Category: A Life of Art Blog

UnEnTangle (c) Marika Reinke 2025

Love stories are a magic mirror just waiting for you to ask the question:

How can I feel in love every day? 

Here is what writing them has taught me:

Appreciate your beauty, not just your looks, but your energy, the way you move in and see the world as unique to you. It’s nice when your loved ones appreciate it in you, but so much more powerful when you believe it.     

Honor your journey.  You are who you are because of everything you have lived. You’ve likely failed a lot. You’ve accomplished a lot too. It’s the nature of life and not over. In a romance, we all know the couple will be together in the end. Knowing this isn’t why we can’t put the book down. It’s the journey that compels us to keep turning the page.

Give yourself what nourishes you. There really isn’t a need to wait for Mr. Right here.  No one knows you more than you. You deserve the roses, the facial, the vacation to Europe, and the beautiful beach. Make time to meditate, walk, enjoy the sunlight, workout, appreciate art, read poetry, and dream. Give to yourself as if you are the love of your life, because you are.

Enjoy the mystery.  Chemistry, déjà vu, or fate are unexplainable. Who knows why two people meet and everything changes for them? Every synchronicity must have a meaning but we may never know it. Why not sit back and enjoy mystery’s awe-inspiring beauty and adventure? The more we appreciate the mystery, the more it expands, and the more entertaining life becomes.

Have fun. There is a subtle art to enjoying the hell out of life. When you commit to fun, even the bullshit shines up.

Life mimics art.  Yes, it’s said that art mimics life, but I mean it the other way around. Art is a seed that blooms into the world and shapes it.  A romance makes a reader feel in love, sensual, and alive. A painting can hit the gut with its pure positive energy. Our feelings flow into life and form it. Surround yourself with art, books, music, dance, or anything that makes you feel in love and notice the uprising. It changes everything.   

With love and big hug,

Marika

Paintings I Love (that haven’t sold)

A Love Story that Surprised Even Me

This is the last call. My new romance, Only in Istanbul, is about to step onto the stage — and I’d love for you to be in the front row.

On the surface, it’s a steamy, funny, adventurous romance. But at On the surface, it’s a steamy, funny, adventurous romance. But at its heart, it’s a happy twist on Romeo and Juliet — a love story about what happens when passion and art collide. It’s about the sacrifices we make to follow a creative path, and how that path can lead us to love, our truest selves, and surprises along the way… even for me, as I wrote it.

Only in Istanbul
Coming September 2025

Joining my team isn’t just about a free early copy. It’s about being part of the intimate circle who helps launch this story into the world.

Here’s what you’ll get:

  • Read it first before release day
  • Shape its future with your honest review
  • Be part of the story’s beginnings as one of the readers who helped it find its wings
  • My appreciation — giveaways, sneak peeks, and more along the way

If you crave a romance that’s sexy and sweet, set against exotic backdrops, with tension you can’t resist and characters who chase both love and creative freedom… this is for you.

Thank you for walking this journey with me. Your support means more than I can say.

Marika 💕

P.S. This is the last chance to join in for Only in Istanbul. Don’t miss it!

 

Dear Mexico, I Love You is Ready for You

All formats of my first romance novel, Dear Mexico, I Love You are now available on Amazon and all I can say is – Wow! It’s my novel’s birthday.

It was an awesome feeling receiving proof copies this week. Having a real live book in my hand after two years writing her was an unbeatable feeling.  I love it.  But waiting for this day has been both exciting and nerve racking. From elation, to doubt and worry, I’ve had all kinds of feelings since I finished the manuscript. And now it’s done.  She’s in your hands.

If you like a spicy romance, travel, and a good chuckle, then I think you would like this little love story. I hope she makes you feel something like what I felt writing her. I’d love to hear what you think.

And thank you for all your well wishes and to the people who placed pre-orders, too.  What a surprise! Your support is so valuable to me.  I’ve felt a bit like a social hermit as I worked on Dear Mexico, I Love You the last couple of years.  It feels good that there are people still here to cheer me on.  Thank you.

My First Novel Feels Amazing

I woke up this morning and it felt like my birthday.  Don’t worry, you didn’t miss anything, it’s not. This kind of birthday has nothing to do with how many trips I’ve made around the sun.  It’s more like I’ve been prepping for a transformation, and I’ve finally done it. I’m new.

The last two years, my internal world has been a wonderful riot. I’ve been writing through a fantastic creative flow that guided me to draft three romance novels in a series.  Yesterday, I finally handed off my first completed manuscript. After writing, editing, proofing, rereading and more, my heart tells me it’s done.

My first published novel, Dear Mexico, I Love You will be available on Amazon on June 1st as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover.

Dear Mexico, I Love You by Marika Reinke
Dear Mexico, I Love You by Marika Reinke

Dear Mexico, I Love You is a spicey second chance romance with a fairytale twist.  If you like a sexy romance, travel, and a good chuckle, this book is for you. Believe me, the only way I could have read its drafts so many times was if it entertained me. It does. I truly love this book.

For more, you can read Dear Mexico, I Love You’s description on her Amazon page now. When you read the full novel, I hope she makes you feel any fraction of the fun it felt to write her. I’d love to hear what you think.

And surprise, I’m a romance novelist! Maybe it surprises you, but it certainly surprises me. Yes, I’ve had a long-term dream to write a novel most of my life, but romance? I didn’t see it coming.  At one time, I’m humbled to admit that I thought the genre was beneath me, but I grew up and got lighter. It turns out that, for me, exploring the romance genre is an unbelievably fun ride.

I promise I’ll send you a reminder on her birthday because that is a real cause to celebrate.

Until June 1st.

Marika’s New Romance Series is Coming Soon!

After an extended silence, I’m pleased to announce that Book 1 of my Synergy Romance series will be released soon! The series has been my creative passion and focus for the last year and a half.  Please stay tuned for more as I adjust to the fact that my babies are soon going to be born! In the meantime, here is a sneak peek:  

Dear Mexico, I Love You

A sexy second chance romance with a fairytale twist.

Two travelers. A once-in-a-lifetime trip. As many chances as it takes to get it right …

River secretly hates Mexico. Before he returns to London, he hopes his last backpacking stop on his year-long world tour will be an exciting and exotic highpoint, but it has only been a series of missed opportunities and disappointments.   

On her mission to reclaim discarded dreams after unpredictable loss, Sedona left her job and sold everything in Portland, Oregon to travel solo. Her first stop is Mexico.  Surrounded by its vibrant culture and inspiring beauty, she falls in love with the country and begins to find herself again.

Chance after chance, River and Sedona keep meeting and can’t deny their attraction. When they finally surrender to their chemistry, fate leads them into an unforgettably sexy, adventurous, passionate affair across Mexico and Guatemala that teaches them a new meaning of love and healing.

After only two weeks together, they know their worlds will never be the same, but their time together is limited. They believe they will never see each other again when River returns to London.

But fate has other plans.   

A Synergy Romance: Book 1

Which book cover do you prefer? 

Dear Mexico, I Love You (c) Marika Reinke 2023

Dear Mexico, I Love You (c) Marika Reinke 2023

Art Walk Party and Show at Village Medicine

I’m thrilled to announce that I have twenty paintings on display at Village Medicine until May. Even better, the clinic is hosting an Art Walk Party on March 11th from 6-8 pm.

I’d would love to see you there.

You can expect all the good things: art, refreshments and great people. It’s also a chance to participate in the Ballard Art Walk and support local business, artists and the community.

Location:
Village Medicine
5600 14th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107

 

Manifest Collection 2021: December 7th, 2021

I’m very excited to announce the release of The Manifest Collection 2021, a study into the law of attraction, deliberate creation and the art of allowing.  I’ve been working on this collection since July 2021.  Each painting explores an aspect of the spiritual pursuit of feeling good, embracing and allowing hope, and the art of deliberate thought to invite expansion, creativity and love.

It is with great joy and a full heart that I bring this collection to you. I hope it will bring you the joy I felt in creating it.  And yes, these lovely paintings await their forever homes and are for sale.

See more details here:  * Manifest Collection 2021 – Marika Reinke

PDF of The Manifest Collection Catalogue  

 

026: Rejuvinate

I’m on vacation, camping, getting dirty, rock climbing, hiking, playing and bathing in lakes and rivers.  It’s amazing.  Life feels like its somewhat normal.  You should do it too 😉

 

The Introvert - Marika Reinke

025: Where’s the Motivation?

There are days when I have thought that the last three or four weeks have been harder than the first weeks of this pandemic.  Even as we reopen, pandemics and protests and the growing realization that this summer won’t be what I thought it was, has really taken a toll and my and my family’s motivation.  Where is it?  How does motivation work?  What can I do to get the joy and motivation back in the house?  These are questions that are occupying me these days.  Take a listen for some thoughts and some solutions.  It’s a constant moving target, but we can do this.