Four Years an Immigrant
I was pretty shocked to realise our four-year immigration anniversary… Read More »Four Years an Immigrant
Yolandie Horak
Hi, I'm Yolandie! I write, I dabble and I look after a toddler and a grown man. Life is good!
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
Let’s Talk Photos and Graphics
A friend asked me about the software and resources I… Read More »Let’s Talk Photos and Graphics
On Writing Advice
The internet. A place of abundance. You can learn almost… Read More »On Writing Advice
Review – Shadow & Bone Trilogy
I’d never heard of Tsarpunk before a friend recommended this… Read More »Review – Shadow & Bone Trilogy
How to Support Indie Authors
Another huge bomb has dropped on the world of indie… Read More »How to Support Indie Authors
A Watercolour Comparison
This post is basically a result of a question I’ve… Read More »A Watercolour Comparison
Book Review – Twelve Kings in Sharakhai
I picked up this book in hardcover for $7–what a… Read More »Book Review – Twelve Kings in Sharakhai
My Thoughts – A Court of Thorns & Roses Trilogy
It’s been a long while since I devoured books like… Read More »My Thoughts – A Court of Thorns & Roses Trilogy
Strong Female Characters
There’s this thing all around the internet. Advice paired with… Read More »Strong Female Characters
Two Jack Lake & Banff
We couldn’t wait to go back to the mountains. I… Read More »Two Jack Lake & Banff
Review – Winsor & Newton Cotman Pocket Watercolour Set
Who could think that twelve half-pans of paint could be… Read More »Review – Winsor & Newton Cotman Pocket Watercolour Set
I’m Yolandie – Revisited
A few years ago, I had an epiphany–I’m not done… Read More »I’m Yolandie – Revisited
Things I Don’t Understand – Canada Edition
You know, we’ve been living in Canada for just over… Read More »Things I Don’t Understand – Canada Edition
Watercolour Doodles
Sometime mid-last year, I saw a video of someone’s art… Read More »Watercolour Doodles
Walking on Water – Lake Louise
You’d think–after everything–we’d pretty much be sick of road trips,… Read More »Walking on Water – Lake Louise
Snowy Watercolour
Inspired by the snow and the Rocky Mountains, I painted… Read More »Snowy Watercolour
Book Review – The Strange
Now, by this time you know how I feel about… Read More »Book Review – The Strange
What’s Different – Calgary Edition
Freshly landed in Germany, I did a post comparing the… Read More »What’s Different – Calgary Edition
What’s Up With Your Writing?
Cross-country move aside, this has been at the top of… Read More »What’s Up With Your Writing?
My Novel Planning Journey
It’s Preptober! I’m not participating in Nanowrimo, but I figured… Read More »My Novel Planning Journey
Book Review – Hard in Hightown
My little obsession with Dragon Age and the world of… Read More »Book Review – Hard in Hightown
Travel in Writing
Quick fact – the average horse and the average person… Read More »Travel in Writing
My Thoughts – Longmire
One night, my husband reaches for the remote. He browses… Read More »My Thoughts – Longmire
Draw and Paint a Barn Owl
This tutorial is brought to you by request. 🙂 I… Read More »Draw and Paint a Barn Owl
Book Talk – The Physician’s Apprentice
EDIT – This Book’s title has changed since I wrote… Read More »Book Talk – The Physician’s Apprentice
Let’s Write Excitement and Nerves
Welcome to part three of the Writing Emotions series! You… Read More »Let’s Write Excitement and Nerves
A Comparison – Shopping
Let’s keep chatting about the differences between the cities where… Read More »A Comparison – Shopping
Let’s Write Sadness
Picking up from where we left off, we’re talking about… Read More »Let’s Write Sadness
First Impression – Dragon Age, The World of Thedas Vol 2
If you know me at all, you know what an… Read More »First Impression – Dragon Age, The World of Thedas Vol 2
A Comparison – The Weather
The greatest of all the FAQ’s we are asked remains… Read More »A Comparison – The Weather
Let’s Write Anger
Friends. Writing is difficult. Especially emotions, which are the slightest… Read More »Let’s Write Anger
Rainy Watercolour Tutorial
This was such a fun little project, especially after about… Read More »Rainy Watercolour Tutorial
My Thoughts – Mark of the Ninja
I’m currently in this phase where I’m rewatching old series,… Read More »My Thoughts – Mark of the Ninja
Ice Ice Baby
It’s official, we’ve experienced another first on our journey. Last… Read More »Ice Ice Baby
My Thoughts – Violet Evergarden
Friends, I finished this series in a week. I can’t… Read More »My Thoughts – Violet Evergarden