Keri Smith turned my commute into a creative act. 'How to Be an Explorer of the World' had me cataloging subway sounds as 'found music' and sketching strangers’ shoes. Her ideas are deceptively simple—collect leaves, document shadows—but they make you realize creativity isn’t confined to studios. It’s in how you look at a gum stain on pavement and see a tiny galaxy.
Keri Smith's approach feels like she's handing you a permission slip to break all the rules of creativity. I stumbled upon 'Wreck This Journal' during a phase where I was terrified of blank pages—her prompts transformed my fear into playful chaos. Scribbling outside the lines, coffee stains as art, tearing pages deliberately? It sounds trivial, but it rewired how I engage with creation. Her work isn't about polished outcomes; it’s about rediscovering curiosity through tactile, messy experimentation.
What’s wild is how her books like 'The Wander Society' or 'How to Be an Explorer of the World' extend this philosophy beyond journals. They turn everyday walks into scavenger hunts for textures and patterns, making creativity feel less like a talent and more like a muscle anyone can flex. I now notice cracks in sidewalks as potential poetry, and that shift—from passive observer to active participant—is entirely her fault.
Smith’s genius lies in how she frames imperfection as the goal. As someone who overthinks every creative move, her exercises forced me to abandon control. Gluing random receipts into 'This Is Not a Book' felt silly until I realized it was training me to find meaning in the mundane. Her prompts aren’t just activities; they’re little rebellions against the pressure to produce 'good' art. The way she celebrates accidental ink blots or encourages you to mail pages to strangers makes creation feel collaborative and alive.
There’s a subversive kindness in Keri Smith’s work—she treats creativity like a living thing that thrives on inconsistency. I gifted 'Finish This Book' to my niece, who’d insist her drawings weren’t 'right.' Watching her fill pages with half-solved riddles and smudged fingerprints was magical. Smith doesn’t teach technique; she dismantles the fear that stops people from starting. Her books are less instruction manuals and more playgrounds where 'mistakes' are the swings and slides.
2026-07-12 06:12:36
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He watched her for a long moment, the anger in his eyes unmistakable. She imagined he was thinking of ways to punish her, but nothing prepared her for what he said next.
"Strip."
It was one word, but she doubted if she heard him correctly the first time, was he really going to punish her?
"What… what was that?" She asked innocently.
"Strip, Nancy."
"I won't."
"So you refuse me, I see." he said it lightly, the evil smile still playing on his lips. "That will not stop me from having you though"
"You won't." She said firmly
"Won't I?"
She had expected to arouse his anger tonight, but nothing prepared her for the icy rage that contorted his features and the resentment and coldness in his eyes.
"Has he touched you yet?" Derek asked suddenly, his eyes still hard on her and his look ever so cold.
"Depends on the kind of touch you mean," She replied in a soft, tempting voice, "He has touched me in certain ways. But you are my husband and I should not be telling you that.”
"No," he returned coldly. "We are just master and slave, nothing else links us.”
*****
Forced to marry against their will, Nancy must not only prove to Derek Lincoln that she was never his lost betrothed, but she must also prove to the parents of his real betrothed that she is not their daughter.
But when a man is this beautiful and yet so arrogant, God knows loving him could not be so difficult. Except he is strongly involved with his mistress, who would give anything to have him, even if it meant killing his present wife.
But was he worth it? Nay. To him, she is just a personal whore.
Tierney Chandler left her small town—and perfect fiancé—years ago to chase down her dreams. Years later, the town’s still small, her dreams are mostly still dreams, and her ex is still perfect. Maybe it’s time to ditch her failing dreams pick up where she left off…Jack Elliott is a baker making his dreams come true one pie at a time. Years ago, those dreams included Tierney. At least until his annoyingly perfect cousin stole her away. Now, he’s got a second chance, and he’s determined not to waste it. Can Jack convince Tierney that he’s the dream she’s been waiting for?
Jessica Jane is invisible by design.
Quiet, soft spoken, and almost painfully unassuming, she spends her days hidden behind oversized glasses and paint stained hands in her elegant city art gallery. To the people around her, she is simply a gifted but awkward artist, a woman who keeps to herself and pours her emotions into hauntingly beautiful paintings that seem to possess an almost unsettling depth.
Critics call her work raw. Emotional. Alive.
They have no idea how right they are.
Behind the gallery walls lies a secret darker than anyone could imagine. Jessica's masterpieces are not created with ordinary paint. Mixed into every canvas is the blood of the men she chooses as her subjects, men she believes escaped justice, men whose cruelty mirrors the monsters that stole her childhood. By night she becomes someone unrecognisable. Elegant, calculated and merciless, hunting predators who believe they are untouchable.
As her artwork gains international attention and a determined investigator begins noticing disturbing patterns surrounding missing men, Jessica finds herself balancing two identities that are beginning to collide.
Because the closer the world gets to discovering the truth, the more dangerous Jessica becomes.
And buried beneath the blood, vengeance and carefully constructed masks is an even darker question:
Is Jessica Jane delivering justice... or becoming the very thing she has spent her life trying to destroy?
The year is 2304 and war has ravaged the world, leaving scattered communities. Keira, a headstrong 25-year-old, has joined the Eagle tribe with the goal of making a difference. Their primary mission is to take back Meraki, a planet that was intended only for the wealthy and privileged. For the past 50 years, raiders seeking riches have taken over Meraki and severed all communication.
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The summer of 1954 brings forth changes and realizations to two girls who find themselves separated by race, family, friends, and society. Rosalie Johnson must confront the demons of her past to move forward. Ida must find who she is in a changing world. Will love be enough to challenge a society unwilling to accept them? Can they accept each other?
"You aren't scared?" She asks me and I know what she means. Of course I am scared. I am terrified of my mother finding me here, wrapped up in the arms of a woman. I am terrified of someone finding Ida in my arms and burning her home to the ground. Every component outside of this hill was terrifying.
"Of loving you? Never."
Keri Smith is this brilliant creative force who’s basically a wizard at making people embrace their inner messy, experimental selves. She writes these interactive books that feel like a playful nudge to break free from perfectionism—think 'Wreck This Journal,' where you’re encouraged to scribble, tear pages, or even take the book on adventures. Her work blurs the line between art and everyday life, turning mundane moments into creative sparks.
What I love about her approach is how she democratizes creativity. It’s not about polished outcomes; it’s about the process. Books like 'How to Be an Explorer of the World' turn readers into detectives of their own surroundings, noticing textures, sounds, and patterns they’d usually ignore. Her stuff resonates with anyone who’s ever felt stuck or intimidated by 'real art.' She’s like that friend who whispers, 'Just play!'
Keri Smith's books are this weirdly wonderful blend of creativity and mischief that always makes me feel like a kid unleashed in an art supply store. 'Wreck This Journal' was my gateway drug—I mean, who doesn’t love being told to scribble outside the lines or spill coffee on purpose? It’s like therapy but with more glue sticks. Then there’s 'The Wander Society', which made me ditch my phone and wander aimlessly for hours, discovering alleys I’d never noticed.
Her newer stuff like 'How to Be an Explorer of the World' is pure gold for anyone who sees magic in rusty nails or sidewalk cracks. It’s not just about 'books'; it’s about rewiring your brain to find art in chaos. I’ve gifted 'Finish This Book' to three friends, and all of them ended up texting me photos of their bizarre 'assignments'. Smith doesn’t write books—she plants little bombs of creativity.
Keri Smith's work has this magical quality that feels like it transcends age, but if I had to pin it down, I'd say her books like 'Wreck This Journal' and 'How to Be an Explorer of the World' resonate strongest with teens and young adults. There's a rebellious, creative energy to her prompts that perfectly aligns with that phase of life where you're itching to break rules and discover your own voice.
That said, I've seen middle-grade kids (think 8–12) absolutely adore her stuff too—especially the more tactile, destructive exercises. Parents sometimes balk at the idea of kids 'ruining' books, but that’s the whole point! It’s about permission to play. Even adults in creative ruts find her work refreshing, though they might need to unlearn some perfectionism first. Her audience is really anyone craving a playful nudge back to curiosity.