Cari Lyn Jones's Blog
September 4, 2025
WIPs and Worldbuilding
If you have been reading my blog for a while then you know that I rarely have only one WIP at a time. I usually have a main project (currently the third book in my Stolen Away series), a secondary project (the second book in my An Affinity for the Dead series), and a “fun” project – or projects – that serve as a sort of palette cleanser for the other two. All of that was just so I could tell you about another new venture.
I have been working on an epic fantasy for a while now (*cough* thirty years *cough*). Out of all of my works, it is probably the best example of hard worldbuilding. It takes place on an entirely different world with no ties to the one we live in, it has its own mythos, its own creatures and peoples, its own seasons, its own language (not to the level of Tolkien, but certainly there are things there that do not exist here, so they have their own names and words associated with them). As with all worldbuilding, so much of it will never appear on paper, save for a word here or a reference there. But good worldbuilding adds depth to a story, like lemon in a recipe. You might not always taste it, but just having it in there wakes up all the other flavors.
Still, it is a shame that all that information will never see the light of day outside of my notebooks – then again, maybe it could. At least that is the idea that came to me. Not too long ago, I started following the Outrageous Crew on Ream, and I thought, Hmm, this has potential.
Now, I do share some of my worldbuilding on this blog, but I thought wouldn’t it be wonderful if I could share more! And what if I could share it in a format that allowed people to easily be a part of it? And then there it was – Ream Stories – a place to share my stories, and all of what goes into them, plus serials, short stories – a wonderful writing repository!
So about that epic fantasy I’ve been writing… Usually, when a story comes to me, it comes to me in a rush, near fully formed, like a movie playing through my head, and I scramble to commit as much to memory as I can before it fades. But not too long ago, something a little different happened. I don’t know if it was my desire for something peaceful and uncomplicated or what, but I had a picture pop up in my head of a lone woman sitting on the stoop of a stone hut, looking out across an endless ocean at the setting sun.
That picture stuck with me. It reminded me of a place I had built while playing Minecraft years ago, and I kept thinking about the novel Island of the Blue Dolphin. Scenes would present themselves from time to time, but there was no real plot behind them, just little slice-of-life moments. This was a nice change, a palate cleanser between my other WIPs. So I continued to daydream about this lone woman tending an ancient lighthouse on an archipelago in the middle of an endless sea; the creatures she would interact with, the peculiarities of the lighthouse she tended. Where had it come from? What were its secrets? Was there a race of beings that lived in the sea around her? Was there a creature sleeping in the caverns below the lighthouse? Where had it come from?
As time went on, I started to notice some parallels to another world, one that I had been writing in for some time. The more I thought about it, the more my Muse whispered in my ear that it was a good idea. But the lone woman and her lighthouse had no bearing on the story I was already writing in that world! Another whispering from my Muse, “This could be a way to share that little splash of lemon!” A place where the bones of that world could be seen.
To that end, I will be releasing the first episode of The Lightkeeper in September. I hope you all enjoy it, and I am looking forward to hearing what you think!
August 12, 2025
You can do anything – but you can’t do everything.
My husband’s parents used to tell him that, and sadly, it’s 100% true. No matter how much we want to do it all, most times it’s just not possible. I have been feeling that more and more lately.
I love to do so many things, gardening, writing, cooking, art… not to mention those things I only dabble in, like pottery and knitting. But recently, I have found that even those things that I love most have lost their shine, or in some cases have even become onerous. Apparently, I have been stretching myself too thin. My garden, which has always been a place of wonder and imagination, has become an unmanageable chore – especially in the intense heat of the Florida summer. And my kitchen – that place of alchemical delight where separate ingredients come together to create happiness (food is, to my mind, magic) – well, let’s just say I have had a severe case of the “I don’t wannas” when it comes to cooking lately. To anyone who has known me for a while, this might seem like a herald to the end of days.
Probably the most frustrating has been my writing. My muse has been whispering all sorts of interesting things in my ear, but stress and obligations keep stealing them away before they can make it down on paper.
A choice had to be made, and I decided writing was the one I wanted to make.
So instead of the plans I had to expand my garden, it will now become a little smaller and hopefully more manageable. And I have already made cooking and shopping easier by using services like HelloFresh and Hungry Root. Mine has always been a “from scratch” kitchen, so I had expected the change to be something of a disappointment. But so far, I have been pleasantly surprised. Dinners are much easier and faster to make, but still tasty.
I still love doing all the things I have always loved to do, I just had to be willing to compromise, to be okay with making things simpler. I can’t do everything, but I don’t have to give it all up either.
And I can still share pictures!
May 23, 2025
May 1, 2025
I am so looking forward to reading this!
A.J. Lancaster’s books never fail to delight! If you have ever read any of my reviews (or any of my own books for that matter) then you know I am a sucker for stories with beautiful imagery, interesting worlds and endearing characters. Her books have all of these! So you can see why I am excited to read her upcoming book, How To Find A Nameless Fae. It is scheduled for release June 26th, 2025. But if you are like me and can’t wait that long to read it, fear not! You can request an advanced reader’s copy here: link.
If you are new to A.J. Lancaster’s books, check out my posts A series worth rereading and A series worth rereading – again. If you have read any of these books or end up receiving an ARC of How To Find A Nameless Fae, let me know what you think in the comments!
April 20, 2025
Pictures – Into the woods
When I was growing up, I often explored the land around where I lived, usually on horseback. I would pack some snacks or a lunch and go out riding through the pine woods and along the white sandy roads.
Sadly, many of those woods and wild places are gone, but thankfully not all of them. Here are a few pictures of the places that filled my childhood and stoked my imagination.
Riverbend and Loxahatchee Battlefield ParksI included links at the bottom for those who are curious.
You can still see evidence of the people who used to live in this seemingly wild place. If you like history or are just a little curious, here are some links for you to check out.
March 10, 2025
The Seven Sisters’ Limited Editions are here!
Here is the unboxing video
The black and white illustrations are sharp, and the feel of the book is exactly as I had hoped.
Once again, a huge thank you to all of my backers on Kickstarter. This project would not have come alive without you!
February 16, 2025
Pictures – the sky above us (pt 2)
The Cheshire Cat smiling down at me or a moonboat to Dreamland. February 15, 2025
Pictures – the sky above us
I thought it might be fun to share some of the pictures I took last year with all of you. There were a LOT of them! So I decided to break them up by subject matter. You might have seen some of these already if you follow me on Instagram or Threads. Still, a pretty sunrise is worth seeing twice, don’t you think?
February 5, 2025
Down the Rabbit Hole – Tapestry weaving
It has been a long while since I posted a Down the Rabbit Hole! That doesn’t mean I haven’t fallen down a few between now and then. Although, in this case, I have to admit I jumped!
I was researching material for The White Hind, the third book in my Stolen Away series when I carelessly leapt off the edge and found myself falling endlessly, much like Alice.
It turns out that there is a LOT of information out there about the textile arts. However, my focus was on tapestries in particular. How did they work such beautifully intricate pictures into cloth? How long did it take? What were tapestries used for? What tools did they use? – You can see how this went, can’t you? So, I will only share a few interesting tidbits with you here and add the links below in case you too want to jump into this rabbit hole.
Interesting tidbitsThe weavers worked on the reverse side of the tapestry, which means they were working on the mirrored image of what the piece would look like on the finished side.
The images they used to create these designs were called “cartoons” and were full scale drawings of what the final piece would look like. These designs were traced directly onto the bare warp threads or attached to the loom directly. If the weavers were using a high-warp loom, the cartoon was hung behind them and a mirror used to allow them to copy the design.
Threads of precious metal were sometimes used in the weaving, and on occasion said tapestries would be burned in order to retrieve the metal.
Tapestries were not only symbols of wealth and prestige; they also had practical uses such as insulation, door covers, and bed curtains. So, it was not uncommon for them to be packed up and brought from place to place whenever their owner’s household moved.
Since literacy was not common in the Middle ages, the Church and aristocracy used tapestries as a means of education and propaganda.
And this isn’t even a drop in the bucket of information I ran across!
So what does weaving and tapestries have to do with The White Hind? Well, you might have to wait for its release to learn that. I am working on a release date towards the end of this year/beginning of next. Which gives you plenty of time to read the first two books in the series, Lumina and the Goblin King and The Broken Court, if you have not already. If you have, then I can tell you that The White Hind takes place a number of years after the end of The Broken Court and follows Thom, the once broken, fairy-lost boy, now a man full grown, coming home after having been gone for a long, long while.
Links:A quick note – I am not affiliated with any of the sites whose links I have shared below. I make no money if you click on them, and any of the ads or opinions seen there do not necessarily reflect my own opinions or suggestions.
Making a Tapestry—How Did They Do That? – The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Tapestry | Definition, History, Types, Materials, Techniques, & Facts | Britannica
HISTORY OF VINTAGE TAPESTRIES AND WOVEN GOODS – AltPDX
History of tapestries – tapestry weaving – gobelins wall-hangings
a field guide to needlework – Tapestry
Great Tapestry of Scotland – Wikipedia
Apocalypse Tapestry – Wikipedia
The Unicorn Tapestries – Wikipedia
The High Warp Tapestry Loom – Erindale Tapestry Studio
Tapestry looms: Matching loom choice to what you want to weave — Rebecca Mezoff
Tapestry 101-Tapestry Defined – CNCH
The joy of a beautifully made tapestry tool — Rebecca Mezoff
All About Tapestry Bobbins | Weaving Resources
Bobbins: a picture dictionary — Rebecca Mezoff
Old York receives $35K grant to conserve colonial embroideries
Two Nerdy History Girls: Bed Time, Eighteenth Century Style
Enjoy!!
December 23, 2024
A story worth rereading – Gaslight Hades
Really, you could call this post “An author worth rereading.”
Grace Draven has a gift for creating vivid worlds. From the falling towers and fragrant orange groves of Neith to the Redan and its mind-bending horrors, her worlds are visceral and compelling. For me, her stories are not just words on a page but rather windows into those engaging and immersive worlds. The imperfect and relatable characters often have a life of their own, and it is easy to imagine them and the worlds they inhabit continuing on even after the stories end and those windows close.
Gaslight Hades is perhaps one of my favorites. Set in an alternate Victorian England, it is a story of impossible second chances and enduring love… and also airships, Lovecraftian horrors, and alchemical magic. The story is not a long one, but the world is extremely interesting and one I would love to explore further.
As in all her stories, this one is filled with fantastic imagery. The rain of white petals drifting down from the sky to fall on the grave of Lenore’s father, the crippled airships hanging, helpless, above seething waters, the gaping maws of the horrifics looming above them. These pictures, and many more, come easily to my mind’s eye. The scenes stayed with me, drawing me back into the world long after the story was finished.
Also, at this time of year, I feel it would be remiss if I didn’t mention the story, Sunday’s Child. It is a Christmas story, of sorts, with a dollop of Norse mythology, Saint Nicholas of Myra, an exiled elf, and a single mother with an autistic child.
The story itself is a short, sweet love story, but the portrayal of Claire’s son, Jake, is what really draws me to it. Anyone who has read my “About Me” page knows that my daughter is on the spectrum. Had she not been in my life the stories that live in my head would have probably never made it down on paper. I surely would have never published my Stolen Away series.
That being said, I have recently noticed an uptick of stories with characters either on the spectrum or that allude to them being on the spectrum. Mostly, this a wonderful thing to see, but often times I feel it doesn’t paint a full picture. I appreciated how Sunday’s Child differed from the majority of the other stories I have come across. I saw in Jake aspects of many of the children and adults I have known who are on the spectrum, including my daughter. And, I freely admit there were moments in the story that brought tears to my eyes, and not for the reasons you might think. Not to mention that Claire, Jake’s mother, was a very relatable character for me.
I have read Grace’s Master of Crows series, her Wraith Kings series, Entreat Me, and Wyvern many times, but come this time of year, I always find myself taking a moment to reread Sunday’s Child.
Wishing all of you a wonderful holiday season and a joyous, prosperous New Year.
