Scan barcode
pamgodwin's review against another edition
5.0
When I finished this book, I stared at the last page for a long time, velcroed to my seat, taking ragged breaths, gathering my reactions. Throughout the story, I felt trapped in a bounce house, flailing wildly up and down, changing direction against my will, all while wearing a terrifying smile on my face. Nora's character--her decisions, her motivations, her mistakes--takes you on a soul-searching journey, haunting you with the sounds of the soul as it shreds, goading you with the hope of its mending. Many might disagree, but I found an unforgettable, immeasurable love amidst these pages. The tormented, esoteric kind that imprints itself on the psyche and illuminates the meaning of sacrifice. This series has earned a top shelf spot on my BDSM books I'll read again, and is a must read for erotica fans who appreciate the psychology behind the lifestyle.
lifeand100books's review against another edition
5.0
Y'all know that I read and pretty much hated the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy. My friend, Jeanne (@einfach_mich on Twitter) and I started discussing the Erotica/BDSM genre and soon became fast friends over it. Her being the pro and me the newbie began discussing what it meant to read about what I call abusive relationships. She promised me that she'd scour her mind and the web and find me a series that depicts what a true BDSM relationship is like, with two consenting adults that are 100% into that lifestyle. (Ana from Fifty Shades is a "vanilla" sex character and never delves into the BDSM world as deep as Christian has) First came the recommendation of the Sleeping Beauty trilogy by Anne Rice, written under her pen name A.N Roquelaure. Let's just say that it's one of the few books in my history I couldn't complete. I made it about 60-65 pages in before it became entirely too much to handle. Jeanne promised me she'd keep looking and I promised I'd keep an open mind. Yesterday, (yes you're reading that right. I read a book and am reviewing it in under 24 hours) Jeanne contacted me RAVING about Tiffany Reisz's book The Siren. Remembering our deal I pulled open my nook, purchased The Siren and began my exploration back into the world of BDSM.
The Siren begins by introducing us to the author Nora Sutherlin. A famous erotica writer, Sutherlin's books are becoming more and more popular, but she hasn't quite reached the point where she'll be a full-time writer. She needs a critical bestseller, something that will shake up the traditional fare in bookstores and make her a household name. Fortunately, she thinks she has something in her latest book. Unfortunately, she needs a good amount of help to finish and publish it. Enter Zachary Easton, the well-to-do British editor who agrees to take on Sutherlin's project before he leaves on a promotion to the US in six weeks. He only agrees to this if he has complete (and I mean complete) control of the writing process. This is something completely new to Nora, and her writing sessions with Easton are something that she's never experienced before. They are in fact so new and exciting that she even finds them arousing despite how long and grueling they increasingly become. What will Nora do with this new submission she is experiencing? What sparks will fly between her and Easton? Will she be able to handle this new lifestyle?
Guys. For real I finished this book and was speechless. It blew me away and tore away any preconceived notions I had about the BDSM/Erotica genre of writing. Hell, frig that. This book doesn't even belong in that genre! This is a work of literary fiction. All throughout my reading I kept highlighting whole passages that literally made me just stop and think. Case in point:
Mind blown. I've never thought of erotica (both literally and literary) in this light. The entire book changed my view on so many things, not just those related to erotica. When a book forces you to step back and acknowledge that there could be another angle to something besides your opinion, it's just amazing. This is what books are all about. They change your views, your opinions, your thoughts. They make you think. They open your mind. Challenge you. Excite you. Frighten you. The Siren is ALL of these things and more. It's about so much more than a woman who writes about and participates in a BDSM lifestyle. It's about being you in all aspects of your life. Being you even if that means giving up what you want and what you think you need. There is a great quote that sums this all up:
Reisz is so freaking astute. This idea: how much can you change before you're not you anymore, is the main theme strung throughout the novel. This is why I say this book breaks the mold in selecting a genre. With the turning of each page you are continually bombarded with thought-provoking statements that make you forget you're reading "erotica." There are even large passages in this novel about art, music, and religion that all continue this rapid attack on your brain, forcing you to re-think everything. My favorite quote, which I view as the most poignant of the novel is:
(Can we all just cheer for literature here for a second?)
Another fabulous aspect of this novel is its use of sex in a non gratuitous way. One thing about Fifty Shades that bothered me were the CONSTANT sex scenes. (Literally every sixth page was a sex scene just because). The Siren uses sex to unravel character layers and to ignite plot movement. There was nothing grotesque and abusive about these scenes even though they're done in an erotic format. One thing I couldn't get over in Fifty Shades was how abusive the sex scenes felt. As an outsider of this lifestyle I couldn't understand why people chose this pain and abuse. The Siren was written so well, and gave such insight to this lifestyle, that I felt like I get it now. Maybe not 100%, but I have Jeanne to keep choosing new books for me to read and explore this topic.
The Siren will take you on a tumultuous and heartbreaking story. It will beat you, bruise you, and make you love it with each exquisitely written page. When it's over you'll feel torn apart yet sated, aching for the next chapter in Nora's life. For those of you who are interested in this undertaking, I can assure you that it will be a journey you won't forget. Comment below and let me know what you think!
Kimberly (Reflections of a Book Addict)
http://wp.me/p18lIL-143
The Siren begins by introducing us to the author Nora Sutherlin. A famous erotica writer, Sutherlin's books are becoming more and more popular, but she hasn't quite reached the point where she'll be a full-time writer. She needs a critical bestseller, something that will shake up the traditional fare in bookstores and make her a household name. Fortunately, she thinks she has something in her latest book. Unfortunately, she needs a good amount of help to finish and publish it. Enter Zachary Easton, the well-to-do British editor who agrees to take on Sutherlin's project before he leaves on a promotion to the US in six weeks. He only agrees to this if he has complete (and I mean complete) control of the writing process. This is something completely new to Nora, and her writing sessions with Easton are something that she's never experienced before. They are in fact so new and exciting that she even finds them arousing despite how long and grueling they increasingly become. What will Nora do with this new submission she is experiencing? What sparks will fly between her and Easton? Will she be able to handle this new lifestyle?
Guys. For real I finished this book and was speechless. It blew me away and tore away any preconceived notions I had about the BDSM/Erotica genre of writing. Hell, frig that. This book doesn't even belong in that genre! This is a work of literary fiction. All throughout my reading I kept highlighting whole passages that literally made me just stop and think. Case in point:
"I know people think erotica is just a romance novel with rougher sex. It's not. If it's a subgenre of anything, it's horror."
"Horror? Really?"
"Romance is sex plus love. Erotica is sex plus fear."
Mind blown. I've never thought of erotica (both literally and literary) in this light. The entire book changed my view on so many things, not just those related to erotica. When a book forces you to step back and acknowledge that there could be another angle to something besides your opinion, it's just amazing. This is what books are all about. They change your views, your opinions, your thoughts. They make you think. They open your mind. Challenge you. Excite you. Frighten you. The Siren is ALL of these things and more. It's about so much more than a woman who writes about and participates in a BDSM lifestyle. It's about being you in all aspects of your life. Being you even if that means giving up what you want and what you think you need. There is a great quote that sums this all up:
...sacrifice can only get you so far. And although two people can love each other deeply, sometimes love alone doesn't cut it. We can only sacrifice so much of ourselves in a relationship before there's nothing left to love or be loved.
Reisz is so freaking astute. This idea: how much can you change before you're not you anymore, is the main theme strung throughout the novel. This is why I say this book breaks the mold in selecting a genre. With the turning of each page you are continually bombarded with thought-provoking statements that make you forget you're reading "erotica." There are even large passages in this novel about art, music, and religion that all continue this rapid attack on your brain, forcing you to re-think everything. My favorite quote, which I view as the most poignant of the novel is:
"Tell me something boss. What do you think is the highest form of art?"
"Literature," he answered without hesitation. "Painters and sculptors require elaborate supplies and tools. Dancers must have music. Musicians must have instruments. Literature needs nothing but a voice to speak it or sand to scrawl it in."
(Can we all just cheer for literature here for a second?)
Another fabulous aspect of this novel is its use of sex in a non gratuitous way. One thing about Fifty Shades that bothered me were the CONSTANT sex scenes. (Literally every sixth page was a sex scene just because). The Siren uses sex to unravel character layers and to ignite plot movement. There was nothing grotesque and abusive about these scenes even though they're done in an erotic format. One thing I couldn't get over in Fifty Shades was how abusive the sex scenes felt. As an outsider of this lifestyle I couldn't understand why people chose this pain and abuse. The Siren was written so well, and gave such insight to this lifestyle, that I felt like I get it now. Maybe not 100%, but I have Jeanne to keep choosing new books for me to read and explore this topic.
The Siren will take you on a tumultuous and heartbreaking story. It will beat you, bruise you, and make you love it with each exquisitely written page. When it's over you'll feel torn apart yet sated, aching for the next chapter in Nora's life. For those of you who are interested in this undertaking, I can assure you that it will be a journey you won't forget. Comment below and let me know what you think!
Kimberly (Reflections of a Book Addict)
http://wp.me/p18lIL-143
missy_evanko's review against another edition
1.0
This was trash. A BDSM book about an author writing a BDSM book. She's lusting for her stuck up editor, but also her virgin vanilla intern, while also still in love? with her ex-dom Soren who runs a major BDSM cult and oh btw he's a PRIEST?! I think the author was just trying for as much shock value as she could get. Apparently this is a whole series? Ugh.
chandlerainsley's review against another edition
4.0
a big fuck you to morality, my senses, my feels, etc
this was beyond excellent. i had no idea what to expect going in to it and i'm so glad.
i'll start by saying that i DO NOT believe that this is erotica. because erotica usually has gratuitous sex scenes and is cheesy and poorly written???? and that is NOT this book.
the story follows famed dominatrix Nora, who is trying to escape her past and follow a new passion: writing. while doing so, her life becomes irrevocably more complicated because it seems that she never met a man that she didn't like. case in point:
zach, the editor. he's still pining for his wife but is finding comfort in Nora and her raucous behavior and antics. will they, won't they, etc.
former lover (and dom) søren who she just can't seem to escape. lots of history here, but not a whole lot of explanation (guess that's why it's a series)
and my personal favorite, the baby, WESLEY. he lives at her place and makes sure she's ok and not behaving like an imbecile? it's complicated, alright. but wow he's the sweetest cinnamon roll that ever lived and you won't be telling me any different.
what worked here?
risk of sounding crass aside, uh... FUCKING EVERYTHING???
this was so excellently crafted. the writing was beautiful and simple. but the characters were so perfectly flawed and complicated. it never fails to amaze me when authors are able to convey complexity with few words. i think that's why this reminded me a little bit of "all for the game." completely different story, but a similar web of complicated alliances/relationships/character behavior that isn't SPOON FED to you. you have to figure out for yourself who these people are and if you like them. these are the kinds of stories that really get me excited, and i frankly couldn't put this down.
anyway, beyond excited to start the new one. whoops, i already have ;)
this was beyond excellent. i had no idea what to expect going in to it and i'm so glad.
i'll start by saying that i DO NOT believe that this is erotica. because erotica usually has gratuitous sex scenes and is cheesy and poorly written???? and that is NOT this book.
the story follows famed dominatrix Nora, who is trying to escape her past and follow a new passion: writing. while doing so, her life becomes irrevocably more complicated because it seems that she never met a man that she didn't like. case in point:
zach, the editor. he's still pining for his wife but is finding comfort in Nora and her raucous behavior and antics. will they, won't they, etc.
former lover (and dom) søren who she just can't seem to escape. lots of history here, but not a whole lot of explanation (guess that's why it's a series)
and my personal favorite, the baby, WESLEY. he lives at her place and makes sure she's ok and not behaving like an imbecile? it's complicated, alright. but wow he's the sweetest cinnamon roll that ever lived and you won't be telling me any different.
what worked here?
risk of sounding crass aside, uh... FUCKING EVERYTHING???
this was so excellently crafted. the writing was beautiful and simple. but the characters were so perfectly flawed and complicated. it never fails to amaze me when authors are able to convey complexity with few words. i think that's why this reminded me a little bit of "all for the game." completely different story, but a similar web of complicated alliances/relationships/character behavior that isn't SPOON FED to you. you have to figure out for yourself who these people are and if you like them. these are the kinds of stories that really get me excited, and i frankly couldn't put this down.
anyway, beyond excited to start the new one. whoops, i already have ;)
fishgirl182's review against another edition
5.0
“Love isn’t always gentle. Sometimes love is rough and brutal. Sometimes it needs to be.”
The quote above is from a free short story on Tiffany Riesz’s website (Daniel, Chapter 7) which is a prequel to Seven Day Loan, in which The Siren’s main character, Nora, first appears. While it isn’t in specific reference to The Siren, I think it perfectly sums up how I felt about the first book in Reisz’s Original Sinner series. Let’s be clear. The Siren is not a traditional love story. The relationships in it are complicated, messy, and painful. Happily ever after is not a foregone conclusion and love doesn’t always conquer all. You’ve been warned.
The Siren is the story of best selling erotica writer and Dominatrix, Nora Sutherlin, who is writing her next and most personal novel. A major publishing house agrees to publish Nora’s book, but only if editor Zach Easton can get the novel up to his high standards in three weeks. Zach doesn’t want to be Nora’s editor, and hopes to intimidate her into quitting. But things don’t work out quite the way that Zach anticipates and he finds himself drawn to Nora and her world. They push each other to their breaking points and each must decide what they really want.
I don’t think I’ve ever met another character like Nora. Unapologetic and full of life, Nora is a woman that you both love and hate. She’s complicated and constantly evolving. Nora is a rare bird in the BDSM world. She’s a switch - a person who can be both dominant and submissive. I think this matches her personality well, as she is a blend of both extreme confidence and extreme vulnerability.
The Siren also has a great cast of male characters. Zach is the hard assed editor who challenges Nora to be a better writer. He’s a bit lost at the beginning of the book, but he eventually finds his way. And Wesley, sweet Wesley. His innocence is such a contrast to Nora and the affection and love they have for each is surprisingly tender. Then there’s Soren, who is probably the most mysterious character on the book. He and Nora have a...complicated relationship. I don’t know if I like Soren or not but I am looking forward to learning more about their relationship as the series continues.
The Siren isn’t for the faint of heart. Don’t expect to come out of it with the warm and fuzzies.Though it broke my heart a little, I think the ending was perfect for these characters. Brutal and raw but also hopeful, The Siren is a book that you will think about long after you’ve put it down.
The quote above is from a free short story on Tiffany Riesz’s website (Daniel, Chapter 7) which is a prequel to Seven Day Loan, in which The Siren’s main character, Nora, first appears. While it isn’t in specific reference to The Siren, I think it perfectly sums up how I felt about the first book in Reisz’s Original Sinner series. Let’s be clear. The Siren is not a traditional love story. The relationships in it are complicated, messy, and painful. Happily ever after is not a foregone conclusion and love doesn’t always conquer all. You’ve been warned.
The Siren is the story of best selling erotica writer and Dominatrix, Nora Sutherlin, who is writing her next and most personal novel. A major publishing house agrees to publish Nora’s book, but only if editor Zach Easton can get the novel up to his high standards in three weeks. Zach doesn’t want to be Nora’s editor, and hopes to intimidate her into quitting. But things don’t work out quite the way that Zach anticipates and he finds himself drawn to Nora and her world. They push each other to their breaking points and each must decide what they really want.
I don’t think I’ve ever met another character like Nora. Unapologetic and full of life, Nora is a woman that you both love and hate. She’s complicated and constantly evolving. Nora is a rare bird in the BDSM world. She’s a switch - a person who can be both dominant and submissive. I think this matches her personality well, as she is a blend of both extreme confidence and extreme vulnerability.
The Siren also has a great cast of male characters. Zach is the hard assed editor who challenges Nora to be a better writer. He’s a bit lost at the beginning of the book, but he eventually finds his way. And Wesley, sweet Wesley. His innocence is such a contrast to Nora and the affection and love they have for each is surprisingly tender. Then there’s Soren, who is probably the most mysterious character on the book. He and Nora have a...complicated relationship. I don’t know if I like Soren or not but I am looking forward to learning more about their relationship as the series continues.
The Siren isn’t for the faint of heart. Don’t expect to come out of it with the warm and fuzzies.Though it broke my heart a little, I think the ending was perfect for these characters. Brutal and raw but also hopeful, The Siren is a book that you will think about long after you’ve put it down.
thenightofcups's review against another edition
2.0
I have mixed feelings about this book. Before I share the things that really bothered me I want to point out that this is a well-written novel. It's not smut or porn or trash. It's not even a romance. It's a study of a group of characters. And that I can appreciate.
BUT I had real issues with some of the details. First of all, Soren is a priest. When one is in a position of power (emotional, religious, academic, professional, etc) it is utterly inappropriate, and unethical, and completely psychotic to take advantage of it in the ways he did. He was fucking her in the head for years before he ever made it downstairs. She needed intervention, yes, not BDSM. And I don't say that from a judgmental position on anyone's kink, either. The reality is that Nora was a child. A CHILD. Regardless of the fact that her virginity was in tact until she was well past 18, that is not the point. She was brainwashed by a figure of emotional and religious authority into thinking she belonged to him from the age of 15, and that a brutal sexual relationship was eminent. And that is NOT okay.
The kicker is that Nora KNEW it wasn't okay, too. Yet she defends him. And returns to him. It's classic.
I would be willing to accept his broken nature and the absurd relationship Soren had with Nora if Michael hadn't happened. That was wrong on so many unspeakable levels. It's one thing to read such happenings in an Ann Rice book (IE: The Vampire Armand) because the element of the supernatural kind of overshadows the actual abuse that was being inflicted on a very young and frightened Armand by a very damaged- and much older- Marius. But here? No. This is real. That boy attempted suicide, and Soren promising that he can fuck a Dominatrix if he doesn't cut for a year is unacceptable to me. Clearly he had other issues that needed to be discussed in healthy therapy. He was not a consenting adult. HE WAS A CHILD PUSHED INTO LITERAL SEXUALITY BY HIS PRIEST WHO WAS LOOKING TO STICK IT TO HIS EX. HOW IS THAT OKAY? Was Soren trying to turn Nora into the pedophile he was? I kind of don't even want to think about it.
Wesley broke my heart, and to be honest, I hated Nora for what she did to him. She ruined him. And he'll have those scars for the rest of his life. By the time the book was coming to a close, I was expecting everyone to end up in misery. The happy ending Zach and Grace got really made this whole book worth it. This does not mean I'm going back on my assertion that a teacher taking advantage of a student is one of the highest orders of WRONG. Not at all. I don't approve of what Zach did to Grace any more than I approve of Soren and Nora, but Grace was a college student. Nora was a 15 year old girl. Big difference. Not okay by any stretch, but a far cry from Father Soren and his ownership of a pubescent girl.
I don't think I can stomach the rest of this series. I want to stress that it was a very well written novel, and smart without being pretentious. I appreciated how Zach's passages were more British than Nora's (and that is hard to come by in many novels!!). I realize it's okay to be aroused by something that's wrong if you KNOW it's wrong and can compartmentalize. But this is just too much wrong for me to wrap my brain around. It's a romanticization of some very evil things. I've seen outrage by the BDSM community over the portrayal of unhealthy BDSM relationships in books like Fifty Shades of Grey, and I've seen people touting The Siren as what Fifty could have been if it had tried and did any research at all. But The Siren isn't any healthier than Fifty. Not by a long shot. This book is about messed up people living messed up lives who seem to get off on fucking [with] one another. Sorry, but it is.
BUT I had real issues with some of the details. First of all, Soren is a priest. When one is in a position of power (emotional, religious, academic, professional, etc) it is utterly inappropriate, and unethical, and completely psychotic to take advantage of it in the ways he did. He was fucking her in the head for years before he ever made it downstairs. She needed intervention, yes, not BDSM. And I don't say that from a judgmental position on anyone's kink, either. The reality is that Nora was a child. A CHILD. Regardless of the fact that her virginity was in tact until she was well past 18, that is not the point. She was brainwashed by a figure of emotional and religious authority into thinking she belonged to him from the age of 15, and that a brutal sexual relationship was eminent. And that is NOT okay.
The kicker is that Nora KNEW it wasn't okay, too. Yet she defends him. And returns to him. It's classic.
I would be willing to accept his broken nature and the absurd relationship Soren had with Nora if Michael hadn't happened. That was wrong on so many unspeakable levels. It's one thing to read such happenings in an Ann Rice book (IE: The Vampire Armand) because the element of the supernatural kind of overshadows the actual abuse that was being inflicted on a very young and frightened Armand by a very damaged- and much older- Marius. But here? No. This is real. That boy attempted suicide, and Soren promising that he can fuck a Dominatrix if he doesn't cut for a year is unacceptable to me. Clearly he had other issues that needed to be discussed in healthy therapy. He was not a consenting adult. HE WAS A CHILD PUSHED INTO LITERAL SEXUALITY BY HIS PRIEST WHO WAS LOOKING TO STICK IT TO HIS EX. HOW IS THAT OKAY? Was Soren trying to turn Nora into the pedophile he was? I kind of don't even want to think about it.
Wesley broke my heart, and to be honest, I hated Nora for what she did to him. She ruined him. And he'll have those scars for the rest of his life. By the time the book was coming to a close, I was expecting everyone to end up in misery. The happy ending Zach and Grace got really made this whole book worth it. This does not mean I'm going back on my assertion that a teacher taking advantage of a student is one of the highest orders of WRONG. Not at all. I don't approve of what Zach did to Grace any more than I approve of Soren and Nora, but Grace was a college student. Nora was a 15 year old girl. Big difference. Not okay by any stretch, but a far cry from Father Soren and his ownership of a pubescent girl.
I don't think I can stomach the rest of this series. I want to stress that it was a very well written novel, and smart without being pretentious. I appreciated how Zach's passages were more British than Nora's (and that is hard to come by in many novels!!). I realize it's okay to be aroused by something that's wrong if you KNOW it's wrong and can compartmentalize. But this is just too much wrong for me to wrap my brain around. It's a romanticization of some very evil things. I've seen outrage by the BDSM community over the portrayal of unhealthy BDSM relationships in books like Fifty Shades of Grey, and I've seen people touting The Siren as what Fifty could have been if it had tried and did any research at all. But The Siren isn't any healthier than Fifty. Not by a long shot. This book is about messed up people living messed up lives who seem to get off on fucking [with] one another. Sorry, but it is.
booksplantsandtea's review against another edition
5.0
I'm having a terrible bookhangover! I'm shaking from the intensity of this book. All the characters got under my skin.
I found my new favourite book.
Even though any review I'll ever write will never show how good, no how AWESOME, this book is, I feel like I have to share my thoughts and my experience about this one.
So here's my story:
I bought "Bound" by Tiffany Reisz for a very cheap price without even bothering to read the blurb. I knew it was a book that consisted of several short stories.
One day, after finishing another book, I thought it could be fun to read a few short stories and took "Bound" off my bookshelf. I opened the book and began reading the first short story, which was "Seven-Day Loan" by Tiffany Reisz. I immediately loved the story, loved her writing, loved her characters. I new I had found a new favourite author. So I decided to read another book written by her.
I went to her Goodreads profile and my eye immediately fell on "The Siren", I read the blurb and couldn't wait to read it.
Well, it got me right away. This book is simply awesome.
I gotta say my expectations were pretty low and into the gutter. I saw that the genres of the book were "BDSM" and "Erotica" so of course I thought this book would be all about sex with little to no plot. Tiffany, if you read this, I apologize. This book swept me off my feet.
I fell in love with the characters and their story.
I read this book one week before my exams. And I didn't do a thing. I was completely into the book. When I was at school during class (and I obviously couldn't read) I was thinking about what had already happened, where I stopped reading, and what would happen. I was shipping Nora and Søren like a mad girl. I was constantly thinking of reading. When occasionally I felt bad about doing nothing for school I just thought about the book, began reading and forgot all about it. I didn't care about real life anymore.
It's the first time a book got me this hard.
Now that I've finished it, my hand are shaking of all the emotions that I'm feeling: disappointment because I've finished the book, excitement because it's a series so there are more books to read, excitement because of the characters, how the book ended... I could go on and on about it.
My mom just asked me if I'm okay because she saw I'm shaking.
I was like:
Anyway this book is
and
and certainly worth reading!!
mlouf's review against another edition
2.0
I was very excited when first seeing this book and reading all of the 5 star reviews. Once I started the book I was very intrigued but then quickly was not drawn in and had a hard time continuing to read. I did not feel emotionally connected to these characters and felt that I was watching most of these scenes instead of experiencing them. Some of the sex scenes were humiliating and troublesome. I felt no love in these scenes or throughout the book. Also everyone was portrayed as being flawlessly beautiful which began to be a pet peeve of mine. All in all the book was written well but the story fell flat for me. I would not recommended this book.
beeppeep's review against another edition
4.0
The writing, the plot, the characters - all impeccable. Though this isn't my genre of preference, huge kudos to the author for her brilliant writing and storytelling.