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About Me

I write and I draw. My repertoire is eclectic – it includes children’s books, short stories and YA novels, sequential art and film. Please message me if you’d like to connect.

kajablackley

This will be a different kind of post for me, a bo

This will be a different kind of post for me, a book review of sorts for With Little Means by Raimo Strangis.

I met Rai, as I’ve come to call him, some time ago at an event for indie authors. He was introducing his first novel, The Kingdom of the Grape; I was introducing Maggie MacCormack and the Witches’ Wheel.

We kept in touch, and when Rai was putting together With Little Means he asked me to read and review the published version.

With Little Means is kind of a grass is always greener tale. Rai Starr, the novel’s protagonist, becomes part of a new reality show that transforms the mundanities of everyday life into extraordinary visions of one’s desires – with the help advanced memory-based technology. It’s a story about choices, and the hurdles life puts in front you; some that you clear and others that you don’t. It’s about getting a second chance to relive your dreams of being a rock star and the price such a chance has on your current reality, especially on those who have come to love and rely upon you. It’s a fantasy-autobiography inspired, in part, by Rai’s own personal journey. It’s a very relatable story, tender and quite honest. People who live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada will especially enjoy the references to city streets and venues like Lee’s Palace or the Horseshoe Tavern.

Including a map of Toronto in future printings would be useful for readers unacquainted with the city. Speaking candidly with regards to the physical design of the book, I feel that a more creative design, from the cover, to the page layout and typesetting, will make Rai’s book even more inviting to new readers.

With Little Means is a short novel, 140 pages. You get to experience a writer searching, growing with each chapter and bearing his sensitive soul to the world.

An interesting read.

Follow:
@withlittlemeans
@raistarr88

#withlittlemeans
#ireadyafantasy
#indieauthor
#indiemusic
#canlit
#readingismagic
#bookstagram
#bookishcanadians #toronto #ontario # Canada #leespalace #readingisfundamental #yafantasyfiction #booksbooksbooks #yabookreview #bookreview #horseshoetavern

The most amazing prose will never be read if it’

#Rhythm Having been born to a father who was a wo

#Rhythm

Having been born to a father who was a world-respected drummer and teacher, I was introduced to rhythmic concepts from a very young age. And while I chose not to become a professional musician rhythm has influenced me, and my work on a very conscious level.

For example, I am always aware of how people speak. I listen intently because I am interested in the tics and the breath individuals introduce to their spoken words. I file away interesting tidbits from people’s conversations in my subconscious, only to draw upon them when I’m writing dialogue. It may be years until I use a specific tic I’ve come across, but none ever go to waste.

Dialogue for me is all about rhythm. Natural rhythm. The reader should never be aware that anything else is happening save that your characters are in some form of conversation. However, the writer should be keenly aware, sensitive of the language they are composing. It is the rhythm section that drives the music of each character’s oral composition. A writer, like a composer, must learn how to move their composition forward, to manage its surges and denouement, when to build to a crescendo and when to say more with less.

Understanding that rhythm informs the pace of a story is crucial for self-editing as one is writing. Far too many films, TV shows and books today suffer from erratic pacing — the individuals involved with such productions are too focused on distilling information and in the repetition of their plot points, rather than moving their story forward. Do not be frightened of giving a little less, rather than adding a little more. A few choice words, a subtle gesture of your character, can convey as much to your reader as a block of dense text. And even if it might initially appear a bit jarring to some of your readers, stick to your style, keep to your rhythm, and bring your readers along on the adventure you are writing.

Though often so subliminal as to be invisible, rhythm is the key ingredient of creativity. Rhythm creates chemistry between characters; it creates conflict, urgency and drama. Rhythm manifests birth and death. The last breath is just as important as the first.

#bookblog #yafantasyseries

Nearly 35 years ago I was reading a book on Sufism

Nearly 35 years ago I was reading a book on Sufism. The title of that book escapes me, but a line from it still resonates deeply: “Get used to being alone.”

It’s a message that’s opposite from what the world tells us: have lots of friends, be social and cultivate deep, meaningful relationships. Yet, the more I thought about the line over the years the more I realized the insight of its message.

Even if we’re surrounded with family and friends, even when we’re married, we still walk this journey alone. Yes, there is support, but everything we face – our fears and our anxieties, all of our experiences – we must conquer on our own. There are no magical fixes for any of life’s difficulties. Furthermore, if we are unable to be alone and find peace within ourselves, we can never develop as human beings.

By the same token, all creative people must recognize their need for productive solitude. On a practical and immediate level, artists cannot truly tap into the ether, to that wondrous place of creative ecstasy, if we are constantly inundated by interruptions.

On a deeper level, solitude often acts like a mirror. It reflects what we need to see, it reveals the problems we need to address, that which we must improve upon. If we have the courage to face our reflection and not look away, silence and solitude become an enlightening gift.

We must not take anything for granted. We must cherish our time alone and we must use that time to our creative advantage. Freedom comes through discipline, and solitude brings us the opportunity to calm our monkey mind and create the work that only a disciplined artist can produce.

#blog #reflections #wisdom #artist #arttips #writerslife #writersuniverse #innerreflection #becreativeeveryday #Imaginationiseverything #readingismagic #bloggerofinstagram

Sound the horns! Share the news! The audiobook

Sound the horns! Share the news!

The audiobook adaptation of Maggie MacCormack and the Witches’ Wheel is now on sale from iTunes, Amazon and Audible worldwide.

Linda McDade’s brilliant narration includes over 40 individual character voices, and will charm lovers of urban fantasy, of magic and mystery, for over fourteen hours.

And from each sale of this audiobook adaptation, 10% of the profits will be donated to Dyslexia Scotland and 10% will be donated to Dyslexia Canada , to support children and adults with dyslexia, many of whom continue to suffer this genetic learning disability in silence.

Please share and repost to help make this project a resounding success.

#freckledmagic
Believe in it.

#fantasyauthor
#YAauthor
#dyslexiasupport
#amreading
#yafantasy
#amlistening
#authorlife
#booktastic
#yalit
#yabooks
#calledtobecreative
#booksarelife
#bookpassion
#bookster
#bookrecommendation
#booksbooksbooks
#ireadya
#yafantasyserirs
#mustreads
#indieauthors
#indiesareworthit
#indieauthor
#magic
#supportindependents
#audible
#amazon
#itunes

Sound the horns! Share the news! The audiobook

Sound the horns! Share the news!

The audiobook adaptation of Maggie MacCormack and the Witches’ Wheel is now on sale from iTunes, Amazon and Audible worldwide.

Linda McDade’s brilliant narration includes over 40 individual character voices, and will charm lovers of urban fantasy, of magic and mystery, for over fourteen hours.

And from each sale of this audiobook adaptation, 10% of the profits will be donated to Dyslexia Scotland and 10% will be donated to Dyslexia Canada, to support children and adults with dyslexia, many of whom continue to suffer this genetic learning disability in silence.

Please share and repost to help make this project a resounding success.

#freckledmagic
Believe in it.

#fantasyauthor
#YAauthor
#dyslexiasupport
#amreading
#yafantasy
#amlistening
#authorlife
#booktastic
#yalit
#yabooks
#calledtobecreative
#booksarelife
#bookpassion
#bookster
#bookrecommendation
#booksbooksbooks
#ireadya
#yafantasyserirs
#mustreads
#indieauthors
#indiesareworthit
#indieauthor
#magic
#supportindependents
#audible
#amazon
#itunes #dyslexiascotland #dyslexiacanada

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