top of page


Insights and reflections on creating from catharsis, imbuing realism into fiction, and embracing authenticity in art and life.


Why I Wrote Somewhere Aching Instead of Chasing Trends
If you've ever wondered what Somewhere Aching is really about, this is it. A saga of emotional chaos, impossible choices, devastating consequences, and a love triangle that was doomed from the moment it began.

Tanya Madsen
Oct 112 min read


The Bad Boy Myth: Why My Stories Break It
How many of us grew up crushing on the bad boy? I did. Through my teen years, I gravitated toward jerks—boys who objectified me, pushed boundaries, and treated me like a challenge instead of a person. I even spent years hopelessly in love with a stoner who dropped out of school to pursue a career in… being a pothead. Meanwhile, when I met my husband—a genuinely kind, respectful man—I instantly friend‑zoned him. He couldn’t possibly be my missing piece, right?

Tanya Madsen
Sep 203 min read


September Newsletter: Chaos, Creation and Coming Home
August was… a lot. The kind of month that makes you laugh, cry, and question your life choices all in the same afternoon.

Tanya Madsen
Sep 63 min read


The Cliff’s Edge: Why I Write Stories that Haunt
There’s a moment in Last of the Mohicans that has lived inside me for decades. The younger daughter stands on the edge of a cliff, the music rising like a heartbeat. She looks at the man who intends to take her. His hand outstretched. Then back at the chasm behind her. She hesitates. She chooses. She jumps. That scene carved itself into me. That breath‑held, soul‑splitting moment is my benchmark for a great story.

Tanya Madsen
Aug 94 min read
bottom of page
