Smart, balanced reporting with an eye on what comes next for workers and leaders. Grateful to have been interviewed and contribute to the conversation.

What makes a slow-burn romance so satisfying?

For me, it’s the tension that simmers in every almost-touch and every unsaid word. The longer they resist, the more it matters when they finally give in.

Now you know what I prefer. Are you Team #SlowBurn or Team #InstaLove?

KBOO FM Interview Alongside Lynn A. Haller » Maya Bairey Therapist Lynn Haller and I explore how Painting Celia helps readers heal. (audio and transcript)

What does my romance novel have to do with trauma recovery? More than you’d think! Hear the interview, featuring trauma-informed psychotherapist Lynn Haller, on KBOO Community Radio.
bairey.com/kboo-fm-inte...
#traumainformed #romancenovels #kboo @kbooradio.bsky.social

Today on Chapter by Chapter, find a steamy, later-in-life #romance about two broken souls finding healing through art, passion & love by an accomplished debut author in CHAPTER ONE: Excerpted from Painting Celia (Incubadora Book 1) by @mayabairey.bsky.social

www.chapterbychapter.ca/blog/chapter...

21 Days of Lovely Little Living Spaces » Maya Bairey Clearing space helped me see what I’d stopped noticing.

As a writer, I spend most days at my desk. I thought this program would help me tidy. It helped me reconnect with my space, my pace, and my joy.
bairey.com/21-days-love...

Under the Strawberry Moon: Sweet and Gone » Maya Bairey I’m reflecting on how sweetness never lasts, but is worth being present for.

The sweet parts never stay. The Strawberry Moon reminds me to savor what ripens and trust what it seeds.
bairey.com/under-the-st...

New post from my favorite editor! She's got a new website I'm looking forward to reading often 🤗

Ten Tiny Downy Ducklings » Maya Bairey Sometimes, nature drops a story right in your lap.

When your garden becomes a nursery...
Swipe to meet the uninvited but very welcome ducklings.
Full story (and rescue video) at bairey.com/ten-tiny-dow...
#Ducklings #BackyardDrama

Under the Flower Moon: Roots First » Maya Bairey The blooms may look effortless, but they come from roots long tended.

It looks like everything bloomed overnight.
But the truth? Growth takes root work.
This Flower Moon, I started painting the mural I’ve been dreaming of for years.
🌕 Read the full story: bairey.com/under-the-fl...
#FlowerMoon

Flawed and Worth Loving – Maya Bairey I write love stories for women who are done with perfect people.

I write love stories for women who are done with perfect people. New blog post telling you why.
bairey.com/flawed-and-w...
#worthloving #romancewriter #kintsugi

The Muse Has Room When the Clutter Is Gone – Maya Bairey A small shift in my space made a big shift in my writing.

Clearing just one cluttered corner changed how I felt in my whole space.
Now my room feels peaceful. So do I.
Where we live is where we live.
Before + After at bairey.com/the-muse-has...
#lovelylittlelivingspaces #creativehome #writerlife

Under the Pink Moon: Burlesque, Banned Books, Bare Stories » Maya Bairey The pink moon rises and bares it all.

I saw the full moon as I was driving home from a burlesque show. I’d just spent the evening surrounded by bare skin and banned books, and the Pink moon begged to be a part of it.
bairey.com/pink-moon-bu...
#PinkMoon #BannedBooks #Burlesque #WritingCommunity

Spicy Contemporary Romance Giveaway Spicy Contemporary Romance Giveaway by Natalie Jess. Hosted by KingSumo Giveaways

Best giveaway prize I've ever seen, let alone been a part of! 😮
Win 11 spicy romance books — including a signed copy of Painting Celia! This $200+ giveaway includes paperbacks, ebooks, and exclusive swag. Two winners. Ends June 1.

Embracing Transgender Visibility in My Fiction – Maya Bairey Jewel is a woman I’ve been afraid to write, unsure I could do her justice.

Jewel is a woman I’ve been afraid to write, unsure I could do her justice. On this Transgender Day of Visibility, I decided I need to try.
bairey.com/embracing-tr...

On the Full Moon — March 2025 » Maya Bairey Under the Worm Moon, I nurture new roots and celebrate quiet renewal.

Tonight, as the March Worm moon hangs full in the sky, I find myself reflecting on my unusual house that floats on water.
bairey.com/on-the-full-... #portland

image of a hand holding a pen over a page of writing. Overlay says Once Upon a Time with Consuelo Miranda, KBOO community radio, Guset author: Maya Bairey, Friday, March 14, 7:00-8:00 pm. How are you the hero of your story? Call in! 503-231-8187

On Friday, March 14, 7-8pm, I'll be the guest on Once Upon a Time with Consuelo Miranda on KBOO 90.7 FM in #Portland, OR. The show is about how our personal stories are a tool for knowing ourselves and connecting as a community.

Call in to ask questions and share your story: 503-231-8187

How Childhood Memories Ignite My Writing – Maya Bairey My most memorable moments have become the foundation of my stories.

Behind every character lies a fragment of the past—moments of triumph, fear, and quiet resilience. Discover how my childhood memories breathe life into the stories of Celia and León.
bairey.com/how-childhoo...

On the Full Moon — February 2025 » Maya Bairey The Snow Moon whispers that life finds its way.

This one's for me. I’m starting a new ritual, where I reflect here with every full moon about the nature around me and my place in it. These posts will be moments to pause, to reflect, and to honor the raw, untamed magic of the world around me.
bairey.com/on-the-full-... #fullmoon #witchyvibes

There is some GREAT stuff here! And free? Hell yeah! #freebooks

Sent an email!

It's wide open, not even a reading fee (yet). I'm happy to chat in email or zoom once you submit. Happy to hear you're looking into it!

I'm an indie hybrid publisher (linguaink.com) if you're looking for a smaller publisher. I am bi, write LGBTQ+ novels, and am eager to branch out into queer books. I have four authors now (only two have completed the publishing process) but am just getting started!

Hey, my books and I will be at Words & Wine again in March! Can you make it too? Support local businesses plus sip some delicious wines paired with fantastic books! This is one of my favorite author events each year. #authors #portland
www.facebook.com/events/16252...

Wicked and the Power of Prequels » Maya Bairey How a green-skinned witch revived my muse—and the prequels I’m giving you.

My latest blog post. Thanks, Elphaba!
#wicked #WritingCommmunity #AmWriting #prequel #authorsofbluesky
bairey.com/wicked-and-t...

What If I Only Had One Book in Me? » Maya Bairey Writing my second book is hard! I'm missing the spark but moving forward.

Working on my second book and the journey feels so different. Without the intense surge of inspiration I had during my first novel, I'm navigating doubts. Anyone else felt this way? #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #AuthorLife
bairey.com/what-if-i-on...

I had to make a few posts first. I have 4 now, want one?

a painting of a young Latina woman crossing the finishing line in a foot race

The road to 'finished' is paved with drafts and edits. I hit a milestone today, though!
bairey.com/writing-a-book-when-will...

a large cart sits full of amazon packages

Prime day, man. Prime day.

I made Grandma Mary Bairey's ice cream for my husband's birthday. Added in peaches we got at the farmer's market. Happy birthday, my love.

a cat wearing an aloha shirt types the great american novel

Want to be a writer? Stay curious.