About Ari

Author Ari MeghlenHello!  I’m Ari,

I’m a fantasy author, blogger, podcaster and entrepreneur. 

Raised on British weather (wet), inspired by an abundance of movies (mostly sci-fi & fantasy) and with an unhealthy addiction to buying (all the) books.

I write novel-length stories in both traditional fantasy and urban fantasy.  I have even tried my hand at short stories.

My short story The Locksmith was published in 2019 in the Anthology From Ashes To Magic.

My short story Sanctuary was published in 2021 in the Anthology From Myths To Monsters.

I am the creator and host of #TheMerryWriter hashtag game that ran for over 3 years on Twitter and Instagram.  The game allowed writers to share information about their WIPs and themselves, meet new friends and connect with other writers.

The Merry Writer has now become a Podcast hosted by myself and my good friend, Rachel Poli. Learn more about our little podcast.

I write weekly blog posts on different writing topics, share advice and even create some free printables for my readers to download.

When I’m not writing, I am running my own business, reading, gardening, rescuing animals, collecting coloured pens, drinking too much tea and watching bad movies.

I also have a Mascot called Bert.  He’s a full-size (fake) skeleton who likes to play the piano.

My Links

My Interviews

bert
This is Bert!

40 thoughts on “About Ari”

  1. This is a nice about page – glad to connect via blog – and love the ending three notes he most (but so much wisdom here)

    The person who smiles brightest can often be hurting the most.
    The person who gives the most often has the least themselves.
    You don’t know everyone’s story, reach out, ask, connect, support, be there for each other.

    Reply

  3. Thank-you very much for visiting my blog and for the follow. I have just read through a few of your posts and had a giggle or two. I recognise many of your likes/dislikes/habits etc as both my daughters have similar tendencies. My elder daughter likes to write, doesn’t iron, owns a real skeleton with a few bones missing, has pyjama days regularly, adores dinosaurs and cats, is a horror movie addict. My younger daughter has social anxiety and won’t answer phones or doors, watches cartoons, can reel off thousands of interesting facts about all sorts of things. I hate cooking but hardly ever get anyone to do it for me and I am the one to empty the bin and the vacuum!

    Reply

    1. lol great to know I’m not the only one who has those habits! Your daughters sound like awesome ladies.

      Does your elder daughter’s skeleton have a name? I can completely empathise with your younger daughters anxiety, as I am on the high end of the spectrum at severe.

      We take each day at a time and just need to press ever so slightly out of our comfort zones sometimes. I did that by reaching out online to writers and asking them if they wanted to guest post. Felt so terrifying but it has helped me stretch that comfort zone boundaries a little further.

      I’m better with the vacuum since we got a Henry hoover. Mo (the robot) had to be retired sadly and my partner insisted on a more “normal” vac. His (Henry’s, not my partner’s) bag is all nicely compact and a doddle to empty…I still would rather not though lol 😀

      Thanks for all the faves

      Reply

      1. I like Henry hoovers too! My elder daughter had one but her landlady stole it! I have been racking my brains trying to remember Alice’s (my daughter) skeleton’s name – I know he has one – but I can’t remember it. I’ll have to remember to ask her.
        My younger daughter (Elinor) has quite severe anxiety too but has been working very hard to overcome some of the worst problems. She had to leave school because of her anxiety and because of bullying and didn’t take her GCSEs when she was 16. She went to college and managed to get 4 GCSE’s and now wants to get to art college. She has been trying to get onto an A level equivalent art course but is finding it difficult because of her anxiety. In the meantime she is attending day classes in art and drama to try to gain experience. She is being very brave.

  6. So glad you included the part at the end where this socializing (cyberstyle) doesn’t create anxiety. Just had to reach out. Your dinosaurs and dragons and a pure delight, and they help me see how valuable illustration is to making one’s point. Love your list, and though I’m more the extrovert, I can relate to sharpened pencils, bad job juju, and writing since you’re 8. My 2nd grade teacher “published” my first work, and I have had my head in the stars ever since 🙂 Happy to find you!

    Reply

    1. Thanks for the comment, yes, this is a good place for me to connect with people without having an anxiety-ridden panic attack 🙂 Aww thank you for your kind words about my dinosaurs and dragons, glad they are liked and people are just looking and saying “what a strange thing to like.” Glad to hear that you got the writing bug from an early age, in the stars is the best place for a head I think 🙂 Thanks again and do keep in touch, I love meeting new writers.

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      1. Will do, Ari! I leave you with Samuel Johnson’s words: “Some books are to be tasted, others swallowed whole. And some few to be chewed and digested.” G’night 🙂

      1. Ha, thank you.
        Just be you and do what you do, having 800 followed is all well and good. But I can’t keep up with 100 of them lol

      3. It’s my pleasure, just be you then the right people will love you and your work. Any other help I can give you, just ask! 😃

    1. Hi Khrys, thanks for the stop by. Lol yes my About Page haunted me for a while as I wracked my brain to think of what to put. It feels weird just telling people about yourself but I’m glad I managed it. Hope you get yours up soon – drop me a link to your website 🙂

      Reply
  10. Soul Gifts

    So nice to meet Bert – I feel like I already know him, as there’s a real live Bert living next door to us. Does your Bert have an Irish accent as well? Oh, and nice to meet you too !!

    Reply

    1. lol No Bert doesn’t have an Irish Accent – one of those in the house is enough. My partner is from Ireland and once he’s spoken to his family his accent thickens up nicely 🙂 And it’s nice to me you too.

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  11. Linda

    Pyjamas rule! Bert is very photogenic. I don’t like coffee either. If you ever make it across the pond to Canada, I have a craft room that is terribly out of control and needs some organizing ASAP …. I promise to keep you in tea.

    Looking forward to getting to know you and to following your blog. 🙂

    Reply

    1. Hi Linda, thanks for the comment. Yes of all of us, Bert is definitely the most photogenic. I’ve decided he might be the main feature of a calendar I make for next year. “Bert Throughout The Months!” 🙂 lol If I ever get to Canada I will take you up on that offer – I’ll be there with my label-maker and an unnatural amount of joy at the prospect of tackling your craft room! Thanks for the follow, it is always appreciated – though I am still amazed anyone is interested in what I write on this blog. lol Take care

      Reply
      1. Linda

        Sign me up for a copy of “Bert Throughout the Months”; I think it will be a best selling calendar. Also, when you come to Canada armed with you label-maker, will Bert be coming with you? I sure do hope so! 🙂

  13. I just met you and I love you – you may be my british counterpart 🙂 Looking forward to reading more of your stuff later – when I am not also stuck in this boring office job to pay those same damn bills

    Reply

    1. lol *waves at you from across the ocean* glad you enjoyed my Who, Me? post and it’s always nice to meet someone who doesn’t just look at me as if I’ve grown another head. You have my sympathies in having to work your own boring office job. Let us cling tenaciously to the hope that eventually we will not need those rubbish jobs!

      Reply

    2. PS: feel free to find me on the social media locations I am on and stay in touch. I love meeting writers…you know…when I can get past my anxiety of saying hi…it always helps when they contact me first 🙂

      Reply

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