Winter’s Arrival
Old Man Winter has arrived to my part of the world, albeit with a windy grunt and a soggy grumble. Traditionally winter brings a sense of sleepiness and isolation, with only the embers of hope for Spring’s far-off arrival keeping us warm. However, I think we should approach winter as a season of reflection, not…
Is the Writer Always a Romantic?
Let’s start with the definition of to romanticize, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary: “to make romantic : treat as idealized or heroic.” I would argue that authors of fictional novels and stories are almost obligated to be natural-born romantics. What is a novel if not an idealized telling of scenarios coming from real life. Your…
AI and the modern author: friends or foes?
Many of us have read at least one or two science fiction classics where humans co-exist with robots. One of those is Cal from Isaac Asmiov’s collection of robot short stories. It follows the tale of a robot, “Cal”, who is programmed by his author master to write crime novels after he expressed a supposed…
Woes: Writer’s Block
It can be so easy to start a story, yet so painful, so excruciating to complete it. You can blame ADHD, or lack of motivation, but that doesn’t solve the issue. I believe ideas are like water in a stream, and when they get blocked you have to dislodge them. Sometimes though the dam is…
A rose for a rose
Why is the medieval fairy tale so enchanting even in our modern times? The two key archetypes in these stories are the knight and the maiden. The former represents chivalry, honour, and a pledge to service and duty. The latter: femininity, innocence, and vulnerability. We see their stories play out in distinct ways. The knight’s…
An Empty Beach
The beach was empty. Gone was the hustle and bustle of the summer season. Barbeques, music, children playing. Laughter of little ones was now replaced by the cry of seagulls searching for any remaining scraps of food left behind by departed visitors. A strong wind tossed my hair in every direction, playing with the strands…
A love letter to Americana
Maybe it was watching classic spaghetti westerns with my dad on Friday nights as a kid, combined with my love of horses that naturally led me to appreciating all things “Americana”. Now when I say Americana, I’m not referring to apple pies and balls games, but rather the folklore of the Western United States. The…
My upcoming novel: Fickle ANIMALS
Fickle ANIMALS is the upcoming debut novel by Mika Sterling set to be released in late 2025. Sage Harris has mastered the art of avoidance—until a midnight gas station run where she meets a boy on a motorcycle who forces her to look straight at what she’s been running from. But this isn’t a meet-cute romance, it’s…
Artemis Fowl and how I learned to stop worrying and love all things faerie
While taking yet another box of my junk (ahem…I mean treasures), that I had temporarily housed in my parent’s basement, I came across a book I hadn’t seen in a while, “Artemis Fowl” by Eoin Colfer. For all us 90’s kids that title will definitely ring a bell. I don’t think I read past the…
Origins: Writing Prompt
“As I gazed over the mountain, all the primordial parts of my being quivered as if they had been witness to this fantastic sight before. The cooling apparatus on my suit beeped and shook as it pumped more icy fluid through the strategically placed artificial arteries. If there was a God or Zeus or Shiva…
Excerpt from “The Range or Truth and Death Walk Across the Desert”: a short story
Excerpt from “The Range or Truth and Death Walk Across the Desert”, a short story I am working on. “Our boy lay prone upon a hill, bandana pulled up to stave away the stench of burning, and stale excrement. He took up a pair of binoculars, a second set of eyes, as he scanned the horizon…
The power of literature
In the ever-evolving world, the art of forging genuine connections remains timeless. Whether it’s with colleagues, clients, or partners, establishing a genuine rapport paves the way for collaborative success.
MIKA STERLING | writer 