NADINE BRANDES once spent four days as a sea cook in the name of book research. She is the author of the award-winning ROMANOV, FAWKES, and the Out of Time Series. Her inner fangirl perks up at the mention of soul-talk, Quidditch, bookstagram, and Oreos. When she's not busy writing novels about bold living, she's adventuring through Middle Earth or taste-testing a new chai. She and her Auror husband are building a Tiny House on wheels with their Halfling children. Current mission: paint the world in shalom.

Sometimes Niblings Take Over Your Life.

I have recently adopted a new favorite word: nibling Think “sibling” but instead it’s talking about nieces and nephews, not brothers and sisters. Technically nibling is not in the dictionary…yet. But neither is Oreo Queen. So clearly the dictionary has some priorities out of sync. In short, nibling is the unofficial word for… Continue reading

Farewell Freelance Editing…You’ve Been a Grand Adventure.

Five years ago I wasn’t published, I didn’t even have a book contract, and I was launching my own freelance editing business hardly knowing at all what I was doing. Since then I’ve had the joy and pleasure to work with over 100 authors and watch their careers take them… Continue reading

Dear Singles…It’s Okay to be Picky.

Happy Valentine’s Day. Happy Galentine’s Day. Happy SAD Day (Single Awareness Day) I’ve heard all the different titles. I’ve celebrated each of them at different times in my life. And each one came with its fantastic moments and disappointments. Last year I talked about how Mister Ninja and I do… Continue reading

The Dreaded Question: “So…What Are Your Life Plans?”

The first fifteen years of your life are spent in blissful ignorance. All you have to do is grow up, do the homework, go adventuring, navigate friendships and awkward crushes and different sports.But then…you hit junior year of high school and it happens. For the lucky ones, it doesn’t happen… Continue reading

RECAP: BeaulitfulCon + Writing Retreat with Mary Weber and Sara Ella! Yes, I’m spoiled.

I don’t know if you’re ready for this. Last week I was in California, admiring palm trees, soaking up the sun, wearing flip-flops, and admiring beach sunsets. Meanwhile it was -3°F degrees back home. Ask me if I missed it. Go ahead, ask me. So why was I in California?… Continue reading

So you finished your book…now what?

What happens when you finish that first manuscript? When you complete your first book? When you finally write The End? One of the most frequent questions I’m asked is, “I’ve finished my first book! What do I do now?” (Tweet this.) I touched on this in my most recent newsletter, but… Continue reading