Yolandie Horak
Hi, I'm Yolandie! I write, I dabble and I look after a toddler and a grown man. Life is good!
A Trial of Sparks & Kindling Playlist
I was a bit disorganised with this, I have to… Read More »A Trial of Sparks & Kindling Playlist
Have a Free Colouring Book
A Trial of Sparks & Kindling is set to land… Read More »Have a Free Colouring Book
A Trial of Sparks & Kindling Trailer
Folks of the world, I’m super excited to share the… Read More »A Trial of Sparks & Kindling Trailer
About Yesterday…
So, yesterday. One of my author buddies, Suneé le Roux,… Read More »About Yesterday…
Face Claims – Fall of the Mantle
This post is brought to you by random discussions. A… Read More »Face Claims – Fall of the Mantle
Sexuality — Fall of the Mantle
Someone asked me the other day if the Fall of… Read More »Sexuality — Fall of the Mantle
Hello From the Inside
This weekend, we went for a drive. We didn’t get… Read More »Hello From the Inside
Why Does Fandom Forget Ron Weasley?
These are the kinds of questions flitting about in my… Read More »Why Does Fandom Forget Ron Weasley?
Last Week Wasn’t a Good Week
Let’s not play games, we all get depressed sometimes. And… Read More »Last Week Wasn’t a Good Week
An Enchantment of Ravens – Book Review
Okay, so I’ve been flipping out over this book alone… Read More »An Enchantment of Ravens – Book Review
Growing Out a Pixie Cut & Other Random Tales
Hey, I’m growing out my pixie. My hair is now… Read More »Growing Out a Pixie Cut & Other Random Tales
Art Inspired By A Trial of Sparks & Kindling
I mentioned a while back that I’d commissioned the epic… Read More »Art Inspired By A Trial of Sparks & Kindling
7 Easy Tutorials to try During Isolation/Lockdown
With more places around the globe entering states of lockdown,… Read More »7 Easy Tutorials to try During Isolation/Lockdown
I Haven’t Left the House in 9 Days
What I miss is walking. Up until last Friday, I… Read More »I Haven’t Left the House in 9 Days
Tales from Self-Isolation
Honestly, as someone who spends the greater part of her… Read More »Tales from Self-Isolation
Rot – An Illness Based on the Bubonic Plague
A major plot arc in A Study of Ash &… Read More »Rot – An Illness Based on the Bubonic Plague
This Post Comes to You in Four Parts
Totally paraphrasing John Green there. 🙂 DFTBA, people. Anyway. Part… Read More »This Post Comes to You in Four Parts
The Book was Better – My Thoughts on Adaptations
I recently reread the Harry Potter series, and watched the… Read More »The Book was Better – My Thoughts on Adaptations
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
It’s Happening Again (A Life Update)
I guess you all know by now that when I… Read More »It’s Happening Again (A Life Update)
Five Easy Ways to Combat Writer’s Block
Ah, writer’s block. The bane of many a writer’s existence.… Read More »Five Easy Ways to Combat Writer’s Block
A Trial of Sparks & KIndling Cover Reveal
I should probably have waited with this until a bit… Read More »A Trial of Sparks & KIndling Cover Reveal
We Want Spoilers! A Trial of Sparks & Kindling Edition
So, recently, quite a few folks have been asking me… Read More »We Want Spoilers! A Trial of Sparks & Kindling Edition
Daughter of Smoke & Bone Trilogy – Book review
It’s only because of my fabulous book-recommending genius of a… Read More »Daughter of Smoke & Bone Trilogy – Book review
Let’s Write – Common Mistakes
Welcome back to another post in our self-editing miniseries. It’s… Read More »Let’s Write – Common Mistakes
Spot the Differences – Writer vs Main Character
I posted an excerpt from A Study of Ash &… Read More »Spot the Differences – Writer vs Main Character
SA Bookswap – December 2019
I was lucky enough to take part in another South… Read More »SA Bookswap – December 2019
New Year’s Eve 2019
We entered 2020 in one of the most beautiful places… Read More »New Year’s Eve 2019
Montecasino Bird Gardens (Vacation Pics Part Two)
I mentioned in the first vacation photo post that we… Read More »Montecasino Bird Gardens (Vacation Pics Part Two)
Vacation Pics (Part One)
Aren’t you proud that we managed to take some photos… Read More »Vacation Pics (Part One)
Warcross – Book Review
About a year ago, my cousin sent me a series… Read More »Warcross – Book Review
Behind the Scenes – Editing
I figure I might as well clue you all in… Read More »Behind the Scenes – Editing
How AHA moments changed A Study of Ash & Smoke
We all have little aha moments while writing. Those moments… Read More »How AHA moments changed A Study of Ash & Smoke
Let’s Write – The Structural Edit (Continued)
In the last post, we talked about the first two… Read More »Let’s Write – The Structural Edit (Continued)
Let’s Write – The Structural Edit
Welcome back to the self-editing miniseries. 🙂 It’s good to… Read More »Let’s Write – The Structural Edit
The Lie Tree – Book Review
I’ve been sharing many reviews from those books randomly picked… Read More »The Lie Tree – Book Review
What’s Happening with A Trial of Sparks & Kindling?
As you all know, my summer was a whirlwind of… Read More »What’s Happening with A Trial of Sparks & Kindling?
Let’s Write – Basics of Self-Editing
Something about the editing process has always intrigued me, and… Read More »Let’s Write – Basics of Self-Editing
How I Paint Auroras
My husband is pretty much obsessed with the northern lights,… Read More »How I Paint Auroras
Fawkes – Book Review
I’ve heard only good things about Nadine Brandes‘s writing, so… Read More »Fawkes – Book Review
Exploring Lake Minnewanka
As with most of the well-known tourist spots, we’ve visited… Read More »Exploring Lake Minnewanka
Quick Watercolour Lightning Tutorial
It’s been pretty much forever since I’ve last done a… Read More »Quick Watercolour Lightning Tutorial
Rise – Book Review
This was probably one of my most anticipated sequels of… Read More »Rise – Book Review
Johnston Canyon Revisited
The last time we went to this magical place, the… Read More »Johnston Canyon Revisited
On Writing Sequels
Somebody recently asked me how I found the process of… Read More »On Writing Sequels
Four Years an Immigrant
I was pretty shocked to realise our four-year immigration anniversary… Read More »Four Years an Immigrant
SA Bookswap
The South African Bookswap, organised by Tams, or Bibliobookwolf on… Read More »SA Bookswap
Trip to Big Hill Springs
During the Summer Holidays, we headed out to hike in… Read More »Trip to Big Hill Springs
Wake Me Up When September Ends
Well, I’m back. I’m happy to inform you the two… Read More »Wake Me Up When September Ends
My Writing Process (Updated)
So, I’m a published author now. (Look, Ma, I’m famous.)… Read More »My Writing Process (Updated)
A Hike to Grassi Lakes
I swear, every time I think I’ve seen all Canada… Read More »A Hike to Grassi Lakes
The Random Photo Post
These are the last of the vacation photos, the stragglers… Read More »The Random Photo Post
Calgary Stampede & Parade 2019
Yahoo! Our very first Stampede stomped around in early July,… Read More »Calgary Stampede & Parade 2019
Major Character Death
I’ve recently read a few books where major characters died–and… Read More »Major Character Death
Vacation Photo Diary Vol 1
We went to the mountains. I mean, this was obviously… Read More »Vacation Photo Diary Vol 1
We Had More Time
Last week, we lost two family members. We witnessed the… Read More »We Had More Time
My Favourite Character Trope: The Lovable Rogue
The way to hook this reader is easy. Write a… Read More »My Favourite Character Trope: The Lovable Rogue
Living on the Veg – Cross-stitch
I’ve recently taken up a new hobby–as if I didn’t… Read More »Living on the Veg – Cross-stitch
Book Review – Furyborn
Furyborn by Claire Legrand was one of those random books… Read More »Book Review – Furyborn
Ideas For Writers of Instagram
I’ve been trying to up my Instagram game. I stumbled… Read More »Ideas For Writers of Instagram
A Visit to Calaway Park
The weather forecast wasn’t great, but we had family over… Read More »A Visit to Calaway Park
Quick Review – Posca Paint Pens
I haven’t been using these pens for that long, but… Read More »Quick Review – Posca Paint Pens
So You Got a Bad Review
Or maybe your beta reader/s had some less than ideal… Read More »So You Got a Bad Review
Books That Inspire Me – The Black Magician Trilogy
I’ve never really talked about those books that inspire me,… Read More »Books That Inspire Me – The Black Magician Trilogy
Exploring Bowness Park
Now that the weather is getting better, we’ve had more… Read More »Exploring Bowness Park
How to Review a Book
This post exists just because so many of my close… Read More »How to Review a Book
Mother’s Day 2019
Jan and I aren’t really big on celebrating holidays. We’re… Read More »Mother’s Day 2019
A Study of Ash & Smoke Book Trailer
Friends, I had something else planned for today, but then… Read More »A Study of Ash & Smoke Book Trailer
Survival Tips for New Immigrants
Maybe it’s because I know so many people who have… Read More »Survival Tips for New Immigrants
Royal Alberta Museum
For the first time in forever, we went away for… Read More »Royal Alberta Museum
Review – Six of Crows Duology
I have an intense book hangover and I’m struggling to… Read More »Review – Six of Crows Duology
Calgary Zoo Visited
We had such a wonderful weekend with friends from South… Read More »Calgary Zoo Visited
Graphic Ballpoint Landscape
It’s Thursday, which has become synonymous with throwbacks. Today we’re… Read More »Graphic Ballpoint Landscape
Should Authors Step Away Once the Novel is Complete?
I’d never heard of death of the author until a… Read More »Should Authors Step Away Once the Novel is Complete?
When Do You Find the Time? An Essay by a Work-From-Home Mother
When Kayla was little, I worked when she slept. This… Read More »When Do You Find the Time? An Essay by a Work-From-Home Mother
Johnston Canyon
Since Canada is gorgeous and we have serious wanderlust, we… Read More »Johnston Canyon
My Thoughts – Carmen Sandiego
Folks, I grew up chasing Carmen Sandiego and Co. across… Read More »My Thoughts – Carmen Sandiego
Book Review – A Court of Frost and Starlight
I was pretty excited to find this one at the… Read More »Book Review – A Court of Frost and Starlight
Peace Bridge Explored
One of the coolest landmarks in Calgary has to be… Read More »Peace Bridge Explored
Book Review – Clouds and Earth
I was excited to get lost in the pages of… Read More »Book Review – Clouds and Earth