Blog
A year of words and a writing hangover
Last week, I finished the longest book I’ve ever written, all 101,294 words of it. And while many rounds of edits remain, for now it’s done and I can celebrate. A dual timeline women’s fiction novel set between the Second World War and 2018, it’s also the most...
Gratitude is more than an attitude
As my American family, friends and readers celebrate Thanksgiving, gratitude and giving thanks are in the news, and I’ve been thinking about the phrase "gratitude is an attitude." Being thankful is an attitude and expressing appreciation for things large and small has...
‘Lest We Forget:’ Honouring Wartime Sacrifice
In many countries, the eleventh of November is a day to honour wartime sacrifice. In Canada, it’s Remembrance Day and here, as in the UK (known as Armistice Day) and elsewhere, there is a minute (or more) of silence at eleven in the morning to mark the armistice...
Preparing for an early winter
In my part of Canada, the first snow of the season is forecast for next week and weather pundits are predicting a harsh and earlier winter than usual. While I don't relish snow and cold, for "winter people," like most Canadians, there is much to do to prepare for this...
Fingers on the keyboard, head in the clouds
Becoming a published author has taught me many things but perhaps most important is how to juggle multiple writing projects at the same time. This month, when I have multiple book deadlines within a few weeks of each other, I’ve been once again reminded that certain...
What kind of reader am I? And what kind of reader are you?
In the past few weeks, on social media and elsewhere, I’ve seen lots of buzz (and related quizzes) about reading types. While I’ve thought about my reading life in different ways, “reader type” was new to me. There are, however, certain traits intrinsic to “reader me”...
How working at Canada’s election is helping my creativity & writing life
For most of my adult life, I fit my writing around a nine-to-five job. However, in the past six years, in part due to English Rose’s medical challenges, I’ve been a full-time writer. This month, though, I’ve once again juxtaposed my writing with a temporary part-time...
Book edits, a big birthday & a bigger move
With significant events in both my writing and mum lives, this past week has been a time of joy, reflection and bittersweet change. Book edits As many of you know, Montana Reunion, my Harlequin Heartwarming and western romance debut, releases in January 2022. It’s a...
In the footsteps of L.M. Montgomery and “Anne of Green Gables”
A highlight of my recent holiday was visiting a museum for the first time in over a year. And not just any museum, but one dedicated to a favourite author, Lucy Maud (L.M.) Montgomery, best known for Anne of Green Gables. While Montgomery is usually associated with...
Photo by Robin Spencer, Spencer Studio