Any thoughts?

by | Sep 6, 2010 | Daily Writings

It’s fall, my favorite season. I’m excited to hunker down (or walk on the treadmill, actually) with some new projects. One of the things I love to do in the fall is dig out my Jerry Spinelli and Paula Danziger books. So many of them start at the beginning...

Finally Friday – 3 September

by | Sep 3, 2010 | Daily Writings

Today I’m over at The Debutante Ball blogging about… No, that’s not right. I’m done at The Ball! But you’re in very good hands with the new Friday Deb, Tawna Fenske. She’s one funny gal. All The Debs are great this year and...

The Ulitmate in Personal Essays

by | Aug 30, 2010 | Daily Writings

This is a repeat because…well, we have an anniversary every year and today is our sixth. I love this piece and always look for an excuse to share it, so I hope you enjoy it! cheers, Joelle (and Victor) I know…I usually keep my personal life out of my...

Finally Friday – 27th August

by | Aug 27, 2010 | Daily Writings

I’m kind of sad to say this, but today is my last day blogging over at The Debutante Ball. I’ve gotten used to Fridays over there and I hope you’ve enjoyed the Ball too. The good news is that a whole new group of debut authors are taking over and...

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress

by | Aug 24, 2010 | Daily Writings

A few years ago, I implemented a fifty page policy. If a book hadn’t grabbed me by fifty pages, I set it down. If I wasn’t thinking about it two days later, I gave up on it. Recently I’ve become even less lenient and only give books about twenty to...

Finally Friday – 20 August

by | Aug 20, 2010 | Daily Writings

It’s been a busy week here as I embark on a new writing project. Still top secret for now, but lots of miles walked on the treadmill and many, many words put on paper (virtually speaking). The new Debs are taking over soon, but I’m still at the Ball this...

The Life You’ve Imagined by Kristina Riggle

by | Aug 17, 2010 | Daily Writings

I just finished reading an excellent memoir by the food critic and cookbook author, Molly O’Neill. In it, she talks about her days reviewing restaurants and how she essentially only wrote good reviews. If a restaurant didn’t warrant a good review, then she...

Finally Friday – 13th August

by | Aug 13, 2010 | Daily Writings

Happy Friday the 13th, everyone! Hope it goes well for you. I choose to think of it as a lucky day, but I’m sort of a Pollyanna, aren’t I? Oh, well! Get used to it. Today I’m partying it up with The Debs, so drop on by. In addition to the interview...

Buried

by | Aug 10, 2010 | Daily Writings

I’m still buried in edits, but thanks to my readers, Kim (in the picture) & Alexa, I’m almost good to go. Since I don’t have much to say here, let me send you to this blog where there’s a review and an interview. Have a great day! And if...

Finally Friday – 6 August 2010

by | Aug 6, 2010 | Daily Writings

Well, it’s Finally Friday and I am pretty happy about it. I’m over at the Debs enjoying a week-long party. What’s the celebration? Last Sunday we announced the new class of Debs who will be taking over next month, and this week is Deb Alicia’s...

Finally Friday – 30 July

by | Jul 30, 2010 | Daily Writings

Not too much to report from the editing trenches this week except that it’s coming along and by Thursday, I’d already walked 16 miles at my treadmill desk. Oh, and I did get a very nice review from School Library Journal. I’m over at The Debutante...

Indie Bookstore Week Winners

by | Jul 27, 2010 | Daily Writings

Thanks to all who entered. I intend to type up a list of all the stores and their websites and I’ll be happy to share it here with you all when I do, but right now, I must stay after those edits. Congratulations to my winners! 1st Place – Mags with all the...

Indie Bookstore Week

by | Jul 24, 2010 | Daily Writings

Today I am spotlighting The Red Balloon Bookshop in St. Paul MN. Now you might be wondering why since I live in Canada and it’s in Minnesota – not exactly my neighbourhood bookshop. It could be because of their fun tweets about children’s story hour....

Finally Friday – 23 July & Indie Bookstore Week

by | Jul 23, 2010 | Daily Writings

Finally Friday totally snuck up on me because I’ve been editing like a mad writer. I’m over at The Debutante Ball talking about my lovely orange kitty and one of the best days of my life. This week The Bookologist posted an interview with me and...

Indie Bookstore Week – Portland

by | Jul 22, 2010 | Daily Writings

Naturally, one can’t talk about Portland without mentioning Powell’s, but there are a lot of other great bookstores in Bridgetown and its surrounding areas too. Here’s one of my faves! Nice people, fab books, sweet cat. Signed stock of Restoring...

Indie Bookstore Week – Seattle

by | Jul 21, 2010 | Daily Writings

One of my favourite bookshops is Island Books on Mercer Island in Seattle. Everyone there is really nice, and they have free ground shipping on your book orders! 3014 78th Avenue Southeast Mercer Island, WA 98040-2823, United States (206)...

Indie Bookstore Week – Gulf Islands, BC

by | Jul 20, 2010 | Daily Writings

If you’re hitting the road and visiting any of the Gulf Islands, check out these shops. Page’s Resort and Marina 3350 Coast Road, Gabriola Island, British Columbia Phone: (250) 247-8931 mail@pagesresort.com Galiano Island Books Madrona Drive Galiano, BC V0N 1P0...

Indie Bookstore Week – Victoria, BC

by | Jul 19, 2010 | Daily Writings

Two of my favourite stores in British Columbia are in Victoria. Munro’s Books 1108 Government Street Victoria, British Columbia Canada V8W 1Y2 http://www.munrobooks.com/ And Tall Tales Books 795 Fort Street Victoria, BC V8W 1G9 (250) 590-3032...

Indie Bookstore Week!

by | Jul 18, 2010 | Daily Writings

Restoring Harmony has been out for a little over two months now, and while I’m thrilled that many of the chains are stocking it in the brick and mortar stores, and not just online, I really want to thank the indie stores for their fantastic support. I am dubbing...

Finally Friday – 16 July 2010

by | Jul 16, 2010 | Daily Writings

Depending on how late you sleep, if it’s past noon Pacific time when you read this, there is every chance in the world that I will have made it through the first round of edits on my new book, The Right & the Real (at the time of typing this, I have 16 pages...

Finally Friday 9th July 2010

by | Jul 9, 2010 | Daily Writings

Are you a fan of fireworks? Me, not so much. Find out why over at The Debutante Ball. Had a great week in general and a decent week in writing/editing. The fish is more under my control now (see previous post), but I haven’t tamed it yet. Husband had two...

My manuscript is a floppy fish

by | Jul 6, 2010 | Daily Writings

I am editing. Even though I’m a vegetarian and I don’t fish (or eat it), I do liken editing a book to fishing. The actual editing is the process of reeling in a fish you’ve hooked. At some point (today, for me), you land the fish. The problem is, the...