Happy to have you here!
I’m Xanda Monteiro, a storyteller from Mozambique’s sunlit shores, where chasing eclipses with my father sparked my dance with light and shadow. For 33 years, meditation has calmed my soul, while ink, my steadfast muse, shapes thoughts through haiku’s clarity, crafting tales of healing for all. Since 2016, I’ve dabbled in Shaolin Kung Fu and Qi Gong, grinning at my teacher’s “No pain, no kung fu!” despite my wobbly kicks.
My Beehive Secrets series (2023), four children’s books like Kaida Brightscales and the Wise Owl, welcomes young hearts (ages 4–6) to mindful meadows of joy, with a bundle, audiobooks, and activity book blooming in Spring 2026.
As M Xan, I weave Moriko (August 2025) and the No Mind Series trilogy (September 2026), guiding readers through ancient realms of redemption.
My memoirs, Light, Shadow, and Ink: Africa and Wisdom (2027), trace my Beira childhood and caregiving heart. Explore my photography—blossoms and horizons aglow—and join The Heart Room to breathe peace together under the Community tab.
A filmmaker (Dun Laoghaire IADT, 1996) and educator (Dublin City University, St. Nicholas Montessori College, Ireland), I invite you to wander worlds where ink and practice kindle hope and growth.
I love chasing eclipse. This photo was taken in MADAGASCAR in 2001. It is called "Musical Note" and that "little flame" was three times the size of the Earth. I carried a Soligor 7000 telescope and a Manfrotto tripod, both weighing 12 kilos; for a month and over 26000 kilometres to capture these photos.
I recommend watching eclipses on the path of totality. It is one of the most beautiful events on the planet and worth travelling to remote places to witness.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I buy an ebook, how do I read it? Or get it to my favorite device?
Once you purchase an ebook, you will get an email from help@bookfunnel.com with a link to download the ebook, or you can send the ebook directly to your favorite device. If the email hasn’t arrived in 20 minutes after purchase, please look at the Spam folder.
You can also find your ebooks in your Bookfunnel library at https://My.BookFunnel.com. Log into BookFunnel with the email you used to purchase/download your books.
If you need help with getting the ebook to your device, just email: help@bookfunnel.com or check https://getbookfunnel.com/
If I buy an audiobook, how do I listen to it? Or get it to my favorite device?
Once you purchase an audiobook, you will get an email from help@bookfunnel.com with a link to download the audiobook, and instructions for how to download and listen in their app, or on another device. If the email hasn’t arrived in 10 minutes after purchase, please look for it in your Spam folder.
You can also find your audiobooks in your Bookfunnel library at https://My.BookFunnel.com. Log into BookFunnel with the email you used to purchase/download your books.
If you need help with getting the ebook to your device, just email: help@bookfunnel.com or check https://getbookfunnel.com/
If I buy a paperback, how long does it take to get to me?
It depends which country you're in, and which shipping option you choose at checkout. It won't be 'next day shipping' though!
Each book is printed and sent to you specifically from the independent printer I use here in the UK, or sometimes in the US, depending on the format.
In the UK, it can be 7-10 working days, and 10-15 working days to reach you outside the UK. Thank you for your patience!
Why would I buy a paperback from you when I can get it on one of the big online stores for a cheaper price and free shipping?
Thank you for asking. There is no way independent authors can compete with the big online stores, so basically, you are supporting me and also my independent printer. We appreciate your custom.
The books are excellent quality and soon we may make book for the US available via the US printing facility. Please see Shipping Policy for more details.
Does it help if I buy direct? In what ways?
If you buy direct, authors and printers and all other collaborators in the store, get paid within hours or days, rather than months. Thank you!
While authors love to have their books in big stores it is not as easy to have books distributed by the Big Publishers. Direct stores allow authors and their collaborators to feature our products without having other products advertised against them.
How can I contact you with any more questions?
You can email me: lightshadowandink@icloud.com, use the chat function on the right hand side. I will answer within 24-48 hours.
What is available on the Merchadise Menu?
The Merchandise, section has two subsections: CLOTHES and LIVING. T-shirts and hoodies are in the clothes section, and water bottles and lunch boxes are listed under the Living section. All items are based on the characters in the Beehive Secrets Series. So you can choose which character you love and then choose the items based on your character preference.