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?

It’s here. I’m holding Psychemagination: Into the Underworld in my hands—and I’m so proud I could burst. This book is the result of several years of introspective art, neurodivergent healing, and poetic storytelling. It’s part memoir, part picture book for adults, and part self-guided art therapy journey. In the video below, I unwrap the paperback and share what this book means to me.

DESCRIPTION A joyous bucket list trip ends with a horrific surprise. In 2017 Catherine, a Canadian native in her fifties, returned to Tanzania, East Africa, yearning to see her childhood home town once again. Over forty years before, in the early 1970s, as a little girl, she had encounters with feisty mongooses, charging elephants, innumerable wildebeests, and a lion with a (deserved?) reputation as a man-eater.

The journey begins. The short work of videoart below illustrates the inciting incident for my book ‘Psychemagination: Into the Underworld,’ the moment when my sister suggested that our whole family was autistic. Set to an original song and visionary AI art, it invites you to follow the Psychemagination series - illustrated books and videos about a contemplative, neuro-affirming path of healing and transformation—using the expressive arts, imaginative meditation, and modern psychological insight.

You’ve written your book, but now comes the part that makes many writers freeze: How do you describe it in just 180 words? A book description (or ‘blurb’) is one of the most important tools you have for drawing readers in. Whether you’re self-publishing or submitting to agents, this short paragraph can make the difference between a reader clicking Buy Now…

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. When she encounters Eve, an oracle who can see into past lives, Deor learns the truth: this oppression is no accident. It is the renewal of an ancient conflict — one her people and the Meropans have fought across lifetimes and worlds. Now reborn on Earth’s distant past, they are destined to face the Eternal Tide once more. The choices Deor makes will determine whether her people break free from the cycle of destruction—or repeat it. Two Moons: The Eternal Tide is the gripping first book in Cameron O’Brien’s five-part fantasy saga, blending epic storytelling with metaphysical depth. COMING SOON ISBN PAPERBACK: 978-1-922329-98-1 PUBLICATION: DECEMBER 12, 2025

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. COMING SOON ISBN PAPERBACK: 978-1-922329-98-1 PUBLICATION: DECEMBER 12, 2025

Meditation advice often fails people with ADHD. “Just focus on your breath.”“Clear your mind.”“Sit still.” For many of us, that feels like trying to hold back a waterfall with a teacup. I know, because I’ve been there. Watch the video or read on. A Mind That Wouldn’t Stop I was twenty, exhausted from sleepless nights. My mind was racing—filled with ideas, excitement, and endless loops of thought.

I can hardly believe I’m writing this. After a long and winding road—through formatting labyrinths, layout refinements, and platform peculiarities—Psychemagination: Into the Underworld is finally available in stores. In ebook, paperback, and hardback. It’s real. It’s ready. And it’s beautiful. This book marks the beginning of a series that feels like my life’s work. It brings together everything I love: the tactile beauty of well-crafted books, the evocative power of visual art, the depth of mythic and imaginative storytelling, and my desire to use creativity as a path to awareness.

Amazon.com: Psychemagination: Into the Underworld: A Neurodivergent Journey of Self-Discovery eBook : Newland, Tahlia: Kindle Store

Emotions can arrive unannounced—heavy, unnamed and persistent. On one such day, I turned to AI art. Not with a plan, but with a feeling: miserable. That single word became my prompt, and what unfolded surprised me. I didn’t know what I was feeling, not exactly. But as I played with imagery, adjusting prompts and watching the visuals shift, something began to clarify.

If you're an author who has followed my blog for a while (it's been going for 15 years now) you may recall that I used to post mostly articles on my books and my writing and publishing journey here, then it morphed into writing tips. Now I'm back to writing about themes related to my books, particularly my new Psychemagination Series…