Author Archives: Joan Stradling, Author

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About Joan Stradling, Author

Joan Stradling writes magical, fantastical, dark, mysterious stories. She loves painting, baking, crafting, pet wrangling, and anything else she can fit into her schedule. A passionate believer in the power of books, she still hopes to one day ride a dragon, meet a Hobbit, or discover new worlds by walking through a wardrobe. In the meantime, she imagines and writes about her own incredible worlds and characters–and continues to live vicariously through the adventures in other books. For a glimpse into her world, find her on Instagram (@JoanStradlingAuthor), (@Joan.of.Arts), FB (Joan Stradling aka Joan Stewart), or her website (www.joanstradling.com) Join me on Patreon: Patreon.com/joanstradling

Things Happen

Posted on December 6, 2025 by Joan Stradling, Author

I’ve been a busy bee. Most of my updating happens on the book face (you know what I mean), but it’s getting harder and harder to find content I enjoy over there. Also, it’s harder for people to find my … Continue reading →

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Book Release Day!

Posted on December 5, 2023 by Joan Stradling, Author

So, it’s after midnight on the east coast, and that makes it release day for the Meet Me At Midnight Anthology. If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, you know why that’s such a big deal. If you don’t, … Continue reading →

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Art

Posted on May 18, 2023 by Joan Stradling, Author

So … I post on FB and Insta, but I keep forgetting to post the same stuff here. I’m horrible. So, now you get a dump of photos to show what I’ve been doing. Art. I’ve been doing art. Watercolor … Continue reading →

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Try It Tuesday

Posted on May 3, 2022 by Joan Stradling, Author

I attempted a watercolor of the Aurora Borealis. Mistakes were made, but that’s how things go. There are things I’d do differently, but it’s still a pretty painting. I learned from it, and can hopefully do better next time. The … Continue reading →

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Crossing the Bridge

Posted on April 19, 2022 by Joan Stradling, Author

Life can be messy. So can creating (maybe someday I’ll share a pic of my palette post painting). Both can also be scary. We get used to our lives and routines or our way of creating. Deviating from our norm … Continue reading →

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It’s Okay to Relax

Posted on April 15, 2022 by Joan Stradling, Author

With all the chaos and busyness going on around us, we often forget that we need to take time for ourselves. It’s not selfish to take “me” time. It’s rejuvenating for your soul/spirit/inner light/whatever-you-call-it. We weren’t meant to spend all … Continue reading →

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The Art of Emotion

Posted on April 7, 2022 by Joan Stradling, Author

A dear friend sent me some photos she took while vacationing in Galveston to use as painting inspiration. Yesterday, I used one for this watercolor. It’s not an exact replica of the photo, and it isn’t meant to be. As … Continue reading →

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Where Have You Been?

Posted on April 6, 2022 by Joan Stradling, Author

Almost two years since my last post. I’m the worst. Okay, maybe not THE worst, but I’m terrible at updating. Health issues have been interfering with my writing life. About a year ago, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Medication … Continue reading →

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Writing—Cinnamon Rolls version

Posted on September 1, 2020 by Joan Stradling, Author

Writing is like making cinnamon rolls. To make the dough, you need the right ingredients—characters, wants, needs, plots. You mix these all together and knead into a structured pile of dough—your first draft. Now you wait for it to rise. … Continue reading →

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Goals and such

Posted on July 30, 2020 by Joan Stradling, Author

Sometimes you can’t reach a goal you worked toward. That’s okay. It happens to all of us. You have to rethink your strategy, evaluate the goal, and decide how to move forward. That might mean letting go of the goal. … Continue reading →

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