“Perfectionism will ruin your writing, blocking inventiveness, and playfulness, and life force (these are words we are allowed to use in California.)”  Anne Lamott from Bird by Bird. This is one of the books I’ve always recommended in my introductory creative writing classes as much for what it says about perfectionism as for the notion that … Continue reading The Words We Choose

I’ve come to believe that there is a dissent over the handed-down family recipe almost equal to the dissent over Wills and estates. I’m baking a carrot cake this morning in celebration of the move of my sister and her husband from Stony Plain to Cochrane. They will be close to their grandchildren with this … Continue reading Family Recipes

I’ve always had a tendency to over-think—something I’ve been aware of for years, and also brought to my attention by others occasionally.  Depending on who the “other” is and the attitude around the observation, I react with either an explanation of how this mindset is necessary (indeed perhaps even the origin of my need to … Continue reading Radical Gratitude and a lot of random musing

As long as I’ve been writing, I’ve believed that stories deserve audience. Publication is terrific affirmation, and one of the finest affirmations I’ve had was the publication of a YA (young adult) story in an anthology, Dark Times, published by Ronsdale Press in 2005, edited by Ann Walsh. http://ronsdalepress.com/books/dark-times/ Simply being in the company of Ann and the other … Continue reading From Beneath the Snoozing Tree

I’ve been doing a lot of searching, lately. This quest began about two years ago, when I suddenly felt clobbered by a sense of mortality. For so long I’d been blithely living as though I had all the time in the world. Then in a succession of losses and troubles that hit close to home, … Continue reading How Deep Can I Drink?

At the end of November, Susan Toy is shutting down Alberta Books Canada, her promotional service for Alberta authors, and heading back to the tropical island of Bequia in the Caribbean to focus on her own writing. It’s hard for any author to view this as a gruesome fate, but for the Alberta writers whose … Continue reading Auf wiedersehen, thank you, and best of luck to Susan Toy

It’s been a week since I came home from the High Plains Bookfest in Billings, and I’ve been trying to shape a narrative in my mind. The trip, the people, the city, the events, the books; we talked about the weekend through the long nine hour drive home.  Robert, husband-chauffeur, Shirley, good friend and roadie … Continue reading High Plains Highlights

I’m off to the High Plains Literary Festival http://ci.billings.mt.us/index.aspx?NID=1407 next week, and honoured and excited by the nomination of The Boy to the non-fiction shortlist in these awards.  What a pleasure it will be to mingle with American writers, encounter books I would not otherwise have known. This is the first literary festival to which I have been invited … Continue reading Montana Meets The Boy

Last spring, when The Boy was launched, I had the pleasure of “visiting” a number of blogs  hosted by writers and readers who kindly responded to my request for places to stop in on a virtual tour with the book. Carin Makuz, who lives in Whitby, Ontarion,  was one of several friends of Susan Toy’s who extended … Continue reading The Boy, still roaming, and a note on flapper pie

Yesterday I had an email from a woman who attended a presentation I did for a librarians’ regional professional development day.  She said she was compelled to read my latest book, The Boy, after hearing me speak, and went on to recommend the book to her book club. And now she was wondering if I would … Continue reading The Life of a Book

My friend and colleague, Lee Kvern has a new story at http://foundpress.com/ and because I am a fan of both Lee’s fiction and this innovative story site, I urge you to go there.  Buy the story.  Buy all the stories.  They’re brilliant and entirely affordable in this format.  But first I want you to meet my talented … Continue reading Lee Kvern drops in to chat

After readings in Lacome, Stettler and Camrose earlier this month, I’m eager to take The Boy out on the road again. Sherwood ParkFriday, October 28 7:00 PM Strathcona County Library 401 Festival Lane Sherwood Park TofieldSaturday, October 29 1:00 PM Tofield Public Library 5407 50 St. The One Book, One Stettler event on October 3 was as … Continue reading The Boy goes to Sherwood Park and Tofield

Several months ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Sharon Butala after brazenly contacting her to ask if she would write a back cover blurb for my upcoming book, The Boy. Sharon graciously agreed, and when we met and talked about writing, she told me that her sister and I shared the experience of social work and … Continue reading No Easy Answers

My good friend, Judy, and her daughter, Lindsay are setting off on an adventure that has me smiling with delight. A few weeks ago, Judy told me that after Lindsay finished reading The Boy she felt she had missed out on a huge chunk of Alberta landscape because the Calgary to Edmonton journey which the family had … Continue reading The Boy — a road trip

A writing colleague, Dale Kwong, put a book of essays in my hands just a few days ago.  Somebody’s Child, published by Touchwood Editions, is hot off the press and includes Dale’s essay which I had the pleasure of reading when I was the Writer in Residence at Memorial Park Library two years ago.  It includes … Continue reading Somebody’s Child