by Marian Exall | Aug 7, 2026 | Musings
I have been preoccupied with war lately. Front of mind: the on-again, off-again senseless hostilities with Iran, and the interminable deadly stalemate in Ukraine. (VOTE, people, VOTE: it’s the least you can do!) Other conflicts continuing in Gaza, Lebanon,... 
by Marian Exall | Feb 2, 2026 | Musings
Sisu is the Finnish word for grit, resilience, and determination in facing difficulty. According to a Seattle Times story in January, the concept has its origins in Finland’s resistance to the Soviet Union during the Second World War. It continues today in a... 
by Marian Exall | Jul 2, 2025 | Musings
Last month, I finally made it to Riga. After more than a decade researching the Latvian capital remotely, I became surprisingly emotional when I stood in front of the iconic House of the Blackheads where Nellie and Dani are pictured on the cover of Daughters of Riga.... 
by Marian Exall | Mar 13, 2025 | Musings
If you read my last blog, you will know that publishing an audiobook is complicated. Finally, the Daughters of Riga audiobook has made it onto some retail sites: Spotify, Libro FM, and Google Play. Others, including Amazon/Audible will follow in the next week or so.... by Marian Exall | Feb 28, 2025 | Musings
My usual reading mode is old-fashioned, involving printed paper, pages that must be turned manually, and a card-stock bookmark inserted to indicate where I leave off. Yes, I load up the Kindle for convenience when traveling overseas. Audiobooks are restricted to long...
