Tanya Reimer's Blog

Well, it's official, my short story The Box is now live!!! Yay!!!
The BoxA Short Story  ​Inspiration can't be contained in a box...
After Greg’s father goes missing from their boring lives, Greg finds an empty box while cleaning out his apartment. The contents inspire him to see things outside the box, but will he  brave stepping into it?
Available now as eBook on Kindle

Breathing is a gift I give you…Dragon design: Alison Buck   Above ground, in the frozen climate of year 3161, Avery’s family is starving. When the jerk from the clan at the end of the village invites Avery to start a family with him in exchange for food and land, she has a serious choice to make. Leaving her family where she fits in, to live in a clan with an old man she loathes, doesn’t feel like a good move. But can she really refuse when the offer comes with food and land that her family desperately needs?
Underground, in the cities of Quma, Yodan’s life is perfect. He looks forward to starting a family with… Azala? Why does that feel wrong? Yodan’s best friend soon discovers that someone or something has tampered with Yodan’s mind, erasing things. Investigating further, they discover a horrifying truth; Artificial-life has found a way to merge with them to live mortally.   When a violent earthquake destroys the energy source that’s keeping both above and below ground habitable, the survivors are forced together after more than a thousand years of isolated evolution. Their union is a clash of spiritual versus technical existence where suddenly no one fits in. How will the villagers react to the bald pink-eyed children needing a new home? And what kind of damage will be done by the lifeform who hitched a ride with them?
Breathing is a gift I give myself…


Very excited to announce that Elsewhen Press has made Programmed to Breathe a home among their other incredible books. It is now available as eBook! It will be out in paperback later this year.

In a lot of ways, this is a story I was working on since I was a little girl. It has been in my mind fighting to be told. And I am so happy with the final version. It's come a long way from that little idea I had as a kid to this incredible tale of two very different worlds being forced together. The one thing that never changed were Yodan and Avery. These two heroes stuck with me from start to finish, bringing me on many adventures, but by far, this one was the best! I hope you enjoy their stories.

And I have to just make a comment on the incredible cover. It is so perfect for this story. It represents the protector and legendary Dragon carved into the marble caves in the village above ground where Avery lives, but the reflection in the metallic grey is the logo for the threat and very real Nogard, the A-life that is keeping Yodan's underground city running smoothly. It's a very powerful symbol that will hopefully come alive for readers as they explore the story of the two worlds coming together.

Happy readings!

This might be just me--and for those of you without snow, just enjoy your iced tea with your toes in the warm pool while you laugh at my struggles--but when that first snowstorm hits around October or November I make myself these little deals. They go something like this:
               

This year, I'm gonna stay on top of this.

This year, I'm not gonna let my husband shovel the snow around the house alone.

This year, I'm gonna shovel as much as I can to stay in shape. At work and at home. Heck, I might even go help the neighbours out! Who needs a snow blower!

This year, I might even come out while it snows just to stay ahead of things.

And comes December and I have to say, things look good. I might actually...

And comes January.

By February, I've basically got a tunnel I can crawl through to get to work. The thoughts are more like this:

Why is it so cold? Why are my ankles suddenly frozen? Where did I lose my scarf? I need another pair of mitts. I just got snow IN my boots. Wth! Okay...so why am I suddenly sweating?

Screw it. I'm going in. If they can't climb the snow bank, we can text.

         If I wait three more months, it'll melt. Can I wait that long? 

Then I actually think about how long three months will be while I undress and search for warm pjs and a book. But then I realize hubby stayed outside so I go see how he's doing... and the thoughts are more like this: 

We need a snow blower. Why don't we own one? This is just too much snow. Where will my husband pile it all? Why did I make that first pile so far? Did he really shovel ALL that? I know there's a sidewalk out there somewhere...he has to be close. Do we need that much of a path? Snowshoes would be good, we'll invest in snowshoes... 

I can't even see my husband out there it's blowing so hard. Maybe he should come in and we'll just stay on top of it better next year...

And then, I go make a hot chocolate and write about it.
What Man vs Nature element is your yearly challenge?

Missing someone is a strange but powerful part of life. Some days you miss their wisdom, others their presence. You miss the way they did things and you catch yourself saying the weird things they did that once upon a time made you roll your eyes. My favourite is, "I see, said the blind man." Which was a saying my dad used to use. Worse, when someone mispronounces a word like them, you find yourself smiling, because it's a reminder of how human they were.

You think about the things they didn't get to do or see. And so, because you miss them, you do these things for them, as if that will somehow bring you closer to them or perhaps give you closure.

You drive to their grave and stare at it, tormented by the fact that nothing is right with it. Not a thing. This is not where you should be visiting.

You gather all these pictures in a folder that remind you of them, but looking at them is hard so you just hold the folder like some idiot, hoping it will help.

And you don't shed a tear because it's not just pain causing you to act this way but love. And the two emotions conflict so you just sit there numb wondering when was the last time you laughed.

You have anger. It can't be explained or even properly directed. It just is. And when someone points it out you growl because words can't explain it.

The way you see religion and afterlife changes. If you were raised with these beliefs, you will need them now. Others will share their beliefs. In these moments, all of it is helpful and uplifting yet so useless and terrifying.

Even though you're happy others are there with you, this little void is inside you remembers the one you miss, as if they left with a part of your soul and forgot you needed it. Or maybe they need it wherever they went.

When you miss someone, everyone else falls into three categories: those who have no clue what to say so they walk away or deepen your pain, those who care so much your pain is suddenly theirs and you're comforting them, and of course, those who you NEED around you, for no particular reason or wisdom, you just do.

There is the life before you missed them and the life after. Not sure how that happens, but it becomes a moment in time like you were reborn with their death and when that day rolls around each year you find yourself another year older in this new life with still no grasp on how you survived so long and no clue if that other life will ever return. Perhaps you're comfortable in this new role. And with that is a realization about just how easy life was with them in it. Easier. For so many reasons. Still, looking at your actions, your words, your writing, your everything, nothing was the same after that day. You can physically see the imprint it left on your life as if the book you were writing ended abruptly and another began.

When you miss someone, you feel their teachings seep in at the strangest moments and you listen out of respect.

You talk to them when they aren't there, not because you're crazy, but because what if? What if they were there for just a moment and you missed it?

You find yourself drawn to others who grieve as if someone has answers.

You think about the moments of their life and death, giving them purpose and reason.

You live  your life with more energy. More passion. More questions.

You wonder if they would even recognize you, if they came home today, because the person you are today is so different than the person they left.

Or maybe that's just me.

What do you find yourself doing when you miss someone? How do you use that powerful emotion to push you forward instead of tackle you down? What things have others done to help you, or that you have done for others?

A peek into your life , is a segment spotlighting authors, specialists, and friends who brave my countless questions day in and day out. It's the best way I can share with you all, the many people who taught me the bizarre things I know, who satisfy my thirst for knowledge and adventure, and who keep me motivated.

I met Nancy Wood through a publisher we share and her mystery series intrigued me. You can visit her at her site HERE.
Her books Due Date and The Stork are about a woman who agrees to be a surrogate mother for cash, but soon discovers that something is amiss with the family she is carrying twins for. I have yet to read it, but am looking forward to diving into this one. I jumped at the opportunity to interview Nancy and find out a bit about her writing and her life.


Where did you get the idea for The Stork?This book is the second book in a mystery series. I got the idea when I was attending a writing workshop. The idea I'd come with was a dud, and I came up with this idea while working in a group. That was over ten years ago. It took me five years to finish the first book in the series, Due Date, and six more to finish this one. Hopefully the third won't take as long! The character's name is Shelby McDougall. In Due Date, she's fresh out of college and decides to become a surrogate mom. But the intended parents are not who they seem, and have their own agenda. The second book picks up Shelby's story five+ years later. The third, the one I'm working on, will be set in the not-too-distant future.  Is there a message you try to pass on while writing? Or a theme that emerges naturally?When I was writing this book, I realized that I always like to write about nature. I live in a beautiful part of the world (Santa Cruz, California) and I love to place my characters in the outdoors, so that I can write about what's around me.
What is the best thing that has come out running your blog?Definitely my author interview series. I post an interview every week with an author. I love meeting other authors, learning about their books, and discovering tidbits about the writing process.
Where do you do your best writing?At my desk, on my computer. My ideal writing time is in the morning, just after I get up, with my cup of tea.
What book would you recommend as "this is a book every writer should read”?I really benefited from Your Book Starts Here, by Mary Carroll Moore. It's an excellent how-to book with sections on planning, writing, and developing the story. Her wisdom really helped me figure out the inner and outer stories and how to weave them into a coherent whole.
What one thing did you learn that you wish to pass on to other writers? When you're writing, try to ignore that inner critic. I think everyone has one, and it will get you every time! I know from years of personal experience. My critic often perches on my shoulder as I write and I have to work really hard to not listen.
What is the best thing about where you live?Access to the outdoors, with multiple places to go to get away from it all. I live close to several state parks that span acres and acres of land, encompassing coastal redwood forests and beaches along the Pacific Ocean. I love to hop on my bike and ride along the trails, or walk along the coastal path.
Based on your experience or research, what is a great place to travel to or visit? Why?I was lucky to be able to spend last summer in the city of Ghent, Belgium. It has not been discovered in the sense of being on the heavily travelled tourist circuit. It's a university city, and is the second largest city in Belgium. The interior of the city, the ancient part of the city dating back to the middle ages, is a pedestrian zone, with only busses, trolleys, and taxis allowed. The city is crisscrossed by canals, and has retained its beautiful medieval architecture, including the Gravensteen Castle; St. Bavo's Cathedral, with the famous Ghent Altarpiece; three beguinages; and dozens of churches. I discovered the brand-new library, De Krook, and was in heaven. It was built on a curve (de krook) in the Scheldt River and is a real marvel.



Thank you so much Nancy for the peek into your life! That sounds like a place I for sure have to add to my travel list. Thanks for recommending Your Book Starts Here, that isn't one I read!! 
For more information about Nancy, or to check out her books you can find her at:Website and blog: nancywoodbooks.wordpress.comTwitter: @NancyWoodAuthor

The interview I did for the Alternate History Fiction Magazine is now live on their website HERE.

I was interviewed by Alternate History Fiction Magazine this year. This is a great magazine full of things any alternate history buff will enjoy from poetry to interviews and reviews.

Wanting to know if the ghosts in Ghosts on the Prairies are inspired by real ghosts or if the legends in Legends on the Prairies are based on real myths? Or who inspired the heroines in my stories or even designed the incredible covers?

Be sure to check out the full interview at: AHF. It will later be available on their website HERE.
Available on Amazon 
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Her first time with her feet in the water
She was not impressed that I did this to her.Our family lost our St Bernard this year to old age. She lived an incredible life, but ran through it much too fast. She was with her pack, her alpha male holding her close, when she passed on.

One moment she was small enough to hold in two hands and the next her head filled my laptop.

I must say our home is extremely empty now. In the last twenty-two years we've always had a pet, adopting her when our first two babies were in their senior years. Every time we turn around, she's missing.

Her trying to figure out why my breath
smells like peanut butter.
She was not impressed that I didn't share.Owning a pet is huge commitment. But I have to say she made it easy. What a wonderful writing partner she was, walking companion, pillow, and best friend. And her memory was incredible, making her a great and safe pet for small children.

As a family we watched her grow from her puppy stages. She picked us for her family. It was quite amusing actually, to see her leave her brothers and sisters and just decide she was coming home with us. Our daughter and her bonded instantly and really, there was no choice to be made, she was one of us. We got to visit her many times before we brought her home, and every time was the same. She didn't even look back when she followed us to the car and just jumped in like she'd been planning her get-away and wouldn't leave us go again without her..

I can't say she was much of  a guard dog, because really, she loved people. So if someone would have tried to break in, we used to joke that she would have probably met them at the door to show them around. Of course, the wonderful thing about a giant breed is that they look intimidating and not like the teddy bear couch potato they really are. So we were safe with her anyway. Plus, she made a lot of noise when she got up, because she was so big, so there was that.

Refusing to come down the steps on
 her own.
Really not impressed that I wouldn't even
try to carry her.She had one weakness: cats. Not sure what she would have done if she would have ever caught one, but she would run her short sprint, ears flapping, tail wagging, just happy as can be to be involved in the cliché chase. At first she would drag me behind her, sometimes on my ass. I had to practice letting go of the leash because my instinct was to hold tighter and I pulled quite a few muscles. So, as a family we had training sessions on how to let her go. Not as easy as it sounds, and we still struggle with this. Thankfully, she wasn't a long distant runner and usually gave up chase proud of herself in moments. But! Then every time we passed that spot for months, she'd relive the moment of that chase.

She hated water. Her fear was ridiculous. She wouldn't even go near the bathroom. I finally had to ask other St Bernard owners if it was just her or a breed thing. Turns out many St Bernards hate water. It made baths interesting and I'm sure over the years we gave our neighbours many chuckles since bath day was a family affair that involved bathing suits, hoses, brushes, towels, and a lot of laughter.

Her reviewing my work.
Still not impressed with me.Sometimes, I see a meme where these dogs are running up and down the steps and the St Bernard won't budge on them. Yup. That was her. What a stubborn gal. But never in a bad way. If anything, she just made us laugh.

I think the best was watching her roll in the long grass on our walks. She made it look like so much fun! What a nut.

Our neighbours got a new pup recently, so she spent her last days watching him play. It seemed to amuse her as she tried to rest, content with life, as if knowing these were her final days.

There's so much to write about, so much she did in her long yet too short life, but most of all she helped make our house a home and we miss her. Gosh. We miss her.

Tell me about a pet that changed your life.

I see magic and science blending more and more in stories and it makes for an interesting effect, especially when done well.

I have noticed two moments when it stops working for me. And of course, this is all my own opinion and as always, I welcome your ideas on this.
Magic is explained with science.  I actually let it go for several chapters but then every little bit of magic was explained in very painful detail with science I didn't understand. It wasn't magic anymore it was science from another planet or something, I kinda lost interest. Magic adds a sense of mysticism and creativity that lets the imagination soar. Don't place it in a box.Science is explained with magic. This creates the opposite problem. The world is very real, I am enthralled by the science when suddenly I am told there is no logical explanation for this, it's magic. What? Why? Magic is wonderful. I love magic, but it is not an easy way out of a scientific problem. I like science and the way it makes me think beyond what I know and do, don't make me feel stupid by telling me what I believed possible is now magic only.
So when do I really enjoy it?
When the magic and the science have their own beliefs that never waiver. Each is in their boxes and neither is over-explained.When I am prepared for both. This takes work from the writer as they must build a foundation that explains the science and the magic about to happen.Sometimes this means special trigger words or a specific setting or character for each.Each has its place. I know when to expect hover-boards and when to expect flying unicorns. Neither come as a surprise, and neither need explaining.It's that simple to me. Magic and Science can exist in the same story, but know when to explain it scientifically and when to let magic handle it.
So what do you think about blending Magic and Science to create a Sci-Fantasy? Do you have rules you follow? Any books you enjoyed that blend them well or that you didn't enjoy because of one thing?

Here are a few other articles on the subject:
Blending science and magic I especially like the part about using words that work for each world.
Questions answered I like the answer that says not to get too deep in explaining how these things work and just let us know what it's used for. 

Click here to get your free cookbookSolstice released a fun free cookbook. For those of you who liked tried-and-true recipes, yummy! I thought I'd share it since, ya know, I'm in it. lol. Enjoy.