DESCRIPTION For more than a decade, the people of Alcyone have lived under the crushing rule of the Meropan patrollers, stripped of food, resources, and freedom. Yet the darkest tribute comes once a year, when ten percent of their thirteen-year-old daughters are taken as slaves on the Day of Procurement. Deor has always felt a quiet fire against this injustice. Haunted by dreams of other times and other worlds, she senses life is not meant to be this way.

The question 'Who am I?' is the the key question every philosopher and self-awareness seeker asks at some point, but how do you reply when the answer isn't your name or a list of qualifications?

DESCRIPTION Turn your idea into a published book with practical steps, insider knowledge, and support for every stage of the journey. Have you dreamed of writing a novel but don’t know where to begin—or started one only to feel overwhelmed? Novel Writing Mastery is your complete companion for the entire writing journey, from that first spark of an idea to holding a finished book in your hands.

Most people who start writing a novel never finish it. Not because they lack talent, but because they don’t have a roadmap. As an editor, author, and publisher, I’ve seen it time and again—writers get lost between inspiration and completion. That’s why I wrote Novel Writing Mastery: A Step by Step Guide From Conception to Publication, a practical, compassionate guide to help authors navigate every stage of their writing journey.

I’m delighted to share my brand-new 2026 art calendars, each one a unique journey into imagination, spirit, and surreal beauty. Whether you’re drawn to angelic presence, bold fantasy, or whimsical satire, there’s a calendar here to bring joy and inspiration to your walls all year long. The Angel Calendar For those who love a touch of the spiritual in their everyday life, the Angel Calendar offers luminous imagery that uplifts and reminds you of the unseen guidance around us.

Animism is the worldview that everything is alive, interconnected, and worthy of respect. Walking in nature with this perspective, you may feel the trees breathing with you, the stones holding memory, the stream carrying song, and even the ground beneath your feet pulsing with life. This is the feeling that inspired my latest AI Art Music video, Alive With Being.

DESCRIPTION The Nameless Land is a metaphysical novel blending stream-of-consciousness with surreal adventure. Following on from Anastasia’s Midnight Song, it continues the story of Rupert Lux and Anastasia T. Grace—two troubled souls navigating a dreamlike landscape where reality slips. Rupert, a young New Zealander working nights at a Sinai hotel, is tormented by a daemon lodged in his eye—a delusion echoing Anastasia’s earlier torment by spectral creatures.

I've posted another video on You Tube. This one explores whether Vajrayana Buddhism truly addresses the core unconscious patterns that drive human behaviour. I consider how the Jungian psychotherapy concept of the unconscious mind relates to the Sambogakaya realm in Buddhist philosophy and how Jungian active imagination techniques can complement Vajrayana practices to address unresolved trauma and uncover unconscious drivers of our behaviour.

Six remarkable titles from Alkira Publishing that deserve your attention In today’s crowded book market, truly special stories often get overlooked. At Alkira Publishing, we believe quality matters — and we’re committed to publishing hand-picked books that combine superb craft with emotional resonance. In this weeks video, Rose and I discuss six hidden gems that meet our standard of…

It’s done. Finally.  Tick. Finished. Move on to the next thing. That's how my creativity urges me on. Oh, wait—I need to tell people about it. No one will know it is exists if I don't, and someone might like to read it. So, here I am, letting you know that I’ve written another book. It’s called Novel Writing Mastery: A Step-By-Step Guide From Conception To Publication.  

I already had three blogs and twelve published books, so why did I start a Substack? And why do I need your support?

Turn your idea into a published book with practical steps, insider knowledge, and support for every stage of the journey. Have you dreamed of writing a novel but don’t know where to begin—or started one only to feel overwhelmed? Novel Writing Mastery is your complete companion for the entire writing journey, from that first spark of an idea to holding a finished book in your hands. Unlike other guides that focus only on craft, this book also addresses the psychological challenges every new author faces—self-doubt, procrastination, fear of failure—and shows you practical ways to move through them. Inside you’ll discover: How to generate, shape, and test your story ideas. Step-by-step guidance on plot, character, structure, and worldbuilding. Essential techniques for revision, editing, and self-editing. Clear explanations of today’s publishing options—and how to choose what’s right for you. Written by Tahlia Newland—an experienced author, editor, and publisher with over a decade of helping writers succeed—this guide blends professional expertise with warmth and honesty. Whether you’re starting from scratch or ready to take your draft further, Novel Writing Mastery will give you the tools, confidence, and insider knowledge to bring your story to life. ISBN PAPERBACK: 978-1-922329-98-1 PUBLICATION: DECEMBER 12, 2025

YouTube video by Psychemagination: Mystical AI Art Music Videos

A surreal satirical song born by a rainforest stream, Life is a Circus reflects on the absurdity of modern politics and the soul’s longing for truth beyond illusion.

YouTube video by Alkira Publishing, Editing & Book Design

Everyone knows writing a novel is hard work — but few people talk about why.Sure, there’s plotting, pacing, and polishing your prose, but the hardest parts aren’t technical at all — they’re personal. When I (Tahlia) sat down to write my first book, I expected creative challenges. What I didn’t expect was the self-doubt, the loneliness, and the…

When two baskets are better than one Life is always changing. It's a fact that we sometimes, if not often, forget. We tend to live our lives as if we'll always feel the way we do now - always be this poor, or this sick or this angry or sad - but the truth is that everything changes all the time.

DESCRIPTION She thought midlife would be calm. Restful. Maybe even a little indulgent. Instead, she’s restocking the fridge for grown kids, juggling prescriptions for aging parents, and trying to remember who she was before she became everyone else’s unpaid manager, therapist, and emotional support human. Told with razor-sharp wit and raw honesty, This Wasn’t the Plan is a hybrid memoir of essays and reflections that dives deep into the grief of a life that didn’t unfold as promised—and the unexpected freedom that comes from rewriting your role.

My AI art music video below, set to a song about a late-diagnosed autistic discovering their neurodivergence, illustrates the first chapter of my book Psychemagination: Into the Underworld — where myth, art, and introspection meet, not only to tell my story but also to help you find your own way into discovering who you really are. But the Psychemagination story doesn’t begin—or end—with the book.

This video is of an interview I did with my daughter as part of our Alkira Publishing YouTube Channel, Below it I tell the story of how the book came to be and why I published it. Did you know that more than 50% of adults with ADHD only receive their diagnosis after the age of 18? That means most of us live half our lives — or more — without understanding why we feel different.

At Alkira Publishing, we love books that explore the human experience in meaningful and original ways. Our Escarpment Publishing imprint—traditionally home to insightful non-fiction, children’s picture books, and assisted self-publishing projects—is now venturing into new territory with a book unlike any we’ve released before. Psychemagination: Into the Underworld by Tahlia Newland is an illustrated journey of neurodivergent self-discovery—a book that blends lyrical storytelling, symbolic art, and gentle introspective art exercises to guide readers on their own journey of self-understanding.

I’m pleased to share the Loving Light Meditation Song—a surreal, peaceful journey into awareness through music and imagery. This song is based on my Loving Light guided meditation, and it carries the same healing intention: to help you feel loved, energised, and deeply connected to your inner light. The visuals are dreamlike and spacious, and the lyrics guide you through a three-part imaginative meditation.

Yep. It's me. Filled with light! The only thing that stops me feeling driven (an ADHD thing which can be very intense), that allows me to live in a relaxed way is when I diligently do my daily meditation practice. I was wondering why it was so noticeable in me, like turning off an engine. Does meditation give you a dopamine hit, I wondered?