Maya’s Blog

Here I share insights into my writing journey and the creation of my novel, Painting Celia. These posts offer a deeper understanding of the book, revealing the symbolism, character development, and lyrical language that define my work. They also explore my process of balancing introspection and action, crafting authentic characters, and navigating the ebb and flow of creativity. At least, they explain how I try to do all that!

I hope my perspective inspires and encourages you on your own creative journey. And maybe, to pick up the book!

Which category?All categoriesCharacters (5)Deleted Scenes (2)Events (3)Publishing (6)Writing Process (15)

Which topic?All topicsAndrew (5)Bonus Content (3)Celia (9)Cohort (3)Colors (1)Flash Fiction (1)How I Write (22)Incubadora (1)Kelsey (5)León (8)Lingua Ink (2)No Spoilers (29)Painting Celia (29)Personal (2)Recipes (2)Romance (4)Spoilers (13)Travel (2)Trevor (4)

Deleted Scene: Meeting Celia

Bonus content from Painting Celia – exclusively for blog readers! Here's an alternate scene from the very first page of the book.

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Meet Me at the Oregon State Fair

Meet Maya Bairey at the Oregon State Fair on August 25th. Books, chats, and deep-fried delights await!

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Meet Me at the Oregon State Fair

Meet Maya Bairey at the Oregon State Fair on August 25th. Books, chats, and deep-fried delights await!

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Giveaway! Free Copies of Painting Celia

Grab a free Kindle copy of Painting Celia! Enter my Goodreads Giveaway before September 1st, 2024.

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Painting Celia has an Audiobook!

Painting Celia is now an audiobook! Listening to my story come to life was surreal. Now, you can experience it too—available in all formats!

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The Book Launch Party

See the photos! Celebrating the launch of Painting Celia with friends, family, and readers was a momentous and deeply moving experience.

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The Art of Storytelling is the Art of Community Building

Writing took me from private author to public advocate for Portland's artists. Isn't it amazing what art can do?

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The Privilege of Expression

Feeling stuck during the pandemic, I wrote a novel to transform my life. Learn how it changed me at the launch celebration in May 2024.

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The Lion, the Rose, and the Deadline

A laugh, a lion, and a rose—a skeptic author finds insight (and humor) consulting the Tarot.

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From List to Launch

From perfectionist tweaks to a joyful photo shoot, my journey through self-publishing and launching my publishing imprint unfolds.

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My Name is Maya, and I’m a Perfectionist

No battle plan survives contact with the enemy.

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My Characters, Brought to Life through AI

I used an AI art generator to create inspiration images of my characters. Is AI an ally or competition to artists and coders?

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I Heard You’re Writing a Book. When Will It Be Finished?

Step into the world of writing a novel, where 'I should be editing' is the anthem and 'finished' is a word always on the horizon.

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Blue Is More Than a Color

What is color symbolism in literature? Read how the color blue takes on multiple meanings in Painting Celia.

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Plotter, Pantser, and the Power of Spreadsheets

In the life of a Plotter, the joy of writing plots with a spreadsheet is a game-changer.

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I Have Confidence in Me

Like Maria in The Sound of Music, I'm stepping into the unknown, armed with my manuscript and a hopeful heart. Will my story resonate?

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The Rebel Muse

Ever wondered 'What makes a muse?' They're more than just a spark of inspiration. They've got their own flame.

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The Magic of a New Romance Novel

Whether writing or reading, new romance novels captivate us all. The thrill is in the dreams and the drama!

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Recipe Time! Celia’s Cabbage Slaw

Step into the world of Painting Celia with Celia's own homemade Caesar Cole Slaw recipe! It's a gluten-free delight with a unique twist.

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Deleted Scene: Getting to Know You

Bonus content from Painting Celia – exclusively for blog readers! Celia and León start learning about each other.

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Published! My Research Trip to Los Angeles

In her article published at Women Writers, Women('s) Books, Maya retells her research journey to LA to "visit her characters."

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Admitting You’ve Written a Sexy Novel

Maya's heartfelt novel allows her to embrace vulnerability in the face of curiosity from her family.

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Writing Research or Procrastination: Which Is It?

A detour of delightful diversions can derail even the most dedicated writer. How do we avoid procrastination's siren song?

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The Prose and Cons of Perfectionism

Finding harmony between polished language and raw emotion.

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Celia Torres

Quiet Celia knows she has to start living out loud but is unable to find her voice. Embarrassed by surprise wealth, she has the whole world before her but no idea how to fit into it.

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León Alejo-Rios

My beloved flawed León. My expressive hyper-focused egoist. More than one reader has described him as an innocent mysogynist, and they're not wrong. He's got some growing up to do!

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Andrew Neal

Magnetic Andrew is confident in his own skin, not afraid to be himself. He's experienced judgment and chooses to be the change he wants to see.

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Kelsey Martin

Kelsey doesn't just light up rooms with her glowing personality. She also draws insightful conclusions and bluntly illuminates them for everyone else.

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Trevor Hansen

Quiet Trevor is the Dad of the group, willing to put in the work himself and aware others could do the same. His rare quips are amusing and cut to the heart of it.

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