Electric Ink Blog
Meta Monday: What the hell is up with the political structure of Arendelle?
If you have a kid under ten, especially a girl, odds are you’ve been subjected to Frozen, the most artificially constructed Disney movie in history. I swear every character has been optimized by their marketing department for peek saleability. And each song is more...
Meta Monday: How Brexit is Going to Screw Fireman Sam
Starting something new. Short meta thoughts on Monday mornings. How Brexit is Going to Screw Fireman Sam For those who aren't up on semi-educational Welsh originated childrens’ shows Fireman Sam is an animation about fireman Sam, the hero firefighter of the little...
The Dyslexic Novelist
I am dyslexic. I've blogged about it before and it is stated in my bio. I'm also a writer. To most people these two things don't go together. How can someone be a writer if they can't read or spell or do anyone of dozens of things people who know nothing about...
Love for Empty Nests and Bowerbirds from the RWNZ
Last Saturday night Empty Nests and Bowerbirds tied for second in the 2016 Koru Awards, Long Romance section, given by the Romance Writers of New Zealand. I was told (but not by someone on the awards committee so I can’t be sure) that this was the first time they had...
The Passing of a Proper Woman
My grandmother passed away two weeks ago. We buried her last Thursday. She was 96, her mind was mostly gone, and she’d been given two weeks to live fifteen months ago. She took a couple of deep breaths in her sleep then just stopped. There are worse ways of going. I’d...
Heartbreak of a Child
When I picked up my 3 year old from preschool yesterday she was a little subdued. Normally she squeals then runs, and jumps into my arms but yesterday she wanted to finish playing a fishing game with her teacher and show me that she knows her colours. Blue and yellow...
Ghostbusters (2016) – It Did What It Was Meant To Do
I love the Ghostbusters. When I was a kid it was my favourite Saturday morning cartoon* (I didn't see the movie, I was three). Egon and Winston were my first great loves, though even then I understood that Egon's first true love was science. I saw every episode, many...
Giveaway Time!!!!!!!!
I'm currently at about half through draft one what should be my next book. The word count stands at 49,685 words. We're going to play guess the final word count! It's like guess the jelly beans. Send an email to adamariasoto@gmail.com with "Windsor Knot Word Count" in...
The Universality of Choosing an Avocado
The world sucks right now. It really does. If we get to the end of 2017 without WWIII breaking out, the US breaking up, and Australia burning down coast to coast I'll be very surprised. Lots of people suck right now to. Even people I usually respect and look up to are...
Free Read: Sand Angels
My entry for this years Pulp Literature poetry contest. Made the top ten. Sand Angels The afternoon sun produces little warmth. The ocean wind cuts with the pain of midwinter. Elderly couples walk their dogs along the sand, their beasts avoiding the rough rolling...
Guest Post: Family. The battle of good versus evil – Toni J Strawn
Family. The battle of good versus evil. We love them. We hate them. Both as characters and in our own lives, our family members play a big part in shaping our stories. Mothers, fathers, siblings…there are those who are achingly sweet and those who are more like...
Social Anxiety and Trying To Not Screw Up My Kid
For two hours every week my kid is in a preschool Maori Language play group. It's a great little program. The kids sing songs, listen to stories, have snack time and a free play time all designed to encourage language skills, social skills, and cultural awareness. I...
What Do You Mean You’ve Never Baked A Cookie?
Not too long ago I was talking with a friend about nothing in particular and over the course of the conversation I discovered that they had never baked a cookie. Never. Not once. Not even the stuff that comes in a tube and you squeeze onto a sheet. Not with a parent,...
Guest Post: Lizzi Tremayne – Żurek Stew and A Long Trail Rolling
Continuing our season of New Zealand based Guest Bloggers may I present multi-award winning author, and RWNZ president Lizzi Tremayne. Hello, all you readers and foodies out there! Food…hmmm…it's probably more important to me than it should be, but what's life...
F**KING OWN IT
I have a favourite fanfic series, actually I have several, but there is one in particular that warms my heart and I end up reading at least once a year in spite of its massive word count. I'm not going to name it here because it is, frankly, kinda bad. And yet not....