Don’t give me the look. Some of us like to live on the edge. Some of us don't backup!

In my mid-twenties, I wrote a Young Adult fantasy about a firebird and a pear tree. This one had the elements of the fairy tales I grew up with: Kaschey the Deathless, a talking wolf, a golden fruit, the works. It had a strong opening and a sloppy ending. At 60,000 words it was a touch too short and full of this-is-my-first-novel mistakes. It gathered genuine attention from literary agents and I had too many full requests to count, but it all came to nothing. The book wasn't ready. It’s still sitting in my drawer, deservedly so. (Is deservedly a word? It's going to be a word today.) I don’t think I’ll ever go back it.

A year later, I wrote a spooky Middle Grade novel, a take on Mary Poppins, set in Bath, or Boston. Don't make fun of me. I assure you, the unnamed location was a blend of two cities in my head, and very much fit the mood. It was good. It didn’t have a happy ending. It had an ending that made you feel. (I don’t do hopeless, but I don’t always do Disney-happy, either.) This one had a few concept illustrations to go along with it. The pig and the nanny with a skull were my favorites. This book got the attention of a new literary agent who signed me on. She went on to make exceptional deals for many talented authors. You've read and loved their books. Alas, this business is a tricky one, and even with fabulous representation and a few near successes, every editor that saw it passed. This book will be published one day. It just needs to wait its turn. With a copy-edit and a few more illustrations, it’s very much bookstore-ready.

I started another spooky MG novel with a you-have-just-one-night-or-else ticking clock, and a lot of potential, if you ask me. I had a couple of sketches, and 20,000 words, but I didn't finish it. When I come out of my Ukrainian folklore world, I'll make it happen. I love the main character in this story, but she will need a new name, because I kind of stole hers for the book that hits the shelves today… I don’t know about other writers, but I think naming your characters is harder than it looks.

I wrote two more fantasy manuscripts (one Adult at 90,000 words, one YA at 80,000 words), decided they were no good, and later stripped them for parts: borrowing a setting here, a character there, a plot-line, a magic element — you get the idea.

Somewhere in-between, there was a picture book about fox-sisters that went on submission, but didn’t sell.

Perseverance is the name of the game, am-i-right?

I wrote another Middle Grade novel set in a secluded manor in NH. It had ghosts. It had ghost hunters. More words (80,000), fewer illustrations (a few digital doodles). It was- it IS fabulous and terrifying, and hopeful in the best ways. It’s for every kid who can’t get enough of haunted houses and ghost stories. (Me, I’m the kid.) I have the next two books in the series outlined. It’s an undertaking, and it needs at least one more developmental edit. So, you guessed it — in a drawer, waiting its turn.

When the full-scale invasion tore into my first home, it felt like nothing really mattered. I parted ways with the agent on friendly terms, and took a little break from the publishing world.

I painted more and wrote less. My mind was doing the work that later spilled on the pages. I wanted the world to fall in love with Ukrainian fairy tales, and started writing scenes and snippets that evolved into something much bigger than I expected. I even commissioned a few illustrations to very talented Ukrainian artists, but in the end, decided to do this myself.

And this short spooky tale I wrote and illustrated in a few months was actually years in the making. Twenty years ago, I wouldn’t have been able to complete one illustration per day. Twenty years ago, I didn’t know how to find an editor, how to pace the story, how to structure a chapter. It's all those other stories that made this one happen.

I used a gold sharpie to sign all of your pre-orders. And now it's out in the world for people to read, to judge, to enjoy, to share. Making your writing public is a terrifying thing. It's an exhilarating thing. It's a.. thing. It’s impossible to hide your mistakes. It’s impossible to please everyone’s taste. Even so, holding your own book is a magical feeling. I’m grateful you are here to witness it.

I’m off to ship your pre-orders. Happy Book-Birthday to me!

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- L. Kharkiv

Author-Illustrator

Forging a multi-book universe inspired by Ukrainian folklore.

INTO THE KRYVOLIS FOREST * Aug 15, 2026

www.lkharkiv.com

Into the Kryvolis Forest is out next week on August 15th, and many of you are asking the big question — what is the best way to buy my book?

The truth is, there are no bad ways to buy my book. I win every time. Yes, the commission varies from 79 cents to $10 based on the choice you make, but your convenience won’t get in the way of my success, no matter how you buy my book. Each path offers something I reach for, regardless of explicit financial benefit.

Let me explain.

The most important takeaway is that I’m not just trying to launch one book into the universe and make the most money on it. I’m trying to build a career as an author. This project spans multiple titles, many years, and creative endeavor aside, it looks as close to building a business as you can imagine.

So, what do I win with each following choice you make?

The indie bookstore:

If you want to buy a hardcover with a dust jacket and want to support your favorite indie bookstore — absolutely, go that route. Even if they don’t have it in stock, ask them if they can order it for you. As long as they use Ingram for their ordering (and most bookstores do exactly that), they can get Into the Kryvolis Forest, ship it for you, or have it ready for store pickup.

Order from my local indie bookstore here.

The big name bookstore:

When you order from the big name stores, I get the kind of exposure that builds me a name. Do it. Will I only make 79 cents on that deal? Why, yes. That’s my cut. However, it’s still important for an author trying to build their career to have sales in the big stores. So, if that’s what you prefer, please, don’t hesitate. If they don’t carry it on the shelves yet, they should be able to order it for in-store pickup, or ship it directly to you.

Barnes & Noble

Books-A-Million

The evil empire:

The evil empire has a big audience. It’s convenient for many people, and to make it in this business, exposure matters. A lot. That’s all there is to it.

The Evil Empire

The digital edition:

But what if you prefer reading on your Kindle or your tablet? Buy the digital copy. I get a higher commission when you buy my book to read on your Kindle, Apple Books, or Kobo, than if you buy my hardcover from the bookstore. It’s counterintuitive at only $6.99 vs. a $26.99 price tag, but that’s the truth. Two dollars is two dollars. I’ll take it. The production, shipping, and wholesale discount shrink my commission to mere cents every time. Plus, I will never begrudge anyone enjoying their books exactly the way they want to enjoy them. You should love the book you read, the way you read it. It’s your money, your time. You should be happy with your choice. I offer the digital edition for a reason.

For your Kindle

For your Apple Books * Search Into the Kryvolis Forest on your Apple Books app

For your Kobo

The in-person event:

But what if you are eager to see me in person at an author event? Please come and bring a friend. If you are in the area, you will find me at Bookery in Manchester, NH, November 15th, from 1-3pm (mark the date!). The store will see that you are there. They will be thrilled that the hassle of arranging the signing inside their walls actually pays off, and I actually bring paying customers into their stores. It works best to place your order before the event, and pick it up on the day of, just to make sure they order enough copies. Does it matter to me that my commission is still tiny? (Because it is tiny.) Not at all. Especially as I’m starting on my publishing journey and building a reputation for myself with the local bookstores. It means the world. Visit. Tell me that you can’t wait to see my illustrations on the page, tell me you find Ukrainian folklore fascinating, ask a question. Make my day.

My website:

This is the most financially rewarding kind of purchase. I get to keep almost $10. I will sign it for you. I add a button to a glass jar for every book I sign to see my readership grow, and I will package your book at my desk while the cat stretches on my wrapping paper. I actually make money this way. Money pays for ballet shoes for one kid who insists on loving dance year after year, and for the snowboarding lessons for the other kid who doesn’t know what he loves yet, but he’ll try trombone one season, and skiing the next, and swimming the following year, just to see what fits. Kids. Amiright?

Pre-order your signed copies here.

The library:

When you place a request to your local library to carry my book, and the library makes the purchase, I still get commission, and you still get to read the book. What’s more, other people who’ve never heard of Ukrainian fairy tales will have a chance to read the book. Their interest will grow. They will discover me as an author and will consider buying the next book, or the next. I get to build my readership. You get the idea.

I hope this answers some of the questions. I appreciate your interest more than I can put into words. I can’t wait to share my art and my stories with you, so keep in touch.

Subscribe to my newsletter.

Follow my creative pursuits.

And for the love of folk tales and Ukrainian borscht — buy my book.

Buy my book

Subscribe now

- L. Kharkiv

Author-Illustrator

Forging a multi-book universe inspired by Ukrainian folklore.

INTO THE KRYVOLIS FOREST * Aug 15, 2026

www.lkharkiv.com

I woke up this morning wanting to learn something. Anything. Just an overwhelming desire to take a class. And the obvious question followed: what kind of course should I take? I want to be a better illustrator, be braver and crazier on the page. I want my characters to have more… character, if you will. I want to become better at making book covers, be more productive with my time, learn Italian, make better videos, build an online community, create more complex stories.

Oh, the possibilities.

There are plenty of online platforms with experts on every subject, and after making a list, checking it twelve hundred times, I settled on ink pen illustrations. I am in the middle of launching an illustrated novel in verse (pre-order it right here) and I have four more books in the works. All of them with various degrees of illustrations throughout. I plan on leaning into ink pen skills pretty heavily over the next couple of years, possibly with watercolor, but it’s still up for debate.

And then it hit me. AI can probably do this in 30 seconds, flat. In fact, I know it can. Not flawless, not yet. But it’s getting there. Every picture, every thing that will take me hours of learning, preliminary sketches, planning the page, tossing half-dead ink pens, saving my sketchbook from the cat trying to sleep on it in the middle of the project — AI can do it. And I know people say it can’t do it well, oh... but we all know that it can. Or very soon will be able to. Maybe it still looks recognizable as robot-artwork today, but there is a learning curve, and it will surpass it, until it follows prompts to perfection and completes “ink pen sketches” in nanoseconds. And there is truly no going back from this crash the creatives are facing today.

And I was depressed about the whole ordeal for 12 seconds.

And then I pulled out my ink pens and my sketchbook, and started working on a witch backlit by the moon, just for the fun of it. Because I woke up wanting to learn something, and being more intentional with light in my illustrations is one of the things on the list.

Subscribe to my newsletter.

Follow my creative pursuits.

And for the love of folk tales and Ukrainian borscht — buy my book.

Buy my book

Subscribe now

- L. Kharkiv

Author-Illustrator

Forging a multi-book universe inspired by Ukrainian folklore.

INTO THE KRYVOLIS FOREST * Aug 15, 2026

www.lkharkiv.com

Today — I’m an author.

I don’t know whether this path will last a few years or the rest of my lifetime. All I know is that I will publish five Ukrainian stories inspired by folklore and my heritage. There will be two picture books for the littles, two books for the middle grade audience (ages 9-12), and one adult novel. I know that this will take at least 2-3 years to build, and at this time, my every breathing moment is absorbed by learning all I can about the publishing process. There is a lot. Will I fumble? Make mistakes? Yes, and yes. But it feels good to be in my skin, and I don’t think I could remain stationary in a single role, without reinventing myself now and then.

My favorite part about this process is how complimentary each step of my life is to my path today. Photography helped me create meaningful online content to build audience on social media. Teaching brought me an incredible insight into the kidlit world and what kids actually want to read. The artist part is the most obvious one of all here — every book title I have in the works will be illustrated by hand. Ink pens galore! (I should probably invest in Micron.)

So here we are. And here I am, with a book on pre-order available now on my website, and the launch date for my debut: Into the Kryvolis Forest, a Ukrainian fairy tale written in verse.

Yes, you can pre-order your signed copy today right here.

Till next time,

- L. Kharkiv

Author-Illustrator

Forging a multi-book universe inspired by Ukrainian folklore.

INTO THE KRYVOLIS FOREST * Aug 15, 2026

www.lkharkiv.com

Behold - a map making post.

In my Ukrainian novel in verse (release date: August 15, 2026!) two friends venture on a journey through the terrifying woods. There are monsters, and bones on the ground, and spooky trees stretching crooked limbs in all directions. There are rivers and bogs, and a significant change in the landscape, as they proceed forward. There are encounters with both kind and malevolent creatures, there are riddles and threats, and spells, and houses that may or may not sit still. There is a skeleton moose, for crying out loud.

So, where did I start? I started with direction: my characters move from one point to another — bottom left to the top right corner of the map. Then came the list of all the encounters tracking the path my characters take. I sketched the setting around the encounters and added ground texture.

• Encounters / Creatures

• Landscape: the mountains, the trees, the bog, the rivers

• Texture: forest floor, fields, hills, mountains

Rusalkas and kikimoras didn’t make it onto the map, but I promise you, they make an appearance in the story. If you’d like to learn more about it, check out my website.

And lastly, checking the map to make sure it is balanced with detail and information - and it’s done. I had to account for the page split, since I wanted the image split on a spread, instead of a single page. And it’s done.

This is it. This is how a fantasy map is born. I think the skeleton moose is my favorite detail. And you just wait until you meet the witch.

What do you think?

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-L. Kharkiv

I paint.

My middle grade novel relies on lines and shadows, my art studio is full of bright color. I love large scale mixed media, acrylic, stenciling, sharpies, collage - all of it.

All. of. it.

I can’t count my sketchbooks with birds and landscapes, just like I can’t count the number of my notebooks with plot charts and worldbuilding notes.

And since 2022, Ukrainian everything has engulfed me in its entirety: books, myths, clothes, aesthetic. I paint storks (because it’s a bird of hope for Ukrainians), and wreaths, and fields of sunflowers. Three of the pieces above have sold to support Ukraine at this challenging time. My daughter has claimed the painting with the blue horse for her room, and the last two pieces are presently hanging in my living room.

I’ll be adding two paintings to my Ukrainian series this summer. The first one, Ivana Kupala, is already underway. It’s long overdue to be completed. I’m giving myself July due date. The second one, will be directly connected to my novel, Into the Kryvolis Forest, coming August 15, 2026. Be sure to subscribe for progress updates.

I mean, what if there is a giveaway?..

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Do you live with creative chaos constantly churning new ideas inside your head?

Tell me.

Either way, I hope this week you do something that feeds your soul.

-L. Kharkiv

1. Tell the reader this book is a fantasy/folklore story.

2. Tell the reader this book is written for middle grade reader (9-12 y.o.)

3. Tell the reader this book is spooky and scary.

So, what came next?

I opened up Canva and my sketchbook, and sifted through my illustrations. I picked out a few that would align with my goals and created a mockup of the front cover only. I wasn’t thinking the big picture, yet. I just needed direction. A number of decisions I made that first day stuck: color choices (purple and yellow) and the choice to overlap sketches.

A few decisions went out the window: my favorite fanged deer didn’t make it, but that’s okay. You still get to meet them in the story.

It took examining covers from other middle grade titles to realize something was missing on my cover - and that would be the main characters.

Almost immediately, I chose to go with silhouettes. I used Canva’s place-holders in the mockup, and sketched two kids in my sketchbook, took a photo, and finished the digital design in Canva. Then split them, played around with size, placement, and proportion.

You can see the change and the process from the concept to final step here:

Once my mockup was ready, I went back to IngramSpark and requested a template. This is a necessary step, if you are publishing through IngramSpark. You use their online form to describe the exact book size and number of pages in your book, and you receive a template with a very long e-mail that gives you twelve billion steps to follow, including the very important reminder not to mess with the box for the bar code on the back.

The template arrived in my mailbox and gave me a heart attack.

Once I recovered, I downloaded Affinity, a free software I’m using now and forever for cover design and inside pages layout. After I cried a little bit, because of how overwhelming this whole thing was, I got down to work.

Way back in college I played around with PhotoShop. That experience helped sorting through the basics in Affinity. I understood the layering of images and transparency. I needed to learn how to blend and fade edges to make sure transitions look smooth. This took days. This was painful. This is also where I made minor digital adjustments to the eyes of the creatures on the cover.

This is the part where I really wished I paid someone to do this. But then again, I reminded myself that I plan on doing this over and over again, and might as well learn now.

I wasn’t happy with my original font choice, and was delighted to find BM Kirang Haerang in Affinity. It fit so perfectly, I couldn’t believe it: a bit wonky, a bit choppy, so perfectly folklore, and definitely Middle Grade. This was a happy victory dance moment.

Lastly, I wanted to distort the title without losing legibility and make sure every layer showed up with just the right level of detail. This was also the point where I had a mini-crisis questioning purple.

I may have bugged my family to help me through it: should I keep purple or switch to grey-scale??

Keep the purple, everyone insisted.

So, I did.

Writing text for the flaps - a short bio with social media handles, a short summary, and an invite on the back - was time-consuming, but the least stressful part of the process. The only thing I messed up here was font color.

At first, most of my text was in white, but IngramSpark asks that you use black for small lettering to ensure quality printing, and that sent me back rethinking some of the previous color decisions. Black didn’t show up well on purple. This meant adding more light to the text boxes.

All’s well that ends well. Ta-da!

So, what now?

Now, my friends, I sit and wait for my proof copy to decide whether I need to make any final adjustments.

Did you mark August 15th, 2026 on your calendars yet? That’s the book release day. I still have a million things to do till then, but it’s easier when you are in good company. So, stick around and subscribed, if you haven’t already.

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Have the best weekend and make beautiful things,

-L. Kharkiv

Gibson’s had an explosion of titles easy to miss elsewhere. It was no longer the same pool of bestseller choices you see all the time. The list of authors and stories I didn’t even know about was overwhelming in the best way. It wasn’t just the kids, I had a hard time not piling the books in my hands, snatching one title, and the next, and the next.

A bag full of books? Yes, we did.

Stamped frequent flyer card for 20% discount on our next purchase? We’ve got them, and doubled the points, because it was Indie Bookstore Day.

And did my son stumble on book four of a series he’s been loving by a local author? Absolutely. A huge shout out to Marek Bennett and his book, The Civil War Diary of Freeman Colby, Volume 4. Made my kid’s day. “It’s my first signed edition!” he said, pulling it off the shelf and refusing to let go.

And did I mention their Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) program? That’s right. My kids were invited to peruse their Advanced Reader Copy cart, select a book that hasn’t been released yet, and write a review. Both jumped on the idea. My daughter chose Sama Crushes the Code, by Samaira Mehta, coming out July 14, 2026, and my son chose Creepy Kid, by Caleb Roehrig, coming out August 25, 2026. Both are delighted at this opportunity. As you can imagine, I am too.

Insert: Amaze-Amaze-Amaze!

And did I impulse-buy a graphic novel about Chornobyl, by Yevgenia Nayberg? Sure did. Saw it prominently displayed and snatched it up. Because tomorrow is the grim anniversary, and I want a jumping point discussing this topic. What better way to do it, than reading a book?

And will I be back before school vacation is over to deliver kids’ book reviews and get another bag full of books? Sure will.

In fact, I think I might jumpstart all of our school vacations by visiting an indie bookstore. Traditions are important. I think we just made a new one.

-L. Kharkiv

1. It’s not a splurge, it’s an investment: a good sewing kit.

This should be a common sense item in every house, but definitely, if the sky is falling down. Find a good one, if you still don’t have one. You’ll want variety of needle sizes, a threader, and a seam ripper. I’m not speaking as a seamstress, my skills are questionable, at best. But I have my priorities for surviving nuclear winter. And a sewing kit should probably be #1 on this entire list. Thread, too. Grab a bunch.

2. Hoarding books is justified now.

In fact, in this political climate, the To-Be-Read pile is an asset, not a sign of book-gluttony and procrastination. Kindle is fine and dandy, until the power grid goes down. Then you’ll be really happy your shelves are full of canned beans and stories. And if you have nothing to read in your bunker, you come see me. I’ll trade you romance and thrillers for your chicken eggs. (And when I say trade, I mean lend, just so we are clear.)

3. Sketchbooks and notebooks.

Don’t know about you, but if it comes to it, I plan on documenting the fall of civilization by whatever means necessary. Chicken sketches will intermingle with the tales of fighting with the zombies for the very last bottle of ibuprofen. That means always having a stash of suitable notebooks.

4. Yarn.

Yarn - I’m not saying you need to learn how to knit or crochet right now, only that’s actually exactly what I’m saying. At least get a set of knitting needles and practice the basic stitch. I credit my grandmother for teaching me things I didn’t know I was learning when I was little.

5. Be prepared to explore traditional arts: yes, I’m talking wood carving and basket weaving.

Lucky for me, when I was a teenager I took a basket weaving class. I learned the very basic basics, and those very basic basics should carry me through the learning curve, should I ever need it. My teenager has a book on wood carving showing how to make both, practical and creative items. We have the tools, as well. I plan on sitting in the middle of nuclear desert and carve wooden bears. Just for the hell of it.

6. Invest in paintbrushes, big and small.

Think about it, you can make natural paints (get a book on how to do this, or at least watch a few videos), but quality paintbrushes are tricky to recreate on your own. I’d consider home project kind and smaller ones, when you have to wait 72 hours for the radiation to wane, and yearn for a moment alone with your watercolors.

7. The most valuable prepping of all: skillset & How-To books.

Yes, it’s a separate category than fiction, and it’s a hill I will die on. Well, hopefully not die, but just stand and wave my book-lists. We are all lacking in this department, aren’t we. So, having some literature with clear diagrams might help, when you need to make a dress out of scraps.

8. On practical considerations…

The reality is, some supplies do not keep well overtime. And by the looks of it - checks the newsfeed - you may want to consider getting a few extras. Make sure if you have natural fibers you are storing them safely. Certain paints might not do well either. Be mindful with your hoarding.

Regardless of where your creative endeavors lead you, stock up on bandaids and make beautiful things.

-L. Kharkiv

And decided to take the leap.

So, here’s a list of everything I’ve done in the past 14 days, since making that decision. If you are considering self publishing, you can download attached PDF, print it out, stick it on the fridge, and play along with your own manuscript. The link is at the bottom of the page.

1. I did the math. I used IngramSpark calculator to figure out exactly how much it will cost me to print each book, how I need to price it to make sure that even with 55% wholesale discount (standard and expected for bookstores ordering titles to place on their shelves) I still make a tiny profit.

2. I purchased a domain and published my author-website. Ta-da! You should click on it and see how it’s organized.

3. I realigned all my bookish social media to suit my launch as a Middle Grade author-illustrator, publishing under a pen name. My Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Substack are all connected now. You should definitely follow me everywhere.

4. I bought ISBN numbers. You know, those 13 digits above the bar code on the back of the books? I’ve got them. You can purchase your own at Bowker.com.

5. I filled my calendar with due dates for manuscript revisions, NetGalley ARC availability, catalog placements, Kirkus review submission, bookstores outreach, podcasts that cover my niche - the works. THE WORKS.

6. I downloaded Affinity Studio - a free software I’ll be using to create the final layout of my book.

7. I made an account at IngramSpark (a company I’ll be using to do all of my printing, and some of my distribution.) I will be doing the same for KDP (Amazon) and Draft2Digital for the ebook distribution.

8. I joined IPNE (Independent Publishers of New England) and IBPA (Independent Book Publisher Association). Why? Discounts for marketing services, networking opportunities, and educational resources for the indie authors.

9. I’m working on the cover. I’m scared to death to mess this up. But I’m working on the cover.

10. I’m ordering samples from IngramSpark (you do have to create a proof version you want to consider and pay for it yourself) to see how my illustrations will look on different papers, with matte vs glossy jacket cover, because when your book has 100 ink pen illustrations, you want to do this right.

I hope you find some time to make wild beautiful things today, and tell me all about it in the comments.

-L.Kharkiv

P.S. The promised PDF can be found here.

Things to know about Guk/Ghook/Гук:

NAME: Guk/Ghook/Гук means loud noise, ruckus, often associated with rushing water. Ukraine has a number of waterfalls that include “Guk” as part of their names. In this particular case, it is possible he is named for the exclamation Ukrainians make when calling out to a friend from afar, “Aaah-oooh”, and it resonates with the sound of the name - Ghook/Guk.

APPEARANCE: Guk is about the size of a squirrel. He has a bushy beard and hermit-like attitude.

• Guk doesn’t like humans and keeps to himself. If you intrude on his territory, Guk will lure you into the deep forest, by calling out and pretending to be someone you know, as he pulls you into the frozen woods.

• In the colder months, Guk takes care of the forest creatures and leaves small piles of seeds, nuts, and dry berries to help them through the cold season. He even houses injured animals in his little hut and nurses them back to health.

• Guk is related to Leshiy - guardian of the forest. Some say he’s Leshiy’s only son, some say Guk is Leshiy’s tiny brother.

Thanks for walking through these woods with me. Stick to the path on the way out. Till the next time.

-L.H.

Can’t get enough of Ukrainian folklore? Check out my short story about One-eyed Lykho, the misfortune hag.

Behold — five little triumphs

1. I sketched seven illustrations in my magical forest sketchbook.

2. I started writing a Middle Grade novel in verse. I have no idea how it happened. I have no idea what I’m doing. (In verse? Really?) But last Thursday I took one step forward and I’m too deep into these woods to turn back now.

3. I put away a gigantic pile of laundry. (Loathe, hate, despise. I could have painted a cat instead. Bleh. Blah. Gag!) Done.

4. I set up a working schedule for the next six months for my top-three creative projects. Who needs to keep up with real life!? Let’s stir up the magic in our stories, amiright?

5. I started listening to Redwall, by Brian Jacques and I’m completely smitten.

On sketchbooks

Since I’ve committed to sketching 100 images illustrating the magical forest in my story, I’ve zeroed in on the topic of an image as an illustration. This exercise is doing great things to my brain. It forces me to sketch a story, not just a picture. I want you to have “huh!” type of reaction to each character, each image that you see. Am I there yet? Not quite. But I know exactly what I want to improve, and like anything else, I’m willing to put in the time to practice the skill. Working on one-per-day illustration is an intense pace, but it’s teaching me exactly what I want to learn, and I intend to keep on working.

If you missed it, you can find more on this project here: Step inside my Magical Forest Sketchbook.

On writing a novel in verse

I woke up last Thursday and couldn’t stop typing. The idea crawled into my head in the most cliche way possible - yes, I dream it. One thing led to another, and the words just happened. I’m averaging 500 words a day, and will reach my end-goal by mid-April. I had no intention of adding any of this to my plate. Yet, here we are. As I’ve mentioned before - I’m deep into these woods.

Some might say it is a cardinal sin to start a new manuscript before completing the present work in progress, and I would vehemently advise against working on two books at the same time. The only reason I’m allowing myself this diversion is because my Ukrainian Adult Fantasy and this Middle Grade novel are set in the same world, so I’m telling myself, it’s just a 20,000-word exercise in world building. And that’s allowed. Right?

Laundry, Laundry, Evil is thy name

Why is housework so unreasonably, constantly, annoyingly in the way of the creative process? I don’t want to fight it. I want to embrace it. When not in a rush, I actually enjoy cooking. I have a thing for making the bed each morning. But the rest of it? The laundry bit? Sorting the pile that sat on that chair in the bedroom for three weeks straight? The wild birds and field mice left me to my own devices. I had to put away the entire thing all by myself. I’m calling it an accomplishment this week.

On setting creative goals

I love numbers. This might be less obvious, considering all the words and art in my life, but you absolutely must know this about me - I love numbers and calendars. The illustrations' series and the two manuscripts feel overwhelming and exciting at the same time, so I set up my calendar with weekly goals. Now between the dentist appointments and the family birthdays, I have a clear reminder of how many words need to hit the page daily, to ensure I maintain steady progress on each project.

On Redwall, by Brian Jacques

I have a special fondness for animal stories. This goes for both, realistic and anthropomorphic animals. I’ve been looking at the cover of Redwall for decades, always pushing this book to the back of my list. Lo and behold, the kids and I had a trip coming up and I pulled Redwall audiobook out of a hat. And it is absolutely lovely. What a perfect tale of courage and friendship, and one brave little mouse defending Redwall Abbey and fighting back against a horde of terrifying rats. Plus, the story has hedgehogs. And a badger. It’s impossible not to fall in love with every single side character in this book.

Do you have any tiny triumphs to share? Wrote a poem? Tried a new recipe? Read a good book? Made yourself tea and sat still for a moment? Do tell. I’m all ears.

Stay wild and make beautiful things,

-L.H.

But first things first.

What is 100-Day Project?

Lindsay Jean Thomson launched 100-Day Project to inspire creative beginnings, and now people all over the world commit to making something for 100 days straight. They start February 22 and make something every single day until June 2nd. Some choose a theme, some go rogue and simply give their inner child 15-30 minutes each day to play with the art supplies. I learned about it two days before it launched in 2026, and knew exactly what my project was going to be about.

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The Magical Forest Sketchbook

Ink pen in hand - new sketchbook on my desk (any excuse to buy a new sketchbook, really), and here I am, sketching away. The Magical Forest theme was easy to decide on. I am working on a fantasy manuscript and decided to illustrate it. I chose not to focus on my main characters for the 100-Day Project, only because I worried about the perfection-paralysis. I would want each face, each gesture to be perfect, and I’m still working on my portraiture skills. And let’s be honest - I could not afford hesitation with 100 sketches on the line. I needed something more playful. Something I wouldn’t overthink. Enter - the magical forest.

I gave myself permission to illustrate any part of these woods, no matter how big or small it is in my manuscript: any creature, any encounter, any part of its landscape or inhabitant is fair game. What can I tell you about this after working on it for ten days straight?

Even for someone who makes it a habit to write and paint as a part of her routine, I find this challenging. We all need breaks, we get sick, have tough days, over-scheduled Mondays, sick kids, pesky cats, friends’ commitments. I managed my ten sketches with mild cheating (who’s gonna tell, huh?). Here are the three things that helped me stay on track.

How to stick with the 100-day project art challenge?

1. I plan ahead. On Sundays, I brainstorm and complete loose 60-second pencil sketches for the week ahead. Deciding on the subject and planning the composition takes a lot of mental energy, and doing it in one sitting separate from the intense work with the ink pens helps ease the load.

2. Staying connected with the creative community helps my inspiration. I see people working on quilts, and tiny collages, and abstract watercolors, and I love it. Scrolling through the project updates every morning is like a jolt of sunshine to start my day. Now, this doesn’t mean I’m giving up my morning coffee, but there is nothing quite like imagining people hunched over their desks with paintbrushes while I’m hunched over my own desk with my ink pens.

3. Throughout the week, I work on 2-3 sketches at a time, jumping back and forth between the pages. This gives my brain a break between intense stippling sections. (Have you seen the bog hills in my kikmora sketch? I needed to work on other things, just to save my hand from the carpal tunnel.)

   

Are you reading this and thinking, “Aw, I should have joined the 100-Day Project!”

I’m going to sit with you here - no one is looking over your shoulder right now. You can join whenever you want. You can join for one week and see where it takes you. you have absolutely nothing to lose. This is not homework, and no one is giving you a grade for it. And even if you are reading this in May, with only 20 days on the calendar left to go, I’m going to encourage you to listen to your inner “Aw, I should have joined the 100-Day Project!” and start something the moment you are done reading this article.

Why? Because by the end of it, you might have 20 poems, 20 short stories, 20 sketches, 20 doodles, 20 post cards, 20 sticker designs, 20 bookmarks, 20 - somethings that wouldn’t have existed, if you didn’t join.

Taking on an art challenge doesn’t have to be intimidating. It can be inspiring, and life changing. It can bring a creative community layer into your life that builds a new habit and launches you on a completely new creative path.

She stood inside the abandoned cottage by the broken window, watching, waiting for the cart to make its way downhill. Loose strands of hair twisted like clumps of old yarn down her shoulders, and a long bone necklace made of teeth caught the dying light from the window. Gaunt and unkept, Lykho fixed her only eye on the cart, waiting for the struggler to come seek shelter in her tiny cottage. She cleared this home two years ago and was long due for a guest, and the rain delivered him straight to her.

Water spilled from the bruise-stained skies into the spring ground, and along with the melted snow made the road impassable.

The man must have made a mistake. The rest of the locals knew to stay away from this path. They abandoned it long ago, and even the stray dogs avoided it best they could. Lost cows never wandered to the pond behind the gardens swallowed by the weeds. The cottage stood to the side like a hermit with its peeling walls and a caved in roof.

But there was the rain. And here came the cart. One wrong turn, and Lykho finally had a visitor.

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She blinked at the cart, and the wheels slid. Even though the axel didn’t snap, a thin crack splintered along its length, sending the grey mare tripping into the side bank.

The man cursed and jumped into the brown grass to unfasten the horse from the cart. By the time he was done with the straps and the yoke, he was covered in cold mud. There was nothing to be done in this freezing mess of the weather, so he left the cart and the wares covered with a tarp stuck in place, and pulled on the mare’s halter, dragging her towards the old barn peeking from behind the cottage.

***

The thatched roof began to leak ages ago. When Lykho first arrived to this house, she blinked at the barn once, and the straw came apart, yielding to her magic and the elements. Back then, the cottage was still filled with warmth and smelled of buttered breads and hearty soups; the embroidered curtains filtered the sun onto the floor, and two little boys were still alive. And every night the cat still licked a bowl of sour cream clean. The ever-smiling mother hummed happy melodies and the father played cheerful tunes on the sopylka he carved himself out of elderberry branch.

Lykho made good and certain the cough latched onto that family and lasted past the harvest season into the winter months. How delighted she was, when the man of the house choked in a coughing fit on a bread roll. How thrilled she was to discover three cold bodies one morning all laid up in a single bed next to each other.

She missed having someone to torment.

***

“Anyone?” the man knocked on the door.

Lykho faded into the shadow, blending in with the walls.

The man stepped inside, and the water ran down his jacket in thick rivulets collecting into a small puddle at his feet.

He didn’t see Lykho, but he sensed something amiss about the house. Something more than the cold abandon, and still, he didn’t turn away. Where would he go in this weather, anyway?

What the man saw was a dusty old room with dry flowers inside a clay hlechyk, four large flour sacks by the door, and blankets folded neatly on a cold bed. The sopylka on a windowsill drew his attention, and he crossed the room leaving wet footprints, to pick it up. He wiped the dust off of it and held it to his mouth. Some childhood whimsy made him blow, forcing a shrill melody splash out of the instrument.

He set it back on a windowsill, found a candle, and struck a match.

The dancing shadows flickered across the walls as he readied for bed. His bones ached after spending the long day in the rain, and he was glad for this tiny cottage in the middle of nowhere to keep him dry.

He took a bite out of the last cooked potato and mumbled a prayer to Veles. He used one blanket to wipe himself dry, and another to keep himself warm. As he tried to fall asleep, he could feel cold air on his neck, like someone was breathing over him, watching him, standing bent over him right by the bed, and for a moment, he considered getting the mare out of the barn, climbing bareback and bolting through the cold night straight across the slippery fields.

Madness, he thought to himself, and forced his eyes closed.

He dreamed of his own happy home. His wife waiting for him. His old father, toothless and kind who was watching over the baby goats born early in the spring.

That night, however, he barely slept. He woke up more than once with his heart in his throat. He turned and twisted, and fixed the blankets, listening to the never-ending rain snap against the window, and fell back into oblivion only to wake up again and again.

When the morning finally arrived, and the spring storm had passed, the man rubbed his face and sat up in bed. The sacks by the door were open now just a little, and four skulls peeked with unseeing sockets straight at him.

He forgot his jacket, bolted out of the door, got the spooked horse out of the barn, and pulled her back to the cart. The terror fed his strength and he lifted the cart out of the ditch, and examined the axel, panting and sweating. The crack was long, but the wood still held on. It would have to do until the next settlement. So, he climbed into the cart and snapped the reins.

The horse threw her head in protest. The mare’s eyes opened wide with white rim showing all around. Only the horse knew that the monster tucked herself away under the tarp, heading for her new home.

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Lo and behold, with the thick yarn and a giant hook I made a semblance of a square. Since I had little to no instruction on how to connect things and was too free-spirit to bother with counting stitches, my square was less of a square, and more of a trapezoid. This didn’t stop me from making another patch, and another. I repeated this experiment fourteen more times, until I had fifteen squares.

Well. Almost squares.

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Pull yarn through - connect two squares, pull yarn through - connect two squares. I stitched the whole thing together, and voila - one terrible blanket was born. Since I used thick yarn, it turned out to be a good size project, and today it lays nice and heavy on my lap. It’s nearly 15 years old and I’m absolutely in love with it to this day.

I approach most creative endeavors in a similar manner, and refuse to be a tortured artist. I don’t have to create a masterpiece every time to feel satisfied. My sketches are imperfect, my stories might seem disconnected, my posts have typos. Do you know how terrible the first fantasy manuscript I wrote was? You don’t want to know.

I set deadlines for myself and fail to meet them. Constantly. But what some might deem as complete fiasco and a reason to stop, I embrace and keep going, and maybe between uneven stitches and messy story drafts, and unfinished sketchbooks, there is a glimpse of glorious art that makes me happy and proud.

This freedom, to love your creations in its imperfection, to find beauty in uneven lines and disproportionate portraits, is probably the greatest secret to life I hope to pass on to my children, if only because the chaotic messy parts of life are impossible to avoid.

I choose to embrace the uneven lines and disheveled stitches, not suffer for it. When the sentences fall flat and the sketches don’t come out the way I intended, I choose to keep going, and I hope you do too. People are so terrified of failing at art, they stop creating, and I hope if you recognize yourself in this mirror, you change something today. You pick up a paintbrush, you write a story, you sketch a vase, or a very disproportionate cat.

There is enough pain in the world, to bring it into the one part of life that is undiluted joy. So, what’s the point of my terrible blanket story? The point is to beg you to make something, not because you want to make a museum-worthy masterpiece, but because waving a paintbrush, or pulling a wavy line with an inkpen across the page is a fun game to play. Take this as your call to action.

Make bread. Make blankets. Make things you’ve been always wanting to make, even when you fail, pick up that crochet hook and make another imperfect square.

Make art.

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Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott

This was the very first book on writing I’ve ever read nearly two decades ago, and I will still recommend it to anyone who wants to write a book, but doesn’t know where to start. It made an impact on me. It was probably the first time I realized - all novels are written one tiny bit at a time. One word at a time. The largest tome in my library was just a single word on the page, before it became a gathering of characters who stole my heart. It also made authors feel incredibly human. My copy is marked up with underlined sentences and notes in the margins. I still pick it up now and then and flip through my favorite parts, to remind myself to keep going.

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Save the Cat! Writes a Novel: The Last Book On Novel Writing You’ll Ever Need, by

It’s a book that provides a simple formula for storytelling, and if you are just starting out, and you need someone to tell you exactly how to plot a novel, this here is a classic. If you ever wonder: how long should I wait before I introduce the main conflict? How to maintain momentum in the story? How to pace the unraveling of the plot? Save the Cat provides a very straightforward map. Can’t you just do your own thing? Is it too structured? I’m sure it is, for some people. But if you crave direction, or simply need a launching point for your story - this is an excellent option.

Writing 21st Century Fiction: High Impact Techniques for Exceptional Storytelling, by Donald Maass

To date, this remains the most practical book on writing I own. I used it at one point or another with every single manuscript I’ve written. I can open to any chapter in this workbook and go down the checklist of suggestions on improving a single scene, depth of character, strength of conflict, and walk away with meaningful improvements. It’s brilliant in its simplicity. Each one of my stories benefited from the experiments listed in this title, and if you have to get just one book on the list - get this one.

Traits Thesaurus series, by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi

These series are books of lists. And writers love lists, amIright? Don’t answer that. I know I’m right. These series take one trait a time, and dissect it as a list of physical signals, internal sensation, and even a collection of verbs that can help you demonstrate it in your own story.

Romance Your Brand: Building a Marketable Genre Fiction Series, by Zoe York

I no longer want to simply publish one book. I want to build a career, and I needed something that talked to writers with long-term goals in mind. In fact, I see a double trajectory for myself: horror-mystery track under one pen name for Middle Grade readers, and High Fantasy series set in Ukrainian folklore and tradition under another pen name. Romance Your Brand offers support on how to plan your series and how to build your name.

On Writing, by Stephen King

Watching someone else’s journey into the life of a successful author has always fascinated me. No, publishing no longer plays by the same rules as it did when Stephen King climbed up the bestselling ladder. But this memoir with a heavy sprinkling of writing advice was just what I needed when I was writing my first book. It gave me confidence to try and do the crazy thing like writing a novel, and it lifted the veil hiding the lives of successful authors. This is where I learned to treat each chapter like a mini-short story. This is where I understood the importance of starting in medias-res. This was a stepping stone that pointed me into the direction of embracing my inner Jo March.

Yes, there are many other excellent books on writing, and if you are looking for some gift ideas for my next birthday, you can’t go wrong with getting something on this topic. I’m not spoiled. I’m just saying, in case you are wondering.

Up next: I’m working on my very first Slavic mythology creature-feature. Expect it to pop into your mailbox by the end of the week.

Facebook - love the friends and family updates, and the ability to gather and spread both, the local and the worldwide news quickly. But, oh so intense at times.

TikTok - definitely entertaining, just incredibly fast paced. I partake as a consumer and a creator, and usually walk away from it in a heightened mood.

Patreon - I tried it, but couldn’t figure out how to connect with other creatives. It’s very possible the problem is me, not the platform. Somehow, I found myself in a vacuum there.

Instagram - lovely, but requires forethought to participate, and is starting to feel too curated. Too much of the same. I want to change something about my own account, but unsure what. I find myself lost on Instagram at this time.

Twitter - I quit a while ago. The flooding of bots and the exodus of publishing industry made it too noisy to sift through to get to the honest news and the real people I’m actually interested in following.

Substack? Pure rest every time I step into it.

I came here, because I’ve been told this is where the publishing-folk hang out. This is where the writers live. This is the place to be, if you want to connect with the creative community. And - wow. Did it deliver.

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I scroll through the images of sketchbooks, and honest thoughts, and deeply human snippets of existence. The projects we hide, the ones we are too scared to flood our friends and family on Facebook with, because we are afraid they will find us too obnoxious, too self absorbed, too “who does she think she is? a writer?” All of those posts have home on Substack.

Non-trendy books? Substack. A stream of simple imperfect embroidery? Substack. A view from your window with a reflection on a difficult day ahead? Substack.

Random morning coffee thoughts about superhero lore, knit blanket you are working on, that photo of the sky you took on your evening walk, a quiet short story you wrote that still needs tweaking, but you want to share it anyway, the photo of a snow swallowing up the trees - Substack.

Yes, you do need to tell the algorithm what you like by interacting with the posts and accounts you enjoy seeing. Tell the person you had the same hidden thought, struggled with the same self-doubt, and the Substack will do its magic and connect you with the right crowd. But I mind it less on this platform. I peek into the people’s hearts, and I like what I see.

I hope you don’t change, Substack. I hope you keep your soul in this ever changing AI world.

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Hello, Substack! After three full weeks, I’m finally getting around to meet-the-writer post. Let’s agree, there is no better way to learn about a person, than by going through their stuff.

Behold - my stuff.

1. A stash of books on writing: Now that my feet are firmly planted in my Writing Era, I intend to make this happen and see it through. Self-publishing no longer scares me, so 2026-2027 are entirely dedicated to seeing my Ukrainian fantasy manuscript in print. I hope you subscribe and follow me along on this adventure.

   I’ll bring a cat.

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   Side note: despite writing multiple manuscripts, reading voraciously across genres, and being an active member of the writing community - articles (a, an, the) is something I’ve never mastered. Neither my first, nor my second language have them. On the surface it might look like I know what I’m doing, but English forever remains my third language, and I do make mistakes native speakers do not. Proceed with caution.

2. The Rottweiler mug: I use it almost daily, and it is an homage to the beautiful souls I had the honor of having in my life - Ella and Blazey. It’s been years since they passed, and I still miss them terribly. If you’ve ever shared your life with a dog - you know.

   

3. The embroidered house: is easily the most precious thing I own. My grandmother made it stitch by stitch, and my grandfather framed it some 60 years ago. It traveled across the ocean and landed on my bedroom wall in New England, where it shall stay till the day I die.

   

4. The space shuttle box: my kids are the absolute greatest joy and the most hilarious challenge. They drive me crazy. I will die for them. Dirty socks, and legos, and schoolwork papers, and ballet shoes are the things that fill my hours. But this here craft my son sold to my daughter for 75 cents. And if that doesn’t give you some idea what my day-to-day looks like, nothing will.

   

5. A Vyshivanka shirt: Ukrainians say that our family history and heritage is stitched into the sleeves. I can’t exactly explain it, but I feel it to my bones. I’m convinced vyshivankas hold uniquely Ukrainian magic.

   

6. A sketchbook: I have many, but this one I brought to Ireland on our honeymoon waaaay back when. It’s filled with quick sketches and the happiest of memories.

   

7. Let’s get political: Because it’s 2026, and you want to know where I stand. This is the only thing on the list that’s not an item, but just in case you are wondering: I don’t care if my kids read about two dad-penguins raising an egg, I want all Epstein files released with nothing but the victims’ names redacted. Even though I’ve read War and Peace twice as a teenager, seeing my first home under constant threat of Russian missiles caused me to develop an acute allergy to Russian literary classics and ballet. I had no issues with Bad Bunny performance, and I believe that reading is political. I think that covers it.

   Are you still here? Lovely!

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8. Ceramic bowls: I took a pottery class last year and made this set. It’s my favorite thing to use for meals. They are the perfect size and color, plus - horses. I’m taking a little break from my barn-time at the moment, but rode regularly for the past two years. It’s not something I’m great at, but it’s definitely the most soul-healing hobby right up there next to writing.

   

9. An easel: I paint. In spurts. Sometimes nonstop, sometimes, not for many months. But I’ve done the art show circle, the art societies, I played around with watercolor, acrylics, mixed media, and endless ink pens. I still do commissions. I’m working on series of character illustrations for my current manuscript and this is a work-in-progress map of the world I created in my head. The goal is to finish it by the end of 2026.

   

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   Bonus “item”: Cat. Because he is glued to my side at home, and he is my bestest creative buddy, and deserves a little spotlight.

   

   Thank you for sticking around! Don’t hesitate to ask questions and make your own quick introductions in the comments. I’ve been enjoying my time on Substack and hope to build my own little corner amongst like-minded souls.

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1. First of all, I make sure that the sequence of events makes sense: this happens first, this happens next, this happens last. It sounds simple, but getting lost in a pile of characters and happenings is easier than you think. Especially, when you are juggling six points of view. (That’s me. I’m juggling six points of view.)

2. Then I look back at it, and see if the events I have laid out are connected in the best possible manner. Based on some feedback, I am combining certain chapters, and rearranging others, pushing some key scenes toward the beginning of the story. I delete scenes that don’t seem to have a solid purpose, and redistribute the bits of information that needed to be saved to other parts of the manuscript.

3. Adjusting goals and personalities is up next. When you finish the manuscript, you know your characters and their goals much better, than when you start your manuscript. This means, going back to the beginning and adding a splash of color to the personalities you introduced. I find this the most challenging part of writing. I want the reader to love, and hate, and feel things about the people on the page.

4. Worldbuilding is by far my absolute favorite element of fantasy. This means diving back into my draft and fixing the map (I ended up sketching it half way through and adjusting it as I went), adding creature encounters, enforcing the rules of magic, layering historical events and clarifying political structure of the governments I created.

5. And lastly, I’m working on dropping hints, enhancing theme messaging, and stashing easter eggs for the reader to hunt.

6. Adjusting for cultural nuances: this particular manuscript is written for the American reader, but with Ukrainian diaspora in mind. I want both to be able to connect and get something special out of the story. I want both to feel like I’m talking directly to them.

And since I live in the real world, somewhere in between, there are kid’s dance practices, and skiing lessons, and cleaning up cat’s throw up, and getting over three weeks of a monster-cold, and putting away our Christmas tree (it took me well into February if you must know), and reading to keep up with the new releases, and sketching characters, because I’m considering adding my own illustrations to go along with the story, and, of course, writing Substack articles to share my writing process with you.

Do you have any tips for the revisions process? Do you love it? Hate it? Have questions about it? Tell me everything.

Next Sunday, I’ll give you a list of five books on writing that helped me gain skills and confidence as a writer. Subscribe, and follow me on my publishing journey.

-L.H.

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So, I am a writer.

I no longer need anyone’s permission to say so. That being said…

If you have doubts and need someone to hold your hand through this, let me be the one: as long as you write, you are, indeed, a real writer.

Absolutely none of the following excuses stand a chance…

• But I never get paid for my writing.

• But I use em-dashes and colomns and everyone thinks it’s AI.

• But my grammar is messy.

• But no one ever reads it, except for the cat on my keyboard.

• But I only write short stories and none are finished.

• But I just keep a diary.

• But I have nothing published.

• But it’s only character sketches.

• But I only write letters I never send, because my therapist tells me so.

• But I only write poems.

• But I only write book reviews.

• But I only ever write about vampires smooching.

• But I don’t like any of my work.

• But I only write by hand.

• But I only write on the typewriter.

• But I am self publishing.

• But I never took creative writing classes.

• But my neighbor read it and said it was stupid.

• But it’s not as good as Jane Austin.

• But all of my short stories get rejected, even by the shoddiest online magazines that charge money to submit to them.

• But my dog ate the last draft.

  

  All I can say to you is: get over yourself, Writer. You are in the club, and there is nothing you can do about it.

  And if you want to follow along my publishing journey, click and subscribe for weekly updates. Next Sunday, I’ll tell you what my revisions on a 120,000-words manuscript look like. Bring chocolates and a tissue box. This is a painful process.

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