activism | Avon Van Hassel

The Writing Desk: How Much of YOU to Write

Avon Van Hassel

July 1, 2023

The last few years, there has been a lot of discussion about diversity and representation in media, particularly around how race and gender are written in movies, tv shows, and books. Because of this, a lot more people from marginalised communities are speaking up and having their voices heard. Not only are their criticisms and …

The Reading Nook: A Song Below Water, by Bethany C Morrow

Avon Van Hassel

no comments

February 27, 2021

What’s this? A THIRD book review in the same month? Trust me, I’m as shocked as you are.

The Reading Nook: Children of Blood and Bone, by Tomi Adeyemi

Avon Van Hassel

1 comment

February 27, 2021

I picked up this book because I’m actively trying to read more by BIPOC writers because my literary background is rooted in fantasy, which is traditionally woefully Eurocentric. I wanted to read some Afrocentric fantasy, and my friend and editor, Breanna, recommended Children of Blood and Bone. It had been out a while and got …

One Word: Regroup

Avon Van Hassel

2 comments

January 1, 2021

A few years ago, a friend of mine asked himself what one word he would use going forward in that year. The idea struck me as romantic, and I’ve been doing the same, ever since. 2020 was a shitshow, plain and simple. Some of it wasn’t our fault, a lot of it was, a lot …

The Writing Desk: eBooks Versus Paperbacks,

Avon Van Hassel

no comments

November 20, 2019

If you have been around here on my blog for a while, you’ll know that I published my two fairy tale retelling novels almost a year ago, exclusively for Kindle. I had a bunch of -I think- rational reasons for not wanting to publish in hardcopy, but the people kept asking. So here’s the breakdown …