General News and Updates

March Is Finally Here!

I can’t put into words just how excited I am for the start of March! The temperatures are rising, the snow is melting, and Spring is just around the corner. I’m just biting at the bit to start going on my morning walks, getting back into my gardening, and enjoying the sunshine. Ending this winter season definitely has me feeling a bit cooped up, but thankfully I have some projects to keep me focused going into March!


This is NOT the officially logo.

The biggest project I am working on this month is…A PODCAST!

Oh yes, I have teased you endlessly about this podcast and I finally feel like it’s a good time to give you a bit more information. I’m working on an audio drama podcast with a friend. I am the writer and director; she is the editor and producer.

We have been working on this project for months. We hoped to release it by now, but COVID had other plans. This month, I will be putting the final edits on our script! It’s such a different writing style then I’m used to, but it has been so much fun.

I hope I will have more information in the coming months about this new audio drama… C.R.E.A.T.U.R.E. Control!


My other big “project” is to get caught up on my reading. I’ll tell you what, it was a slippery slope teaching me how to use interlibrary loan through the public library. I have so many amazing books to read, but only a couple weeks to read each one. Normally, that wouldn’t be a problem…but I may have checked out too many books… I had to make a “Due Date” list to keep them in order!

Here’s a sneak peek at what I will be reading — in priority order (a couple of these reviewed on this blog!):

  • “Witch’s Wheel of the Year” by Jason Mankey
  • “Seasons of the Witch” by Gail Duff
  • Herodotus “The Histories” — I’m auditing an Ancient Greek History Class for novel research!
  • “Reclaiming the Wild Soul” by Mary Reynolds Thompson (Book Club Book)
  • “Kingdom of Flesh and Fire” by Jennifer Armentrout
  • “Worth the Risk” by Kate Hawthorne
  • “The Ex Talk” by Rachel Lynn Solomon (Book Club Book)
  • “Prose Edda” and “Poetic Edda” — I’m also taking an Ancient Runes Course!
  • “The Kiss Quotient” by Helen Hoang
  • “Enola Holmes: The Case of the Left-Handed Lady” by Nancy Springer
  • “Barbarian Lover” by Ruby Dixon
  • “Tomb Raider” Omnibus, Volume 2

My record number of books read in one moth is 12… this is 13. Wish me luck!


Those are the two biggest challenges I have this month. I will also be continuing my social media presence, doing tarot readings through my business, and waiting for my editor comments on the last few chapters of “A Second Chance”.

I hope I have more exciting news to come soon. Be sure to follow me on my different social media platforms for special content!

Instagram — great for pictures of my day-to-day life, writing process, and writing buddies (my cats).

Twitter — great for updates on blog posts and other oddball content.

Pinterest — check it out to see links to book reviews, additional pins I create, as well as boards and saved pins that are inspiration for my novels.

Tumblr — welcome to my nerd side! I use tumblr for fanfiction, fandoms, and additional posts about writing and tarot.

Facebook — this is for my tarot business, as a few people messaged to ask about it.

I also release a monthly newsletter with unique content! I give a monthly update, blog and social media highlights, reading challenge updates, book recommendations, and sometimes…sneak peeks for my novel!

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Lastly, you can subscribe to this blog. Doing so means you will receive an email each time I post on the blog (about once a week) with updates, writings, giveaways, and more!

Thank you for all of your amazing support! I can’t wait to share my next story with you. Until then, Happy Reading!

~Shanna Pikora

Book Review

“Ice Planet Barbarians” by Ruby Dixon (Book Review)

“Ice Planet Barbarians” by Ruby Dixon has been on my to-be-read pile for a while now. Ever since I heard about it on the Heaving Bosoms Podcast, I have been obsessed. Let me tell you, it was well worth the wait! You may find yourself wondering what on earth is going on as you see the large, blue, horned man on the cover. Well, it is just an amazing little novel called “Ice Planet Barbarians”.

“Ice Planet Barbarians” is the first of an ongoing series by Ruby Dixon. It follows the lives of women who were stolen away from earth by horrendously evil aliens. When they decide to rise up and take over the ship, it crash-lands on a frozen wasteland of a planet and they have to fight for survival. In particular, the first book follows Georgie, the unofficial leader of their troupe.

This first book follows Georgie, the brave woman who sets out into the frozen tundra after their crash to find help. She finds it in Vektal, leader of a tribe of tall, blue, horned aliens. Between language barriers, cultural differences, and good ole misunderstandings, their first days spent together are rather…unique.

Vektal and Georgie make a fantastic pair, which leads to hilarious interactions and sexy love scenes. I spent my evening laughing my head off while squealing happily over nearly every scene the couple was in. It is a short book and a perfect read for after a long day at work.

However, I must warn you that the beginning of the book is NOT light hearted. It contains sexual assault – from the aliens who kidnap the women. If you are not comfortable with these themes, I would recommend sipping the early chapters or reading a quick synopsis on line and then jumping into book 2! If you are looking for a new series to dive into and want something completely different and unique, I recommend the Ice Planet Barbarian series. Each novel follows a different pair as they find love and connect as a mated pair. If you let it, I bet “Ice Planet Barbarian” by Ruby Dixon will become one of your favorite reads.

Check Out Ruby Dixon’s Works!


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General News and Updates

February – A Time for…EVERYTHING

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I still can’t believe it’s already February! As I dive into the month I have so many projects and to-dos to get started on, I don’t even know where to start. Let’s see…


My biggest project for February (and March) is to edit “A Second Chance”. I’m so excited to be working on this story again. This contemporary romance has been put on the backburners for other projects the last couple months and I’m elated to be able to spend time with my characters again.

I received my manuscript back from RoseLark Publishing, where two amazing editors went through and left so many notes. I was a bit intimidated at first, but I am incredibly grateful to RoseLark. My novel is really coming together thanks to their amazing work! If you’re an author and are looking for a professional editor, give them a look!


The next big project I have is promoting my debut tarot book, “Fae Spreads: 2020”. You may recall seeing my post from last week about its publication! I will be doing a giveaway this coming weekend for those who participated. There is still time to enter if you want to win a free copy! Click here to learn how to enter!

In addition to this exciting time of indie publishing, I was also welcomed as a writer for a local store’s newsletter! I will be doing monthly tarot card reviews and sharing some of my new tarot spreads. If you’re interested in seeing these articles and reviews, you can sign up for the newsletter from Kae Apothecary!

You can also check out Kae Apothecary’s workshops for writing (Magical Writers Night) and tarot (Tarot Talk). You will see me there, especially for the next Tarot Talk, as I am the guest speaker this month talking on how to make your own tarot spreads!

Below is a sneak peek at my introductory article in this month’s edition! As a note, I am writing the articles under my pagan name, Fae Lynn!


My final projects in February are more personal.

I’m auditing a course and taking another one offered privately this season. I’ve always enjoyed learning new things, so I’m really excited to dive into these two topics: Ancient Greek History and Advance Runic Studies. It has allowed me to broaden my mind and reach for new heights in my creativity and understanding of the ancient world. I’ve had such joy, even though the reading lists have taken over my life!

February is also a preparatory period for a few projects I have planned for later in the year: drafting a new novel (or two), working on a podcast, and a few creative projects for friends and family.

As you can see, I have a lot going on this month, but my excitement far outweighs the workload. I’m sure I will have more updates in the future, but for now, we shall leave it here.

I hope you’re staying safe, warm, and healthy! Until next time, happy reading!

~Shanna Pikora

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Giveaways, Novels, Publications

“Fae Spreads: 2020” Now Available for Purchase!

I am so excited to announce my debut tarot book, “Fae Spreads: 2020” is now available for purchase through Amazon! I’m so excited to release this new book. I have been working on it for the past year and I’m so excited it finally came together!

“Fae Spreads: 2020” is a book of tarot spreads I created for my tarot business, Tarot by Fae. All through 2020 (minus January) I created 2 spreads each month. The book not only contains the spreads themselves, but also the inspiration for each spread and reflections on how they worked in readings. In all, this book has a total of 22 new tarot spreads for beginners and masters alike!

If you, or someone you know, is interested in tarot, be sure to recommend this book to them!

Click here to check out the paperback copy!

Click here to check out the ebook!

As always, I will be doing a giveaway through this website for a free, signed copy! To enter to win, you can do each of the following! Each one will enter you into the drawing, do all of them for more chances to win!

  1. Follow this Website/Blog
  2. Follow me on Instagram (@Storiesbyshananp) (Once you follow me, comment below that you did so!)
  3. Follow me on Twitter (@ShannaPikora) (Once you follow me, comment below that you did so!)

I will be doing the drawing February 15th, 2021! Be on the lookout in your email if you are a winner!

Novels, Publications

“A Second Chance” (Chapter 7) is Now Live!

“A Second Chance” Chapter 7 is now available for you to read through Magpie!

I’m incredibly honored to have “A Second Chance” being published in Magpie, a local digital zine. Magpie has a fantastic community of writers and support, so please be sure to take a look at the zine and show your love for the different articles!

Meanwhile, this month I will be doing final edits for “A Second Chance”, so hopefully it will be ready to publish soon! Be sure to keep an eye out for those updates. Until then, be sure to click here to read the latest chapter! I hope you enjoy Raina and Lucian’s story!

Happy Reading!

~Shanna Pikora