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Journal
& Updates
Notes from the desk—updates, reflections, and insights into the creative process.
This is where ideas take shape before they become stories.
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Spirit Guide Basics by Alicia Anspaugh | Living Book for Beginners
Join Alicia Anspaugh as she shares years of teaching and real-world experience in Spirit Guide Basics, a Living Book offering practical guidance for beginners.
aliciaspaintbrush
7 hours ago1 min read


Digital Fantasy Art Downloads | Artwork by Alicia Anspaugh Now Available
Discover digital artwork by Alicia Anspaugh, now available through Celestial Imprint Publishing and the Des Moines New Age Shop. Explore fantasy, mythology, folklore, cryptids, and original art with new downloads added every week.

Alicia Anspaugh
4 days ago1 min read


The Art of Pigs | New Artwork, Baby Saran & The Whole Point Webnovel
Celebrate The Art of Pigs with three new paintings by Alicia Anspaugh, including Baby Saran from the new webnovel The Whole Point, plus the Lucky Lucky Stars excerpt and narrated YouTube reading.

Alicia Anspaugh
Jul 312 min read


Intuitive Tarot & Astrology Readings | Alicia Anspaugh | Des Moines New Age
Explore Path Light Readings by Alicia Anspaugh. Thoughtful tarot, astrology, and intuitive sessions designed to offer clarity, perspective, and grounded guidance. Book through the Des Moines New Age Shop.
aliciaspaintbrush
Jul 261 min read


Alicia Anspaugh Joins Theater Genesis for the 48 Hour Film Project
Author and artist Alicia Anspaugh joins Theater Genesis as part of the writing team for the 48 Hour Film Project, helping bring the original short film Keeping the Lights On & the Coffee Full from concept to screen.
aliciaspaintbrush
Jul 192 min read


A Winter's Fortune | Behind the Scenes of a New Fantasy Romance by Alicia Anspaugh
Go behind the scenes of A Winter's Fortune as Alicia Anspaugh shares how a simple contest entry evolved into a heartfelt fantasy romance filled with mystery, friendship, destiny, and unforgettable characters.
aliciaspaintbrush
Jul 162 min read


A Story That Refused to Stay Small: Entering A Pocketful of Hopes into the Hero Chronicles Contest
Author Alicia Anspaugh shares the journey behind entering A Pocketful of Hopes into the Hero Chronicles writing contest and how two unexpected young heroes grew into something much larger than planned.
aliciaspaintbrush
Jul 62 min read


Outpost 37 Enters the Inkitt Hero Chronicles Contest | Alicia Anspaugh
Science-fantasy adventure Outpost 37 by Alicia Anspaugh has officially entered the Inkitt Hero Chronicles Contest. Follow Win, Vox, and Weatherby as they uncover the mysteries hidden beneath a peaceful frontier colony.
aliciaspaintbrush
Jul 62 min read


See You Tomorrow | Inkitt Second Chance Romance Contest Entry by Alicia Anspaugh
A science fiction romance adventure featuring time travel, betrayal, and second chances. See You Tomorrow has been submitted to Inkitt's Second Chance Romance Contest.
aliciaspaintbrush
Jun 31 min read


Alicia Anspaugh Enters Vocal Plus Stay Awhile Horror Contest with My Waters & A Hundred Lives
Author and artist Alicia Anspaugh explores slasher horror, creature horror, and sci-fi horror with her contest entries My Waters and A Hundred Lives for Vocal Plus’s Stay Awhile writing contest.
aliciaspaintbrush
May 231 min read


Alicia K. Anspaugh Submits “To Quell the Quiet” to the History Repeating Writing Challenge
Writer and artist Alicia K. Anspaugh submits her speculative fiction short story “To Quell the Quiet” to Glossy Planet Magazine’s May 2026 History Repeating writing challenge.
aliciaspaintbrush
May 151 min read


The Road to Hell | A Sci-Fi Horror Short Story About Good Intentions and Alien Invasion
A burned-out night-shift janitor tries to help a mysterious captive creature escape a secret underground lab, only to discover he has restarted an alien invasion delayed for sixty years. Read this dark sci-fi horror short story from Alicia’s Desk.
aliciaspaintbrush
May 131 min read


Submitted a new short story to Vocal’s “I Made It Worse” writing challenge.
This latest sci-fi horror piece, The Road to Hell, follows a tired night-shift janitor whose attempt to help a mysterious captive creature escape from a secret underground lab accidentally restarts an alien invasion that had been delayed for sixty years. This story was written for the challenge prompt: Write a confession about a situation where you tried to fix something and only made it worse. I had a lot of fun balancing dark humor, escalating consequences, and cosmic horro
aliciaspaintbrush
May 131 min read


If you’re attending Demicon, keep an eye out for my pieces…
My work is heading to Demicon this year—both in the writing contest and the art show. While I won’t be there in person, my stories and artwork will be. If you’re attending, I hope you get a chance to check them out—and thank you for supporting indie creators and original work. More previews and updates coming soon. #Demicon #ArtShow #WritingContest #IndieArtist #IndieAuthor #FantasyArt #SciFiArt #CreativeLife #AliciasDesk
aliciaspaintbrush
May 21 min read


Demicon Writing Contest & Art Show | Outpost 37 and Fake News Story by Alicia Anspaugh
Two original short stories—Outpost 37 and a fake news-themed piece—submitted to the Demicon Writing Contest, exploring isolation, perception, and narrative.
aliciaspaintbrush
May 21 min read


In Submission | Outpost 37 Science Fiction Story for Demicon Contest
A new Outpost 37 science fiction story submitted to the Demicon Writing Contest, expanding the series world.
aliciaspaintbrush
May 11 min read


In Submission | Fake News Short Story for Demicon Writing Contest
A speculative fiction short story exploring truth and perception, currently submitted to the Demicon Writing Contest.
aliciaspaintbrush
May 11 min read


Outpost 37 Story Entry | Demicon Writing Contest Science Fiction by Alicia Anspaugh
A new Outpost 37 story exploring isolation and mystery, submitted to the Demicon Writing Contest.
aliciaspaintbrush
May 11 min read


Demicon Writing Contest Entry — Fake News Story
A speculative fiction short story exploring truth and perception, submitted to the Demicon Writing Contest.
aliciaspaintbrush
May 11 min read


Dungeons & Dragons Art Show – Featuring my Art piece “Shadow Lullaby”
Dungeons and Dragons Art Show in Des Moines, Iowa at The Fremont featuring local artists, fantasy artwork, and creative storytelling inspired by D&D. Free all-ages art event with dragon dice giveaway and community art exhibit.
aliciaspaintbrush
Apr 171 min read
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