway, the stories have been chosen and we’re working on finalizing the last of the contracts with our authors, as well as on the details of the book. I can’t wait to get these tales out to you. There’s a wonderful mix of fantasy elements across the stories, including witchy tales, dragon tales, and ghost stories. We have modern day magic, second-world mysticism, and post-apocalyptic settings.   

Choosing the final stories for the book was really difficult, and the overall quality and quantity of submissions this time really blew me away. I had to reject some that I loved out of considerations like physical layout space and theme. It’s such an honor to attract so many talented authors willing to trust us with their work, and it allows us to build out our concept in the best, most complete way that we can.

Next up, we’ll be finalizing the cover and the essays, then the book will go to our amazing and talented layout editor, Austin Gray.

In the meanwhile, I’ll be doing a lot of reflecting on how coziness is a mindset, and how we can always make the choice to live a life of simple pleasures and contended relationships. Even while swatting mosquitos in the dead of summer.

With gratitude,
Amanda

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9 Questions for Ellis Reyn

9 Questions for Ellis Reyn

We caught up with Ellis, author of the delightfully unsettling story “Pink,” from our debut project The Wordsmiths.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Ellis: I’m Ellis Reyn, a thirty-something novelist. Enneagram 5, Capricorn, eldest daughter, cat person. My novel-length work sits somewhere between romantic thriller and literary fiction—stories about complicated women, the ways they survive things they probably shouldn’t, and how they find love with green-flag men along the way.

I live in North Carolina with my husband, a cat unironically named “Cat,” and our four kids, which means my life alternates between writing very dark things and packing school lunches.

How do you find time to write?

Ellis: I write in the little pockets of the day. Right before appointments from the passenger seat of the car, late at night when the kids are finally in bed, or during rare quiet mornings when the house miraculously empties out.

I’ve learned that butt-in-the-chair time is the most important thing. Tiny progress is still progress.

What does your writing space look like?

Ellis: I have a desk under a huge window that looks out over the woods. That’s where serious writing happens. But in reality, I usually write in bed with my laptop balanced on a pillow (RIP my upper back). Wherever I can get words on the page is the perfect writing space.

Tell us about your favorite story that you’ve written.

Ellis: When I was a kid, I wrote a short story from the perspective of a horse during the Gold Rush. I printed it out, stapled it together, and put it in my dad’s lunch box so he could read it during his break at work.

He did read it—and I’ve felt like my dad was my biggest fan ever since.

What are you working on right now?

Ellis: I’m working on a contemporary romantic thriller set in the Mojave Desert about a beautiful rehabilitation center. Think cult-adjacent wellness, tiny smoothies served at an all-day health-food buffet, a lot of white linen and patchouli… and body horror.

I’m also on submission with a Southern Gothic. So please send me all the good publishing vibes!

Do you read much? If so, what are you currently reading and what’s at the top of your TBR pile?

Ellis: As much as I can!

My TBR pile is always slightly out of control with lots of horror (especially women-written) and historical romance. They’re genres that feel different but are both excellent at exploring big emotions.

Right now I’m reading Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison. I can’t recommend her horror enough! I’m catching up on Alexandra Vasti’s historical romance backlist next. 

What’s the most challenging thing about being a writer, and how do you manage it?

Ellis: The uncertainty. Writing a book (and then trying to publish it, my goodness) takes a long time, and a lot of that time is spent alone with your doubts.

The best thing I’ve found to do is to keep going. Write the next page, revise the chapter, start the next idea. Do the next right thing. 

What do you do when you’re not writing?

Ellis: With four kids, there’s always something happening around here. Apart from endless school pickups and drop-offs, I read a lot, sweat through Pilates and hot yoga, hunt down good strawberry matcha with friends, and rewatch the same comfort shows while folding laundry. The usual!

Where can readers find you?

Ellis: You can find me online at: Instagram: @ellisreynbooks

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A Sense of Place

This weekend, we embraced our roots.

Two of our team members attended the Writers Conference of Northern Appalachia (WCoNA) deep in the Appalachian countryside in Cambria County in our home state of Pennsylvania.

Writing is an isolative act, and if you’ve had more than a few minutes’ worth of conversation with me about writing, you’ve probably heard my impassioned speech about how writers need writers. Usually I sing the praises of writing groups, but today? Today’s about feeling part of something even bigger.

Conferences.

WCoNA is a real gem. It’s big enough to walk away each year with new connections, but intimate enough to have real conversations with the presenters and attendees. The focus is on craft, and the full day on Saturday offers five sections, each with multiple topic options to attend. There’s something for everyone, from poetry to fiction, from memoirists to novelists.

What makes this my favorite conference, though, is the focus on place.

WCoNA holds up a mirror for me and then says, don’t look into your own eyes. Look around. Look behind and beside yourself.

All of the attendees are connected deeply by our sense of place, and even though we have sessions on marketing and building craft and submitting our work, thematically the organizers wrap us up in Northern Appalachia.

And I love it.

From the panel and open mic on Friday night to the keynote address Saturday morning, we were steeped in the experiences of the rust belt. Of coal and oil and natural gas mining that stripped our land and our families bare. The unspoken kinship of our grit and resilience, that rose out of the clouds of dust from our dirt roads on dry days. The Appalachian wilderness that fostered the wildness in our hearts.

WCoNA is a reminder of who I am, and of the importance of introspection. I don’t necessarily write about Northern Appalachia, although some of my pieces are set here. I don’t necessarily center place in my writing, although it’s certainly informed by my experiences here. We are all a sum of our parts, and place is an important one. If you haven’t done much introspection on place, I’d strongly encourage it. Being intentional about place in your writing adds depth and layers to your story, and creates a richer and more memorable experience for your readers.

This weekend, I had the honor to sit among a group of like-minded people, all acutely attuned to how this place has molded us.

And I can’t wait to do it again next year.

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9 Questions for Mark Mitchell

9 Questions for Mark Mitchell

We caught up with Mark, author of the cleverly misdirecting story “A Model Town,” published in our anthology Through the Briar Patch.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Mark: I would say, as a writer, I came to it later in life – at least in terms of writing fiction. In college I studied film with an emphasis in screenwriting and thought I would have a career in that industry one day. During my years in college I also worked as a background actor/extra and can be found in a number of films and TV shows from that time period. Film was really my first love, whereas writing a book felt like a daunting task meant for smarter people than myself. It wasn’t until the COVID shutdown that I tried my hand at fiction writing and fell absolutely in love with it. It freed me up from the restrictions of writing a screenplay where a story is more geared toward dialogue and leaving white space on the page. Fiction writing is the complete opposite that allows one to fully explore an idea in myriad ways. Every story becomes its own puzzle to be unlocked. I wouldn’t dream of doing anything else now.

How do you find time to write?

Mark: I find this a tricky question to answer in a way, mainly because I believe there is so much that makes up what it means to write. If we’re talking about getting words down on the page, then I would say I follow a writing routine of sorts. I find I can’t write first thing in the morning, but need a bit of time to let my mind wake up. So oftentimes I walk my dog first thing to move around some, then read while I have my morning coffee to help inspire me. After that is when I try to get some writing done and will generally spend about an hour or two to that effect. Most of my time though is taking in stories and digesting them, taking them apart. I think 90% of writing is done away from the desk. It’s in conversations you overhear, music you listen to. It’s during those morning walks when I’m thinking about whatever story I’m working on. There’s something to be said about living a life and exploring while letting your subconscious do the heavy lifting. Of course this only works if you can also get your butt in the chair. You have to empty the well so that it can refill, and therefore everything is important to the writing process.

What does your writing space look like?

Mark: I wish that I could say I have a dedicated writing space; my ideal would be a gothic library with a roaring fireplace, stained glass windows, and an ever present thunderstorm rumbling in the distance. But until I can afford a set-up like that I settle for writing wherever I can. I mostly write in the living room which allows me to sit down and toss off a few hundred words here and there when I can, but it also forces me to not make “writing time” too precious. Writing in a high trafficked area like that has taught me to block out distractions and focus on what I’m doing, so I’m pretty good at picking up where I left off—almost  like I hit pause on my creativity—as opposed to needing to set a mood first with candles and whatnot.

Tell us about your favorite story that you’ve written.

Mark: Here’s a Sofie’s choice, now isn’t it? I like a lot of the stories/novels that I’ve written, most if not all of them in fact. But to choose just one? With the caveat that it will change with the wind I would say “Ode to Fatherhood” which was published in Canyon Voices Magazine last year. Whereas almost all of my stuff has some sort of speculative element to it, this one was more of a slice of life story with a heavy influence from my own father and some of the things he instilled in me growing up. I would comfortably call it a fully fictionalized auto-biographical story. I’ve also been writing some horror/western stories of late that have been fun beyond all get out.

What are you working on right now?

Mark: Right now I’m dragging my feet a little bit, trying to decide on which project is the shiniest. I’m currently writing a story about haunted halloween decorations, but the question is what to work on afterwards. I have about 20k words of a novel I abandoned last year to write a different novel that was more shiny, so I might go back to that and get it done (I hate having manuscripts unfinished). But more than likely I’ll start one of my other novel ideas I’ve been kicking around for a while now. I like drafting novels because it gives me structure for a while, knowing what to work on each day, but I also like short stories because I finish them faster and can explore many more ideas.

Do you read much? If so, what are you currently reading and what’s at the top of your TBR pile?

Mark: I read a ton. Reading is a great way to generate new ideas, to get inspired, to learn about craft; I always question a writer who says they don’t read. On average I read about 120 books a year and so my TBR is pretty eclectic. I have basically whatever I can get my hands on. Romance, Literary, Horror, SFF, Crime, Poetry, Short Story Collections. I tend to read books in the order I acquire them as well so nothing is sitting for too long unread. I’m currently halfway through Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier and have some Joyce Carol Oates coming up next, but I also have stuff by Stephen Graham Jones and S.A. Cosby waiting in the wings I’m itching to get to.

What’s the most challenging thing about being a writer, and how do you manage it?

Mark: Consistency. My process has changed a bit and I no longer write every day like I once did. As a side effect my production has gone down, but on the other hand I also think I’m creating some of my best work right now, so it’s been a tradeoff. I would like to get back to a more consistent schedule again though. I think one of the things that threw me off was after I had a couple dozen stories written, I started submitting them to markets/publications. Keeping up with that aspect of it has taken me away from creating new work on a more consistent basis. Trying to make a career as a writer takes a balance of both the business aspects and producing new work. Really though I need to stop making excuses and start making the writing more of a priority again.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

Mark: I try to spend a lot of time out-of-doors when I can, weather permitting of course. I enjoy going for walks and hiking. I have a friend who likes to go exploring around Los Angeles, trying different restaurants and learning about the city’s history, that sort of thing. I also like watching movies and hockey. I’m a big Anaheim Ducks fan. But anything that connects me with nature and allows me to learn something new, be it through food, music, travel, I’m all for.

Where can readers find you?

Mark: The best place to keep up with me and to find out where my latest stories are being published is on instagram: @markmitchell.writer.

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9 Questions for Nicole Wolverton

9 Questions for Nicole Wolverton

Nicole, author of the suspenseful and tense story “Harvest” in our anthology The Wordsmiths, answered some some questions so we could get to know her a little better off the page.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Nicole: I’ve always been obsessed with isolated spaces, which is probably why I write horror. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania but spent my adulthood in urban and suburban cities (I live in the Philadelphia area)— but small town living and lore are far scarier! Of my two published novels and 50+ short stories and creative nonfiction, a significant portion are set in less populated settings. My upcoming novel Meat Sweats (August 2026, Horrorsmith Publishing) is no exception. When you’re a militant-vegetarian-turned-accidental-cannibal, coming to terms is much more terrifying when everyone is looking, you know?

I’m also an academic with a masters degree in horror and storytelling, and I’ve just started a masters of philosophy program having to do with gastrohorror. Starting in December I’ll be doing a monthly column at Macabre Daily on the topic of gastrohorror, which I’m very excited about! I also talk a lot about why and how ingesting a steady diet of horror media helps us build psychological resilience. Horror for everyone!

How do you find time to write?

Nicole: There’s something to be said for living in a DINK household (double income, no kids). I genuinely don’t know how people with kids and a full-time job manage to be successful writers! That said, it’s not like I lounge around my house in kitten heels and a fur-trimmed robe, eating bon bons and writing all the live-long day. I do have a full-time gig, plus school. The secret for me is that I’m an excellent project manager who is great with setting boundaries and compartmentalizing. 

What does your writing space look like?

Nicole: Horrifying, of course! I’m lucky enough to have dedicated office space in my house. It is completely covered in macabre art, from illustrations to sculpture to cross stitch. The best things in my office are the haunted ragdoll found in a secondhand store, a life-sized anatomically correct heart that appears to be dripping blood, and a diorama involving an Indigenous lake monster (given to me by a friend with Mohawk ethnicity).

Tell us about your favorite story that you’ve written.

Nicole: What an incredibly difficult question! There’s a story I recently finished that I’m super excited about, but if we’re talking about something that’s been published there’s a story called “All This Water” that was published in the September 2023 issue of Not One of Us. It’s set in Venice, Italy and was inspired by a local ghost story. Venice is one of my favorite places to visit, so I get all nostalgic when I reread it.

What are you working on right now?

Nicole: Three different things! I’ve always got a new novel manuscript in the works, and my current WIP is a young adult horror novel set entirely in an organic grocery store. It’s sort of a long-term project that I’ve been picking up and putting down for a few years. A more active project is a novella I’ve been commissioned to write that will be published with an oracle card deck. I can’t say much about the project, but it is horror. The third project is more of an academic thing… still horror!

Do you read much? If so, what are you currently reading and what’s at the top of your TBR pile?

Nicole: I don’t think it’s controversial to say that writers SHOULD read a lot… and read widely. It’s part of how we become better and more interesting writers. So yeah, I read constantly. Fiction, memoir, research papers, etc. When my spouse and I were looking at houses to buy about 20-ish years ago, the requirement was that there needed to be space for a library. In the end, there are two library spaces in my house—and all the shelves are stuffed full of books.

I just started Just Desserts by NJ Gallegos, and on deck is Crafting For Sinners by Jenny Kiefer. I also have a huge pile of academic books about the psychology of food and food in literature sitting on a shelf, waiting for me to dive in.

What’s the most challenging thing about being a writer, and how do you manage it?

Nicole: Patience has never been my strength. All the waiting involved in writing has helped me with that, though. Sort of. Look, I’m never going to be all Zen and laid back… about anything… but I’ve found that if I can just keep writing and keep submitting and keep myself busy, it’s easier to forget that I’m waiting for something to happen, whether it’s word about a submission, developmental edits on a project, or something else. It harkens back to my ability to compartmentalize.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

Nicole: I love to travel (although often travel is related to writing in some way—for instance, I was just in Prague and ended up visiting the Sedlec Ossuary in Kutná Hora… a place that figures into a plot bunny that’s been percolating in my head for a while) and have visited more than 25 countries. I’ve also been a knitter and a dragon boat paddler/steersperson for more than 20 years, and I’m also obsessed with perfume.

Where can readers find you?

Nicole: My digital home is nicolewolverton.com—but on social media you can find me at Instagram, Bluesky, and Tiktok.

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9 Questions for Taija Morgan

9 Questions for Taija Morgan

In today’s continuation of our interview series, we connected with Taija, author of “Shipwrecked.” This haunting and richly detailed story can be found in Hollow Oak’s debut anthology, The Wordsmiths.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Taija: I’m a Canadian horror author and professional editor. My stories often blend realism with the uncanny—psychological horror, crime, and the supernatural. When I’m not writing, I’m editing manuscripts, organizing literary events, or chiselling my way through my TBR list.

How do you find time to write?

Taija: Sometimes my editing work makes it hard to carve out time for my own writing. Over the years, I’ve learned to treat writing as a vocation rather than a hobby. One thing that helps enormously is having writer friends who act as accountability partners. We check in regularly, share progress, and keep each other honest about our goals. Twice a week, I also do one-hour writing sprints with a friend. We don’t always make it, but simply having that time blocked off keeps my creative rhythm steady. I’ve learned to protect that space, to honour both discipline and the natural ebb and flow of inspiration.

What does your writing space look like?

Taija: Lately, I’ve been writing in warm, plant-filled spaces with open windows, my laptop surrounded by notebooks, a tarot deck, and a stack of books. I have many maps and notes and lists taped to the wall to keep me on track. I’m situated next to a beautiful garden where I’m growing sunflowers and herbs. My space is quiet and peaceful.

Tell us about your favorite story that you’ve written.

Taija: In terms of short stories, I’m especially proud of one I wrote for the Prairie Witch Anthology by Prairie Soul Press, which was titled Never Walk the Tracks at Night. It was a dark, twisted revenge plot with a group of teen girls and a haunted railroad track—I had a blast writing that one. In terms of novels, my most recent (unpublished) novel The Devil Wears a Suit and Tie is closest to my heart right now. It’s a supernatural mobster thriller. It took years to write, spanning dual timelines and perspectives, and every draft taught me something new.

What are you working on right now?

Taija: Currently, I’m working on a slasher horror novel—a classic smalltown final girl story with a copycat killer and a million buried secrets, plus everyone in the town is guilty of something horrible. It’s been fun to write. I was lucky enough to receive a Canada Council for the Arts grant for this one, so I’m hoping to get it traditionally published in the future, and I should be finished writing it sometime next year. Love a good slasher.

Do you read much? If so, what are you currently reading and what’s at the top of your TBR pile?

Taija: Constantly. Reading is basically my whole life—work and hobby.  Right now, I’m reading Truth Telling by Michelle Good, a Canadian author. It’s a non-fiction book about the legacy of colonialism and indigenous life in Canada—highly recommended. I just finished her book Five Little Indians, and it was amazing. I am always tracking the heaps of random books I read on Goodreads, so if anyone reads this, they should friend me over there.

What’s the most challenging thing about being a writer, and how do you manage it?

Taija: The hardest part is balancing creative vulnerability with professional resilience. Writing requires brutal honesty—both on the page and within yourself—but publishing demands thick skin and a lot of patience. I manage by separating my identity from the work; I’m responsible for craft, not for how people receive it. Storytelling is sacred, transformative work. Everything else is just industry static.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

Taija: I edit manuscripts for other authors, garden, read, play videogames, learn Spanish, spend time with friends and family, and travel. I’m also on the board of the Wordbridge Writers’ Society of Lethbridge, so I help organize the annual conference and year-round programming. I love being involved with my writing community.

Where can readers find you?

Taija: You can find me at www.TaijaMorgan.com, where I share updates about my writing, editing services, and events. I’m also on Instagram (@taijamorgan) and Goodreads (@taija_morgan). You can subscribe to my newsletter through my website. And if you’re interested in the Wordbridge Writers’ Conference in Lethbridge (or virtual programming if you’re not local), check out www.WordbridgeYQL.com.