Felicia Fredlund

Writer. Editor. Reader.

Felicia

Picture of the Month — January 2016

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Stork Hannover Germany July 2014
Maybe this was the one that delivered me to my parents?

The stork is the one that brings babies to their parents. All in the name of not telling children what sex is and how come that creates babies. This picture was taken at the Hannover zoo in July 2014 when I visited Germany to see some of my writer friends.

I thought it would be appropriate to start the new year with a stork. I have thought about what I want to accomplish in 2016 and how 2015 went. And each year arrives blank and full of promise, just like a baby. (No, I’m not saying a baby is blank, but the parents have no idea who the baby will turn out to be, so in a way the baby’s personality is a blank until the parents can discover it.)

The stork have delivered 2016 to you, what are you going to do with it?

Picture of the Month — December 2015

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Tree in Winter Sundbyberg Stockholm February 2014
Captured early morning; the frost/snow on the branches was gone by evening.

A beautiful tree I almost walked past without photographing one morning in February 2014. But right when I was going to dismiss the thought of capturing a picture saying to myself that I could take one later, I realized there probably wouldn’t be a later.

Carpe diem! Or seize the picture!

Picture of the Month — November 2015

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Wolverines Kolmården August 2014
They’re watching us! We let them see us for once and just look at the idiots staring with their empty minds as if we are the circus.

I’ve been to zoos that claimed they had wolverines, but never have I seen them until I visited Kolmården with a friend in August 2014.

The wolverines ran around and played with each other as my friend and I watched, along with a few other zoo-goers. It was a treat. I realize there is a debate whether zoos are good or not. At Kolmården, I’ve seen the happiest animals I’ve ever seen in a zoo, so they are one of the best if you believe in zoos.

Sins of a Mage is Published!

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The third story in the Sorceress Islands series is finally published—Sins of a Mage!

SinsOfAMage-ebook-cover-webThis story follows directly after Burning Bright, the second story in the series. I’m so excited for this one, because the series is really taking shape.

Here’s the description:

Twelve year old Marii cares for the burns on her father, Bridge Guardian Mikolas, after they let a mage’s family escape to avoid execution. No one comes to relieve her hurt father and she can’t leave the bridge unprotected.

On Cyara, one of the islands in the Sorceress Islands group, mages are hated and executed. The bridge is the only way for a discovered mage to escape from the wrath of the Temple. By letting a friend cross, Marii and her father have exposed themselves and their whole family to the Temple’s wrath.

When the Temple finds out a mage escaped, someone will pay the price.

For buy links check out the book page.

I hope you enjoy this continuing tale of the Sorceress Islands!

PS. The next story in the Sorceress Islands series is Petals of Fate. I’m going into the second draft when that project comes up on my To-Do list next. I hope for a release in early 2016.

Picture of the Month — October 2015

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Ikebana Japan September 2014
Flowers as Art, Ikebana

When I was in Japan in September 2014, there were a few festivals while I was there. At one of them, they had an exhibition of ikebana—flower arrangement—aka flower art. The picture above is of one of those ikebana during that festival.

I’ve been a fan of Japan and Japanese culture for more than a decade, but it wasn’t until I took a course called “Japanese Art, Architecture and Visual Culture” that I fully appreciated how much I love many Japanese things.

Scandinavian design is often called minimalist and clean (or words to similar effect), and so is Japanese design if I say so myself. Ikebana is colorful, stylish and temporary. Nothing lasts.

One Japanese architecture book I have (Japanska Rum: Om Tomhet och Föränderlighet i Traditionell och Nutida Japansk Arkitektur by Kristina Fridh (excellent book btw)) says that in Japan a room isn’t a room. A room is the experience you have right that moment as you are in the room. That means that each time you enter or leave a room, it is different. Every time you move, or the light moves (if it has a window), it is a different “room”.

In view of that, ikebana as a master art form makes perfect sense. Nothing is permanent; everything is always different; even art, or especially art.

Picture of the Month — September 2015

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Japanese Garden in Golden Gate Park - San Francisco November 2014
50 shades of green

Exactly a year ago (September 2014), I was in Japan for the first time. I spent five weeks there, and I made it a point to visit several different Japanese gardens while there. This picture however isn’t from Japan. This one is from the Japanese garden in the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California, USA.

I found it fascinating how very much like an authentic Japanese garden it was. Now, there are several kinds of Japanese gardens. I only really know the names of them in Swedish, but direct translated this would be a walking or path garden. It is built for you to wander through. (Unlike Zen gardens which usually consists of raked gravel with large, moss covered rocks. And specific spots to stand/sit and contemplate their meaning.)

Of course there were plants and trees in the garden in California that you wouldn’t find in Japan. There were some redwoods there for example. But the likeness was striking anyway.

Rerelease of Holly’s Opportunity as Snowstorm Delivery

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After a long rainy Swedish summer with August finally bringing some heat, I present the stand alone release of Snowstorm Delivery, the first story in the series Shadow Courier.

SnowstormDelivery-ebook-cover-webHowever, this isn’t the first release of this story. Under the name Holly’s Opportunity this story appeared in the anthology Gifts for Holly.

The idea for this story came about because of one question: What super power would you have?

My answer has always been flying. Nothing else. To soar through the sky under my own power have always been my dream. Despite a certain fear of heights!

For this new release, there is a new description:

Sixteen year old Kora Leon only wants to do her job as a flying courier and work herself up through the hierarchy in the City of Shadows. Living and working in Sector E—the slums of the city—sucks.

So when her boss asks her for a favor of one more delivery in a harsh snowstorm, she says yes.

But more than cold and sharp winds lurk in the dark.

Kora Leon takes the first steps to becoming a Shadow Courier—a courier who balances legal and illegal action to live as free as possible.

Snowstorm Delivery is currently available at several retailers, this link takes you to them all.

Enjoy!

PS. I’ll be back with more release news in the coming months. Many exciting projects is in the pipeline. Maybe you are waiting for the next Sorceress Islands story for example. *wink wink nudge nudge*

PPS. You might have noticed that the series names for the Kora Leon stories have changed to Shadow Courier. My publisher and I thought it would fit better.

Picture of the Month — August 2015

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Tiger from Above - Kolmården August 2014
I see food.

One year ago almost to the date (aka August 2014), a friend and I visited Kolmården—a huge zoo in Sweden. Each animal species have large areas to move through, and the park have even larger areas where many different animal species live together. This trip with an overnighter at the hotel beside the park was my birthday present from my friend. I turned 25 years old in May 2014.

As part of our trip we included a tiger tour that took us as close to a tiger you can be without also being eaten by them. In the picture above you see the tiger on top of a metal bus (or something similar) where all windows have been exchanged for bars. The tiger is so interested in the inside contents because inside is half the guide group and the guides are throwing meat up to the tiger through the ceiling bars.

My friend and I were a part of the second half to visit the inside of the bus. I literally was less than a meter from tigers while inside that bus. We weren’t allowed to be close to the bars because the tigers could reach slightly inside. So below I treat you to a picture of a hungry tiger thinking of eating me. 🙂

Tiger from Below - Kolmården August 2014
Tiger waiting for food with only bars between us.

Picture of the Month — July 2015

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Brumma is a great hugger.

That stuffed animal above is my first possession. Her name is Brumma, and she has been with me since I was little. I got her from my parents. Whenever I feel sad about losing my mother at six years old, I hug Brumma. She makes me feel connected to my mother.

This picture was taken in October 2014.