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Giveaway Winner!

By Yolandie Horak / 28th May 2020

Last week, A Study of Ash & Smoke turned one. I still can't believe it's been a year, but here...

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Giveaway Winner!

Birthday Giveaway

By Yolandie Horak / 20th May 2020

A Study of Ash & Smoke is one today! One year ago, this debut of mine first entered the world....

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Birthday Giveaway

A Trial of Sparks & Kindling Trailer

By Yolandie Horak / 15th May 2020

Folks of the world, I'm super excited to share the book trailer for A Trial of Sparks & Kindling with...

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A Trial of Sparks & Kindling Trailer

About Yesterday…

By Yolandie Horak / 14th May 2020

So, yesterday. One of my author buddies, Suneé le Roux, posted the book trailer for her upcoming novel, Myth Hunter,...

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About Yesterday…

Face Claims – Fall of the Mantle

By Yolandie Horak / 11th May 2020

This post is brought to you by random discussions. A bunch of my writer friends and I were talking about...

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Face Claims – Fall of the Mantle

The New Normal

By Yolandie Horak / 1st May 2020

Welcome to my captain's log, day who the hell even knows anymore. We've been isolating since mid-March and are officially...

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Yolandie’s Favourites

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I’m Yolandie – Revisited

I’m Yolandie – Revisited

A few years ago, I had an epiphany–I’m not done… Read More »I’m Yolandie – Revisited

Calgary

Toronto is a city of skyscrapers. Steel and glass. Grey.… Read More »Calgary

A Tribute

This morning, my grandmother passed away. It was a long… Read More »A Tribute

Still want more? Have a random post

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A Study of Ash & Smoke – 7th Annual WD Self-Pub e-Book Awards

Sometime around September last year, I got an email about… Read More »A Study of Ash & Smoke – 7th Annual WD Self-Pub e-Book Awards

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Visit to Duisburg Zoo

On a sunny Thursday, we took Kayla to the zoo.… Read More »Visit to Duisburg Zoo

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My Weekend In Pictures – Carnival in Düsseldorf

This weekend was a sunny one. After the rainiest two… Read More »My Weekend In Pictures – Carnival in Düsseldorf

SA Bookswap

The South African Bookswap, organised by Tams, or Bibliobookwolf on… Read More »SA Bookswap

Three Months – The German Chronicles

It’s probably about time I give you an update on… Read More »Three Months – The German Chronicles

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Unexpected, but Fun

If you’ve been around the blog for a while, you’ll… Read More »Unexpected, but Fun

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STAND A CHANCE TO WIN A COPY OF A STUDY OF ASH & S

STAND A CHANCE TO WIN A COPY OF A STUDY OF ASH & SMOKE⁠
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My book baby is one today! Can you believe it? To celebrate, I'm running a giveaway. You can check out all of the details on the giveaway landing page (the link is in my linktree).⁠
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The giveaway is open internationally (where allowed by law) and entrants must be over 18. All you have to do is subscribe to my newsletter and answer an easy question: What is the title of the book you can win in this giveaway?⁠
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Again, the whole thing is on the giveaway landing page, along with the prize details and terms and conditions. The link to the page is in my linktree.⁠
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#giveaway #astudyofashandsmoke #fallofthemantle #indieauthor #bookbirthday #ya #na #booklover #bibliophile #bookish #booksandblooms #gaslampfantasy #steampunk #bookone #booksbooksbooks #fantasy #epicfantasy #booknerd

STILL HERE⁠ ⁠ It's just been so hard to mainta

STILL HERE⁠
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It's just been so hard to maintain a social presence with everything going on behind the scenes, you know? But I'm still alive.⁠
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Have you ever reread books only to find you didn't love them as much the second time? This kind of happened for me when I reread the Court series. I really want to read Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom again, but I'm afraid it'll ruin it for me.⁠
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Anyway, what have you all been up to?⁠
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I've been working hard on Book 3, but have thrown out 230k words to date. I couldn't find my stride. A Study of Ash & Smoke has been nominated for a Nommo award, so that's given me the needed kick under the arse. 😛 Also, I got back my final round of edits on A Trial of Sparks & Kindling, and have applied those. So hopefully I'll have ARC's ready soon.⁠
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#acourtofthornsandroses #acourtofmistandfury #acourtofwingsandruin #acourtoffrostandstarlight #sarahjmaas #newadult #na #fae #bookstagram #southafricanbookstagram #booksandblooms #booklover #bookphotography #bibliophile #booksbooksbooks #bookish #stack #bookstack #feyreandrhysand #thenightcourt ⁠
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AND JUST LIKE THAT, HARRY POTTER WEEK IS DONE It'

AND JUST LIKE THAT, HARRY POTTER WEEK IS DONE

It's been a blast, folks. I might even do this again.

Meanwhile, it seems we've landed a day of spring in Calgary, and I'm planning to sit on the porch and read. I'm on to book 2 of The Raven Cycle, and WOW, is this one good so far. Better than the first, and I enjoyed that one too.

Do you have a friend who recommends books you'll love each time?

#harrypotter #jkrowling #thedeathlyhallows #youreawizardharry #potterhead #horcruxes #mouldyvoldy #harrypotterweek #youngadult #ya #yalovers #yaloves #yabooks #bookphotography #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookgrammer #booknerd #booksandblooms #bibliophile

ADAM IS A CINNAMON ROLL I've put Strange the Drea

ADAM IS A CINNAMON ROLL

I've put Strange the Dreamer on hold while I'm in this terrible mood, and am reading The Raven Boys. And folks, I love this book.

I'm glad I made the switch, because I know Strange will be a book I adore under normal circumstances and I don't want to hate it because of my mood. I don't want it to become the Covid19 book, you know?

And The Raven Boys is just what I needed. Thanks @tallulahlucy for always recommending the books I love most.

What are you reading?

#harrypotter #jkrowling #halfbloodprince #potterhead #youreawizardharry #youngadult #ya #yalovers #yaloves #yabooks #bookstagram #bookphotography #booklover #booksandblooms #bookie #bibliophile

WHY DOES FANDOM FORGET RON WEASLEY? This is the t

WHY DOES FANDOM FORGET RON WEASLEY?

This is the topic in my blog today, if you're interested. Link in the linktree!

Anyway, I have nothing to say here. I was up basically all night, so I'm just not feeling this Friday so far. I hope your day is going better!

#harrypotter #jkrowling #theorderofthephoenix #youreawizardharry #harrypotterweek #potterhead #booksbooksbooks #booksandblooms #bookphotography #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookgrammer #booknerd #bookaddict #read #bookaholic

DAY FOUR OF HP WEEK Honestly, I wouldn't have kno

DAY FOUR OF HP WEEK

Honestly, I wouldn't have known what day it is if these posts hadn't been scheduled. I've been so out of it.

Isolation has me in a state of low-key depression, and no matter what I do, I can't get out of it. So bear with me in this weirdness.

Let's talk about Harry Potter. This book, IMO, is the turning point. Up to here, Harry's journey was hard, but still okay. Hogwarts changed his life for the better, despite all the drama. But GOF is when shit gets REAL. It's much darker than the other books, and I sincerely love that the series grew with its readers.

What do you think?

#harrypotter #jkrowling #thegobletoffire #youreawizardharry #youngadult #bookish #instabook #bibliophile #bookstagrammer #booknerd #bookaddict #read #booksandblooms #southafricanbookstagrammer #youngadultfantasy #hogwarts #potterhead #harrypotterweek

MY FAVOURITE COVER Of the HP books in this set, t

MY FAVOURITE COVER

Of the HP books in this set, this one has my favourite cover. POA is incidentally also my favourite book in the series.

But this patronus scene was just so beautiful. I loved it. I also loved the echo of this scene in DH.

Anyway, writing update time. I'm at 52k words, and going strong. It helps that I don't even want to see outside while it's snowing again. So ready for spring, people.

#harrypotter #jkrowling #theprisonerofazkaban #patronus #expectopatronum #bookphotography #bibliophile #booksandblooms #bookie #youngadult #potterhead #youreawizardharry #youngadultfantasy #hogwarts

DEAR SPRING I don't even know what's up with the

DEAR SPRING

I don't even know what's up with the weather these days. Folks. It's mid-April and we have snow every other day. I'm so over it.

Meanwhile it's day 2 of Harry Potter week. I just live these cover illustrations, don't you?

#harrypotter #jkrowling #thechamberofsecrets #fawkes #basilisk #youreawizardharry #potterhead #booksbooksbooks #booksandblooms #teanadtales #tinycups #teacups #booklover #bibliophile #bookish #youngadult

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WATERCOLOUR WEDNESDAY ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

WATERCOLOUR WEDNESDAY
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Have I made any new art? No, friend, not by a long shot. I've been up to my eyeballs in editing my manuscript, A Trial of Sparks & Kindling. Now that I'm done, though... Oh, who am I kidding? I'm going to work on Book 3. 😛
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Meanwhile, though, here's an oldie but goodie. I LOVE painting birds. Their shapes are so easy to master, and there's something so totally relaxing in painting them.
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Do you have a favourite thing to paint?
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#watercolourwed #watercolorwed #watercolourwednesday #watercolorwednesday #watercolour #watercolor #artist #indieartist #artistsofig #instaart #painter #watercolourpainting #artlover #southafricanartist #artstagram #artsy #chikadee #littlebird #watercolourbird #birdie

THROWBACK ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I've been MI

THROWBACK
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I've been MIA from social media, especially on this page, for ages. I had a wrist injury that kept me from making art, which sincerely sucked.
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The good news is I've been able to ease back into art-making, and I hope to keep making stuff to share with you here.
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These are old paintings I made of my main character, Cara. I write novels, if you didn't know. Check out my main page @yolandie_horak if you're interested! Anyway, I hope to do fragments like these of all my characters in the near future.
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Anyway, what have you been up to in self-isolation/lockdown?
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#watercolour #watercolor #artist #indieartist #artistsofig #instaart #painter #watercolourpainting #artlover #southafricanartist #artstagram #artsy #blueeyes #oc #originalcharacter #bookishart #bookart #cara #fallofthemantle #bookone #astudyofashandsmoke #asoaas#tbt #throwback #throwbackthursday #oldiebutgoodie

STARRY SKIES ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This litt

STARRY SKIES
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This little watercolour is one of my personal favourites (and is actually available for purchase too). I just love how vibrant the colours came out.
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I think this is around the time I finally figured out how to paint pretty skyskapes, and I became stuck in painting them.
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What do you think?
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#watercolourwed #watercolorwed #watercolourwednesday #watercolorwednesday #watercolour #watercolor #artist #indieartist #artistsofig #instaart #painter #watercolourpainting #artlover #southafricanartist #artstagram #artsy #skyscape #starryskies #nebula #pinkandblue #sparkly #landscape

WATERCOLOUR WEDNESDAY ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

WATERCOLOUR WEDNESDAY
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This is an old watercolour, part of a series inspired by Inktober a few years back. I tried to catch an emotion in each of the paintings in the series, and this one is my take on anxiety. It's called Sometimes Growth Hurts.
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As someone who struggles with intense anxiety, this was the painting in the series that most resounded with me. Sometimes, in order to grow, you must face changes. For me, change is incredibly scary and often sends me into inescapable thought spirals.
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I painted this right in the belly of that change, when we were looking for ways to leave Germany. Immigrating for the second time, after we were so sure we would stay in Germany forever, was scary as hell.
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Looking back now, it was an important part of my personal growth journey, but at the time, I pretty much felt like this painting.
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#watercolourwednesday #watercolourwed #watercolourpainting #watercolour #throwback #greenhair #greenhairdontcare #anxiety #anxietyjourney #painting #artist #immigrant #southafricanartist #southafricanlivingabroad #artistsoninsta #artistsofinsta #instaart #artistsofig

DAY 15 Better late than never, right? Ive been ha

DAY 15

Better late than never, right? Ive been having trouble with my wrist, which means lower art productivity than usual.

I'm glad to be back at it with my skull chart. Once this one is done, I'm moving on to the kidney. Please send me requests for after that!

#inktober #inktober2019 #inktoberday15 #day15 #skull #humanskull #medicalchart #medicalsketches #medicalsketch #medical #artnerd #artistsofinstagram #artistsoninstagram #artist #art #ink #uniballpen #blackandwhite #bicpen #ballpointpen

VIRIDIAN ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Because I lov

VIRIDIAN
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Because I love me some green. This is a throwback to one of my older pieces, and this gloriously green duo is actually available for purchase in my Etsy store (link in the bio).
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Green scapes are just so soothing. I love painting them, and I love the calmness they bring to a room.
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What's your favourite colour?
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#green #viridian #mountains #trees #forest #landscape #watercolour #watercolor #watercolourpainting #watercolorpainting #throwback #tbt #throwbackthursday #artist #artistsofig #artlover #artsy #orange #grandmascrochet #greatgrandmascrochet #imadethis #indieartist #southafricanartist #artistic

FIN I don't have it in me to draw something for I

FIN

I don't have it in me to draw something for Inktober today, but I did take some time to finish my brain chart.

I'm really happy with how this one came out. I'm thinking I can maybe give this a vintage feel and sell prints, if anyone is interested? What do you think?

#brain #humanbrain #medicalsketch #medicalchart #medicalsketches #inktober2019 #inktober #inkdrawing #uniballpen #ballpointpen #bicpen #fineliner #art #artistsofinstagram #artistsoninstagram #artist #artistsofig #indieartist #southafricanartist #imadethis

WATERCOLOUR WEDNESDAY ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

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