Spring is springing! Flowers are blooming, and life returns after the death of winter. How fitting for the end of Lent and the …
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The Craftsman’s Workshop: Slow Productivity and Better Stories
As you may have heard me say by now, my goal this year is simple: don’t be butter scraped over too much bread. In other words, I …
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The Consolation of Fantasy
Storytelling and enjoying fairy tales is not a childish or simple-minded pursuit. It’s a noble calling, in some ways, especially …
Forming the Moral Imagination with Fairy Tales
This post originally appeared on September 29, 2020, on A Light So Lovely. I recently received a wonderful question from one of …
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In a Certain Kingdom: The Daughter of the Tsar of the Sea
Season 2, Episode 8 Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Soundcloud | Ancient Faith Sadko is a young musician. The best in …
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In a Certain Kingdom: The Wedding of Dobrynia, Son of Nikita
Season 2, Episode 7 Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Soundcloud | Ancient Faith Dobrynia, son of Nikita, fresh off …
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In a Certain Kingdom: The Story of Nikita the Tanner
Season 2, Episode 6 Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Soundcloud | Ancient Faith In our second dragon-themed tale, Kiev …
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Introducing: In a Certain Kingdom (Teaser)
I'm happy and excited to premier the teaser for my forthcoming podcast, "In a Certain Kingdom." In that podcast, I will retell …
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Symbols of the Cosmos in Slavic Mythology
Book 5 of my Raven Son series is a plunge into regions we have not yet explored in the series, particularly the land of the dead …
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Monsters from Slavic Mythology, Part 1
One question I get a lot from you readers is whether or not there is a collection of myths, monsters, and stories from Russian …
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A Phrasebook for Travelers from Slavic Mythology
Secondary Belief Part of what makes good fantasy great is effective world-building. The ability to suggest a realistic world, …
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Why Are the Ancient Myths Still So Popular?
Does it surprise you that one of the most popular and critically acclaimed books of the last few years is a straight-up retelling …
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Slavic Mythology Spotlight: Russian Impressionism
Those of you who have followed this blog or read my books know that I have a pretty visual style of writing fiction. Part of that …
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Monsters from Slavic Mythology: Mermaids, Water Spirits, Vilas
Have you ever heard writers say something strange like, "My characters have minds of their own"? They go on to complain that …
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Water in Slavic Mythology (Part 2)
Have you ever seen photos of Russians getting in long lines in the middle of winter only to jump into a cut-out in the ice? Have …
When evil seems unbeatable…
Have you noticed a strange thing about modern culture? People everywhere are complaining that the world is becoming a more evil …
Water in Slavic Mythology: the Giver of Life and Death, Part 1
Perhaps the most mythologized element in Slavic mythology is water. In my own first novel, The Song of the Sirin, the Water of …
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Heroes from Slavic Mythology: Russian Warrior Princesses
As I mentioned in a previous blog post, I’ve been slowly hammering away at a screenplay based on the life of St. Olga of Kiev. …
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