It’s been a long time coming, but the cover for THE HARVEST, the third book in the SEEDS trilogy, is finally here! For those of you interested in the process of book design, here are some notes about our process: This cover was possibly the hardest one we’ve done so far from a design perspective. We…
Read MoreAll articles filed in Amira K.
Writer, explorer, and keeper of Alder the dog.
The First And Last Time I’ll Talk About Being Vegan
[Joke 1] “How do you know if someone’s a vegan?” “Don’t worry, they’ll fucking tell you!” Here’s how the conversation starts. I say, “Hey, guys. I have something to tell you. I decided to adopt a vegan diet on January 1, 2016, to protest animal exploitation at the hands of the factory farming system.” You roll…
Read MoreWhy I Run (Why I Write)
It’s very popular among writers to spend a lot of time hemming and hawing over the grand question of Why We Write. I think almost every one of my writer friends has penned at least one blog entry with that exact title. I’m not saying this as an accusation. I haven’t actually done the same thing, but I’ve…
Read MoreFour Tips for Writing Successful Blog Posts
A few days ago a young man contacted me asking for writing advice. It was the first time I’d ever been asked for writing advice, and it was a bit of a shock. I thought that was something that only happened to famous writers like Neil Gaiman, Margret Atwood, or Anne Rice. But here was another human…
Read More
Skeleton: A Poem
Today was the first day I felt your bones And not your breath. Today was the first day I ran my fingers over your clavicle And not your skin. Today was the first day I lay against your rib cage And not your chest, taut and rich with youth and fear, Today I felt the hardness of…
Read MoreMirrors: A Poem
“Forget him” was the most useless advice anyone ever gave me. “Forget about him,” my friends said. “You deserve better, anyway.” Forget him. The thought had occurred to me one night years before, but it meant nothing to my hoofbeat heart, stampeding in my chest, meant nothing to my butterfly eyes, wings beating open every five…
Read MoreSaltwater and Ink: A Poem
Opalescent moon, senescent sky A fog at dusk that speaks to me in tongues Like the prophets of old My phantom dreams, papier-mache and origami, so fragile, Milk-white, and pale Are laid at the altar As I clutch this knife With your name on my lips. This love isn’t pretty but it is real (Real like…
Read MorePromises: A Poem
Like smoke on the horizon Like ash at my feet Like grey soot and bony plants I am afraid. Like cryptic messages passed from hand to hand Like acrid liquor in my throat Like heat in my belly, growing I am afraid. Succulent fruit, lush and sweet Are your promises. Like smoke in my mouth Like…
Read MoreBook Review: “The Vintner’s Daughter” by Kristen Harnisch
Last week I blogged about attending the 2015 Writer’s Digest Conference in New York City. I met so many fantastic agents, editors, and writers there, some of whom I hope will be contacts for years to come. One of the most astounding connections I made was with author Kristen Harnisch, who lectured at a session…
Read MoreWriter’s Digest Conference 2015: A Reflection
This past weekend I attended the 2015 Writer’s Digest Conference in New York City. It was only the second writing conference I’ve ever attended, and far larger in size and scale than the first. There were maybe four times as many agents and editors as there were at the first one I went to (the Missouri Writer’s…
Read More
The Z-Axis 